The Bamboo Cutter and the Moon Child · Part 2 of 2
The Journey to the Moon
A shining child, five impossible quests, and a farewell to the moon
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Page 1
Princess Moonlight was found in glowing bamboo and raised as the daughter of an elderly couple, who later found gold there. Five suitors wanted to marry her, but the first three had failed her quests. She had no wish to marry men she did not know.
The fourth sent his servants to find a dragon’s five-colored jewel, but they took a holiday; after a year without it, he hired a ship to search himself. He had forbidden them to return without the jewel.
Page 2
A terrible storm drove the fourth suitor’s ship ashore; ill and exhausted, he gave up the dragon’s jewel and would not visit the princess again. A local governor offered him a place to rest.
The fifth suitor could not find the shell said to be inside a swallow, so all five quests ended in failure. No requested treasure had been brought to her.
Page 3
The Emperor heard of Princess Moonlight and sent a court lady to see her, intending to invite her to live at his palace as a lady-in-waiting. The visitor carried his command.
She refused the visit and warned that if anyone forced her to leave for the palace, she would vanish from the earth. Her father passed on her answer.
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