Once upon a time, on the outskirts of a provincial town nestled amid lush countryside hills, there lived a young man named Shota. Though not wealthy, he was gentle and always kind to those around him. One cold winter’s night, on his way home, Shota heard a faint cry emanating from the forest. Following the sound, he discovered a crane caught in a trap, suffering and in distress. Without hesitation, Shota rescued the crane and set it free. The freed crane looked up to the sky for a moment, as if conveying a silent message, and then vanished into the darkness of the night.
The very next day, something mysterious occurred. A beautiful woman appeared in town and sought Shota out. Introducing herself as Miu, she explained that she had come to repay the kindness Shota had once shown to a crane. Over time, their hearts grew close and they eventually married. As peaceful days passed, Miu proposed that she work at weaving a “special cloth” to help support their household. Secluding herself in a room, she sat before a loom and began her work, creating a stunning fabric that shimmered softly like moonlight.
The exquisite cloth quickly garnered widespread acclaim and high praise throughout the town, and Shota’s life began to flourish. However, Miu had one strict, secret rule: while weaving, she must never be seen from behind. Trusting her words, Shota carried on with his daily life, until one night his curiosity got the better of him and he secretly peeked into her room.
Bathed in gentle moonlight, Shota was astonished by the sight before him. There, seated at the loom, Miu’s back unfurled into a pair of large, white wings, and her arms gradually transformed into delicate feathers. As if partaking in a sacred ritual, she carefully plucked each of her own feathers while continuing to weave quietly. In that magical moment, she seemed not a mere woman but the very embodiment of a crane draped in human form. Her entire being exuded a mysterious radiance that silenced even the air around her. Overwhelmed by the revelation, Shota realized the magnitude of the secret and sacrifice she had kept from him, and a deep pain gripped his heart.
At dawn the next day, with sorrow in her eyes, Miu gently spoke, “I am the spirit of the crane you once saved. I have lived in human form to return your kindness. But now that you have seen my secret, I can no longer remain bound to this place.” With those final words, Miu slowly left the room and disappeared into the distant sky.
Shota was left with a profound regret over his broken promise and an acute awareness of the preciousness of beauty and gratitude. From that day on, he lived a quiet, reflective life, forever cherishing the enduring lesson of honoring kindness and the hidden truths within the human heart.
Moral:
This tale endures as a timeless lesson on the importance of repaying kindness, keeping secrets, and honoring the deep bonds between humanity and nature.
Comments