MYP 3: U1: Japan: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
Dear students The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter , also known as The Tale of Princess Kaguya , is one of Japan’s oldest and most celebrated literary tales. It tells the story of Kaguya , a mysterious girl discovered inside a glowing bamboo stalk who grows into an extraordinarily beautiful young woman. As she grows older, Kaguya attracts many suitors, but she sets them impossible tasks, refusing to accept ordinary expectations placed upon her. Eventually, her true identity is revealed: she is a celestial being who must return to the Moon, leaving behind the earthly life and people she has come to know. The tale explores identity, beauty, love, impermanence, belonging, and the tension between human desire and destiny . Key Themes Identity • Impermanence • Love • Beauty • Belonging • Destiny Think & Reflect Why does Kaguya resist the expectations placed upon her? How does the story present the idea of belonging ? Why might Kaguya’s return to the Moon be bittersweet? ...