Japanese tale, Davis retelling
Lady Kaguya
A bamboo-cutter discovers a tiny, beautiful child inside a reed and takes her home. The child grows into Lady Kaguya, whose earthly life ends when visitors from Moonland come to claim her. The Feather Robe removes her memory of earthly existence as she departs.
Also known as Kaguya · Kaguya-hime · Moon-Maiden
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In the sources
A child in a bamboo reed
LiteraryThe bamboo-cutter finds a very small child of extraordinary beauty inside a reed and carries her home to his wife. Davis gives her initial height as about four inches.
The robe and the departure
LiteraryWhen the Feather Robe is placed upon Kaguya, the tale says her memory of earthly life disappears. She enters the car and is carried away on the cloud.
Context & interpretation
The entry concerns the Bamboo-cutter and Moon-Maiden tale as retold by Davis, rather than treating Kaguya as a historical person or compiling every adaptation. The lunar journey and the loss of memory are events within that narrative. Evelyn Paul's artwork illustrates the departure episode.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
discovered in the heart of a reed a very small creature of exquisite beauty.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter III, printed p. 65
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0076
- Original scan leaf
- 91
- Recorded leaf number
- 91
- Current Reader position
- 75
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
in a moment all memory of her earthly existence departed.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter III, printed p. 79
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0091
- Original scan leaf
- 107
- Recorded leaf number
- 107
- Current Reader position
- 90
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
