Tsuru No Ongaeshi is a popular Japanese folktale that has enchanted many for generations. It’s a story of gratitude and compassion that teaches us the importance of showing kindness to others and how a simple gesture of kindness can have a profound impact on someone’s life.
The story revolves around a crane that rescues a man from poverty by offering its own feathers. According to the tale, a kind-hearted man named Taro meets a crane that had been caught in a trap. Taro frees the crane and nurses it back to health. The crane, grateful for Taro’s kindness, decides to repay him by transforming into a human and offering to become his servant.
Taro accepts the crane’s offer, and the bird starts living with him as a human servant. The crane works hard and amazes everyone with its incredible skills and talents. One day, Taro’s nosy neighbor convinces him to find out the truth about the crane’s identity. After discovering the crane’s true form, Taro attempts to return the bird to its natural habitat.
However, the crane has grown to love Taro and his family and wishes to repay them for their kindness. Therefore, it decides to give Taro a gift in the form of a beautiful feather that will be worth a lot of money. The bird then requests Taro to sell the feather and use the money to improve his living conditions.
Taro does as the bird had requested and sells the feather for a considerable sum of money. However, instead of using the money to improve his own life, Taro decides to help those in need in his community. He distributes the money to the poor, helps those in debt, and pays for the education of a young girl named Oyone.
As a result of his kindness, Taro is rewarded with good fortune, and his life transforms for the better. The crane, impressed by Taro’s selflessness, departs and returns to its natural habitat, satisfied that it has repaid Taro’s kindness.
The story of Tsuru no Ongaeshi is considered a masterpiece of Japanese literature. It teaches us the values of gratitude, compassion, and selflessness and emphasizes the importance of helping others in need. It encourages us to be kind to one another and to appreciate the good deeds that are done for us.
The story also has many interpretations, and some believe that it has a deeper meaning. Some view the crane as a symbol of a guardian angel, representing good luck, prosperity, and protection. Others view the crane’s transformation into a human as a representation of the cycle of life and the idea that all living beings are interconnected.
Overall, Tsuru No Ongaeshi is a timeless tale that continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. It reminds us to always be kind and compassionate and to appreciate the good deeds that others do for us.
