The Emperor, having heard of Princess Kaguya’s unparalleled beauty, one day spoke to a court lady named Soeko: “I hear this woman treats her admirers as if they were enemies, never heeding their words. Go and see what kind of woman she really is.”
Soeko, obeying the imperial command, left the palace and arrived at the home of the old bamboo cutter. The old man received her with respect. Soeko told the old lady, “The Emperor says your Princess Kaguya is of unmatched beauty, and he has specially sent me to see her.”
The old lady replied, “Very well, I’ll tell her.” She went inside and said to Kaguya, “Hurry out to greet the Emperor’s envoy!” Kaguya responded, “How can that be! My appearance isn’t so remarkable. I’m too shy to meet the Emperor’s envoy.” No matter what, she refused to comply.
The old lady said, “How rude of you! Can the Emperor’s envoy be treated with such disrespect?” Kaguya replied, “I’m not offending the Emperor by saying this.” She showed no intention of meeting the envoy.
Princess Kaguya was like a daughter to the old lady from her childhood, yet she defiantly resisted her words. The old lady wanted to scold her but didn’t know how to say it properly.
The old lady then came out and told the envoy, “I’m terribly sorry! Our girl is just a naive child; she’s stubborn and absolutely refuses to come out.”
The court lady said, “But the Emperor insists that I see her. I cannot return without seeing her. Can anyone in this land ignore the Emperor’s words? Your excuse is unreasonable!” She rebuked them sharply. However, Kaguya, upon hearing this, not only refused but also said, “If speaking like this is against the Emperor’s will, then he should have me killed at once!”
The court lady, having no choice, returned to the palace to report to the Emperor. The Emperor laughed and said, “Such spirit could indeed kill many!” For the moment, he dismissed her from his thoughts. However, feeling uneasy, how could he let such a defiant woman triumph over him? The Emperor changed his mind and one day summoned the bamboo cutter, saying:
“Bring your Princess Kaguya to me! I’ve heard her beauty is extraordinary. Previously, I sent envoys, but all attempts were futile. Did you teach her to be so rude?”
The bamboo cutter, fearful and respectful, replied, “Not at all, sir! I dare not. But this girl, I fear, is unwilling to enter the palace. There’s nothing I can do. However, let me try persuading her again.”
The Emperor nodded and said, “That’s better. Isn’t she the one you’ve raised? Can’t you decide for her? If you bring her to the palace, I’ll grant you a fifth-rank official position.”
The bamboo cutter joyfully returned home and said to Kaguya, “The Emperor said this to me; won’t you agree?”
Kaguya replied, “No, no matter what, I will not become a court lady. If you force me, I will vanish. What is this: you wait for me to become a court lady so you can gain your official position, and I shall die at the same time!”
The bamboo cutter exclaimed, “Ah, that must not happen! How could I accept honors while causing my beloved child to die? But why do you detest being a court lady so much? It’s not a matter of life and death!”
Kaguya answered, “I’ve said this much; if you can still lie for me, then send me to the palace and see whether I die or not. Many have sincerely and persistently sought me for years, yet I have never agreed. The Emperor’s words are but a recent matter. If I agreed, how would the world ridicule me! I refuse to do such a shameful thing.”
The bamboo cutter said, “Nothing in this world, no matter how significant, should concern your life. Then, let me return to the palace and tell the Emperor that you refuse to become a court lady.”
The bamboo cutter went to the Emperor and said, “I am deeply grateful for your previous words, sir, and immediately tried to persuade my daughter to enter the palace. However, the girl said, ‘I would rather die than enter the palace.’ It turns out this child isn’t my biological offspring; I found her in the mountains, and thus her temperament differs from ordinary people.”
The Emperor, hearing this, exclaimed, “Ah, that’s right! Otomo, do you live at the foot of the mountains? Here’s an idea: let me go hunting in the mountains. I’ll just barge into your home to see Kaguya, how about that?”
The bamboo cutter replied, “That would be most welcome. When she is
unaware and sitting at home, if the Emperor suddenly makes a royal visit, he will see her.”
Thus, the Emperor hastily picked a day to go hunting in the mountains. He barged into Kaguya’s home and saw, amidst a radiance, a beautiful, delicate woman sitting there. Thinking this must be her, he approached her. The woman stood up and fled inside. The Emperor followed and caught hold of her sleeve. She used her other sleeve to cover her face, but the Emperor had already clearly seen her face, mesmerized by her beauty, and could not bear to leave her. He thought to pull her out right there.
Then Kaguya spoke, “If this body of mine were born in this land, I would serve you, Emperor. But I am not from this land, and it makes no sense for you to drag me away!”
The Emperor, hearing this, exclaimed, “Nonsense! I must pull her out no matter what.” He called for his palanquin, intending to pull Kaguya into it. Strangely, Kaguya’s body vanished, leaving no trace! The Emperor thought, “Ah, it’s over! Just as Otomo said, she isn’t an ordinary person.” He then said, “Well, well, I no longer think of taking you away. Just return to your original form, let me have one more look, and I’ll go back.” Kaguya then reappeared in her original form.
The Emperor, seeing Kaguya’s true form, felt his passion intensify, beyond control. However, no matter how intense his feelings, there was nothing he could do now. He thanked the bamboo cutter, saying he was pleased to have seen Kaguya and should reward him. The cutter was grateful and offered wine and food to entertain the Emperor’s entourage.
As the Emperor left Kaguya to return, his heart was truly reluctant, filled with a gloomy mood as he got into the car. Before leaving, he composed a poem to send to Kaguya:
“Returning in my royal carriage, my sorrow knows no bounds,
All because the lady refuses to come.”
Kaguya replied with a poem:
“In a thatched gate and a straw house, I’ve lived for years,
Not wishing to dwell in golden halls and jade towers.”
The Emperor, reading this poem, truly did not want to leave. His heart felt as if someone was pulling his hair from behind. Yet, staying overnight here was ultimately not feasible. With no other choice, he had to return.
From then on, the Emperor felt that the ladies who served him paled in comparison to Kaguya. Those previously considered beauties were nothing next to her. The image of Kaguya often lingered in his heart. He spent his days in solitude, melancholic, no longer visiting the Empress or the court ladies, instead writing letters to Kaguya to express his feelings. Kaguya wrote back with beautiful responses. Following this, as the seasons changed, the Emperor composed poems about various beautiful flowers and plants to send to Kaguya.