The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom

• Main Characters

  • Kind Old Couple: Hardworking, honest, and loved their pet dog.
  • Wicked Neighbors: Greedy, cruel, and jealous.
  • Muko: The loyal pet dog who helped the kind couple.
  • The Daimyo: The wealthy landlord/lord of the area.

• The First Miracle: The Treasure

  • Muko scratches the ground under a pine tree.
  • Old man digs and finds a pile of gold.
  • Kind couple becomes wealthy and supports the poor.

• The Tragedy of Muko

  • Greedy neighbors drag Muko to find gold.
  • Muko finds a dead kitten instead.
  • Neighbors kill Muko in a fit of rage.
  • Kind man buries Muko and mourns him.

• The Second Miracle: Mortar and Mill

  • Muko’s spirit appears in a dream.
  • Instructs the old man to cut the pine tree over his grave.
  • Old man makes a mortar for rice and a mill for bean sauce.
  • Rice pastry and bean sauce turn into gold coins.

• The Neighbors' Greed and Failure

  • Greedy neighbors borrow the mortar and mill.
  • Instead of gold, they get foul-smelling worms.
  • In anger, they break and burn the mill into ashes.

• The Third Miracle: The Magic Ashes

  • Muko’s spirit returns in another dream.
  • Tells the old man to sprinkle the ashes on withered trees.
  • Old man sprinkles ashes on a withered cherry tree.
  • The tree blooms beautifully in winter.

• The Reward and the Punishment

  • The Daimyo witnesses the blooming tree and rewards the kind man with gifts.
  • Greedy neighbor tries to imitate the miracle.
  • Ashes blow into the Daimyo’s eyes and nose.
  • Greedy neighbor is beaten and punished for his failure.

• Core Themes

  • Karma: Good deeds are rewarded; evil deeds are punished.
  • Kindness: Compassion towards animals and others.
  • Greed: The destructive nature of envy and selfishness.
  • Loyalty: Muko’s spirit continues to help his masters even after death.