Hanasaka Jiisan

Did You Know?

• The story is featured in the NCERT 7th Standard English Text “Honeycomb” as “The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom” by William Elliot Griffis.
• Lang adapted his version from a German text in Japanische Märchen, originally titled Der neidische Nachbar.

Synopsis

An elderly couple without children adored their dog. One day, while digging in their garden, the dog unearthed a box filled with gold coins. A neighbor, convinced the animal could locate treasure, managed to borrow it. When the dog dug in his own garden, it uncovered only bones; enraged, he killed it. He told the couple the dog had simply died. Heartbroken, they buried it beneath the fig tree where the gold had been found. That night, the dog’s owner dreamed the creature told him to cut down the tree and craft a mortar from its wood. He shared the dream with his wife, who insisted they follow the instruction. When they did, any rice placed in the mortar turned into gold. The neighbor borrowed the mortar, but his rice transformed into foul-smelling berries. In fury, he and his wife smashed and burned it. That same night, the dog appeared again in a dream, instructing its master to collect the ashes and sprinkle them on certain cherry trees. He obeyed, and the trees burst into bloom. A passing daimyo, amazed by the sight, bestowed many gifts upon him. The neighbor attempted the same trick, but the ashes blew into the daimyo’s eyes. The lord threw him into prison. After his release, the village refused to let him stay, and his wicked reputation prevented him from finding any new home.