The Stonecutter facts for kids
The Stone-cutter is a famous story that teaches us about being happy with who you are. It's often thought to be a Japanese folk tale, but its true origins are a bit more complex. The story was first shared widely by Andrew Lang in his book The Crimson Fairy Book in 1903. He got it from a German collection called Japanische Märchen (Japanese Fairy Tales) by David Brauns from 1885.
However, this tale is very similar to a story called "The Japanese Stonecutter" found in a book from 1860, Max Havelaar, written by a Dutch author named Multatuli. That version was also based on an even older story from 1842 by Wolter Robert baron van Hoëvell. So, while it feels like an old Japanese legend, it's actually a story that has been retold and adapted by different writers over time.
The Stone-cutter Story
This tale is a type of fairy tale that explores themes of desire and contentment. It's quite similar to another well-known story, The Fisherman and His Wife, which was collected by the Brothers Grimm. Both stories show what happens when someone keeps wishing for more and more power or wealth.
What Happens in the Story?
The story is about a humble stone-cutter who works hard every day. He spends his time cutting stones from a mountain. One day, he feels tired and wishes he could be a rich man instead. A kind mountain spirit hears his wish and makes it come true!
But being rich isn't enough for him. He soon sees a powerful prince and wishes to be a prince. The spirit grants his wish again. As a prince, he feels very important. Yet, he notices the sun is even more powerful, shining down on everyone and everything. He wishes to become the sun.
The stone-cutter becomes the sun, feeling mighty as he shines. But then, he sees clouds that can block his rays. He wishes to be a cloud, able to float freely and bring rain. So, he becomes a cloud.
As a cloud, he rains down on the earth. He sees the giant mountain, which stands strong and doesn't move, no matter how much he rains. He then wishes to be the mountain, thinking it's the strongest of all.
He becomes the mountain, feeling incredibly solid and unmoving. He believes he has reached the peak of power. But then, he hears a chipping sound. It's a small stone-cutter, just like he used to be, chipping away at his base! The stone-cutter is slowly changing the mountain.
What Does the Story Teach Us?
Seeing the stone-cutter, the mountain realizes that even the biggest and strongest things can be affected by something small. He understands that true power isn't about being the biggest or having the most. He learns that he was happiest and most content when he was simply himself, a humble stone-cutter.
The story teaches us an important lesson: it's good to be happy with what you have. It shows that always wanting more power or wealth might not make you truly happy. Sometimes, the simplest life can be the most fulfilling.
