Chapter 4: The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom

(From NCERT Honeycomb, Class 7 English)

Origin: A Japanese Folk Tale

Story Overview

"The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom" is a Japanese folk tale that explores themes of kindness, greed, justice, and the supernatural. It tells the story of an honest and kind old couple whose benevolent spirit, aided by their loyal dog, brings them prosperity, while their envious and cruel neighbours meet a deserving fate. The tale emphasizes that good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished.

Detailed Summary

The Kind Old Couple and Their Dog, Muko

In a small Japanese village, there lived an honest and hardworking old couple. They had no children, so they adopted a pet dog named Muko, whom they loved dearly, feeding him with chopsticks as if he were their own child. They were rice farmers, and every day, the old man went to his fields to work. Muko would often accompany him, never harming any bird or animal. The kind couple shared whatever they had with their dog.

One day, while the old man was working, Muko suddenly ran to him, wagging his tail and pawing at his leg, then led him to a spot near an old pine tree. Thinking the dog might be trying to find something to eat, the old man dug there. To his utter surprise, he found a heap of gold coins! The old couple immediately became rich. They bought a piece of land, gave a feast to their neighbours, and generously helped the poor.

The Greedy Neighbours' Cruelty

In the same village lived another old couple who were exactly the opposite – greedy and cruel. They heard about their neighbours' good fortune and, believing Muko had magic, dragged him to their own garden, forcing him to find treasure. But Muko, feeling no love or loyalty, only sniffed around without showing any interest. The greedy couple, frustrated, finally found a foul-smelling dead kitten in the spot Muko scratched. In a fit of rage and disappointment, they killed Muko and buried him under the pine tree.

The Dog's Spirit and the Mill

The kind old man mourned the death of his beloved dog. That night, Muko's spirit appeared to him in a dream, asking him to cut down the pine tree under which he was buried and make a mortar (for grinding rice) from its trunk, and use it to make rice paste and bean sauce. The old man, though heartbroken, followed the dream's instructions. When they used the mortar, the rice paste turned into a heap of gold coins, and the beans turned into a shower of gold!

The greedy neighbours, ever watchful, saw this miracle. They immediately borrowed the magic mortar. But when they used it, the rice and beans turned into a mass of foul worms. Enraged again, they chopped the mortar into pieces and used it as firewood.

The Spirit's Second Request and the Ashes

Again, Muko's spirit appeared to the kind old man in a dream. This time, Muko asked him to collect the ashes of the burnt mortar and sprinkle them on withered trees, promising that the trees would bloom. The kind old man gathered the ashes, put them in a basket, and went out to test the magic. When he sprinkled the ashes on a withered cherry tree, it instantly burst into bloom! The news spread quickly, and people came from far and wide to witness this miracle.

The Daimio's Procession

The Daimio (a feudal lord in Japan) heard about the old man's magic. As was customary, the Daimio was passing by in a grand procession. People were expected to kneel down and remain silent during his passage. The old man strategically waited by a withered tree along the road. As the procession approached, he sprinkled the ashes on the tree. The tree immediately bloomed with beautiful flowers. The Daimio, greatly pleased and impressed, stopped his palanquin, praised the old man, and rewarded him with silk robes, sponge-cakes, and money, inviting him to his castle.

The Greedy Neighbours' Failed Attempt and Punishment

The greedy neighbours, hearing of the old man's new success, also collected the remaining ashes. They positioned themselves by a withered tree as the Daimio's procession approached. However, when the old man sprinkled the ashes, they blew into the Daimio’s eyes and nose, causing him to sneeze and choke. Enraged by this insult, the Daimio's men beat the greedy old man, threw him into a ditch, and left him to die, while the old woman was dragged through the mud. Thus, the cruel couple met their deserved end, highlighting the tale's moral.

Characters in the Story

The Good Old Man: Kind, honest, hardworking, and compassionate. He loves animals (especially Muko) and shares his good fortune with others. He is consistently rewarded for his virtues.
The Good Old Woman: Equally kind and supportive of her husband. She shares his love for Muko and his benevolent nature.
Muko (The Dog): A loyal and intelligent dog who is highly devoted to the kind old couple. Even after death, his spirit continues to bring good fortune to his masters and brings justice upon their tormentors.
The Greedy Old Man: Cruel, envious, and selfish. He harms Muko and tries to replicate the good couple's success through wicked means, ultimately leading to his downfall.
The Greedy Old Woman: Shares her husband's negative traits and participates in his cruel and envious actions.
The Daimio: A powerful feudal lord who represents authority and justice. He rewards virtue and punishes insolence, confirming the moral order of the story.

Themes

Goodness Rewarded, Evil Punished: This is the central moral of the tale. The kind couple consistently receives blessings, while the cruel neighbours face increasingly severe consequences for their malice.
Compassion for Animals: The story highlights the special bond between the kind couple and their dog, Muko, and how their care for him leads to their prosperity.
Envy and Greed are Destructive: The greedy couple's downfall is directly attributed to their envy of others' fortune and their avarice.
Justice: The supernatural element (Muko's spirit) serves as an instrument of divine or poetic justice, ensuring that actions have appropriate consequences.
The Power of Nature: The blossoming of withered trees through ashes symbolizes rebirth, hope, and the magical connection between nature and purity of heart.

Word	Meaning
Diligent	Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties
Chopped	Cut (something) into small pieces
Pawed	Struck or scraped with a paw
Feast	A large meal, typically one in celebration of something
Daimio	(In feudal Japan) one of the great lords who were vassals of the Shogun
Vassals	A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance
Envious	Feeling or showing envy (desire to have a quality, possession, or other advantage belonging to someone else)
Mourned	Felt or showed sorrow for the death of someone
Mortar	A strong, heavy bowl in which substances are pounded or ground with a pestle
Pestle	A heavy tool with a rounded end, used for crushing and grinding substances in a mortar
Dough	A thick, malleable (shapeable) mixture of flour and liquid, used for baking
Miracle	An extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency
Withered	(Of a plant) become dry and shrivelled
Procession	A number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion, especially as part of a ceremony or festival
Kneel	Go down on one's knee or knees
Palankeen/Palanquin	A covered litter for one passenger, consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal poles by four or six bearers
Choked	(Of a person or animal) have difficulty breathing because of an obstruction in the throat or windpipe
Seized	Took hold of suddenly and forcibly
Bellowing	(Of a person or animal) emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger

NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

Working With The Text

Why did the neighbours kill the dog?
The greedy neighbours killed the dog because they were envious of the good old couple's newfound wealth and believed the dog had magical powers. When they forced the dog to find treasure for them, it only led them to a foul-smelling dead kitten. In their rage and disappointment, they killed the innocent dog.
Mark the correct item.
(i) The old farmer and his wife loved the dog
(a) because it helped them in their day-to-day work.
(b) as if it were their own baby.
(c) as they were kind to all living things.

The correct option is (b) **as if it were their own baby.** (Though (c) is also true, (b) is directly stated in the text and better describes their specific affection for Muko).

(ii) When the old couple became rich, they
(a) gave the dog better food.
(b) lived a comfortable life and showed their generosity.
(c) forced their neighbours to be rich too.

The correct option is (b) **lived a comfortable life and showed their generosity.** They gave a feast for their neighbours and generously helped the poor.

(iii) The greedy couple borrowed the mortar and magic mill to
(a) make rice pastry and bean sauce.
(b) make gold from bean sauce and rice pastry.
(c) prepare rice and bean paste for the feast.

The correct option is (b) **make gold from bean sauce and rice pastry.** They knew the good couple had turned rice and beans into gold, so they hoped to do the same.
What did the dog’s spirit tell the old man?
The dog’s spirit first told the old man in a dream to cut down the pine tree under which he was buried and make a mortar out of its trunk to grind rice paste and bean sauce. Later, in a second dream, the spirit told him to collect the ashes of the burnt mortar and sprinkle them on withered trees to make them bloom.
How did the Daimio reward the old farmer?
The Daimio rewarded the old farmer handsomely. After witnessing the miracle of the withered cherry tree blooming, he praised the old man, ordered silk robes, sponge-cakes, and other articles, including money, to be given to him, and invited him to his castle.
Why did the Daimio get angry with the other old man?
The Daimio got angry with the other old man because when the greedy man tried to perform the same trick with the ashes, instead of making the tree bloom, the ashes blew into the Daimio’s eyes and nose, causing him to sneeze and choke. This act was seen as an insult and a direct assault on the Daimio, leading to his fury.

Working With Language

Read the following story. It is a Japanese fairy tale.
(The question provides a short story for reading comprehension which cannot be reproduced here. The exercises based on it are given below.)
Fill in the blanks with the words given in the box.
- kind
- cruel
- loyal
- wise
- envious
- sad
A **kind** and **loyal** old man lived with his wife. They were **sad** because they had no children. They loved their dog Muko as their baby. When the old couple became rich, a **cruel** neighbour became **envious** and killed the dog. The spirit of the dog gave the old man a magic mill. But when the **envious** neighbour used it, he had to die. The Daimio heard of the old man’s magic and rewarded him. The greedy man tried the same trick but he was punished.

(Answers filled directly into the blanks above.)

Extra Questions & Answers

Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)

How did the kind old couple treat their dog, Muko?
The kind old couple treated their dog, Muko, with immense love and affection, as if he were their own child. They fed him from their own chopsticks, shared their food, and never failed to provide for him, demonstrating their deep compassion.
What first surprised the old man when Muko led him to the pine tree?
The old man was first surprised when Muko excitedly led him to a particular spot under a pine tree and began pawing and whining. When the old man dug there, expecting to find a dead animal or food, he instead unearthed a large pile of glistening gold coins.
What did the greedy neighbours do with Muko? Why?
The greedy neighbours dragged Muko to their garden and forced him to find treasure. When Muko only led them to a foul-smelling dead kitten, they became enraged by their disappointment and, in their cruelty, killed the dog and buried him under the pine tree.
What happened when the greedy couple used the borrowed mortar?
When the greedy couple used the borrowed mortar, instead of turning their rice paste and bean sauce into gold, the mixture transformed into a mass of foul-smelling worms. This infuriated them, leading them to destroy the mortar.
How did the old man make the withered cherry tree bloom?
The old man made the withered cherry tree bloom by sprinkling the magical ashes from the burnt mortar onto it. As soon as the ashes touched the branches, the tree instantly burst into beautiful pink blossoms, much to the delight of the onlookers.

Long Answer Questions (80-100 words)

Trace the series of events that led to the kind old couple becoming prosperous.
The kind old couple became prosperous due to a series of miraculous events, all initiated by their beloved dog, Muko. First, Muko led the old man to a hidden treasure of gold coins. After Muko's tragic death at the hands of the greedy neighbours, his spirit instructed the old man to build a mortar from the pine tree under which he was buried. This mortar then miraculously turned rice and beans into gold. Finally, after the greedy neighbours destroyed the mortar, Muko's spirit guided the old man to use its ashes. When sprinkled on withered trees, these ashes made the trees bloom, eventually leading to rewards from the Daimio, thus securing their prosperity and proving that goodness is always rewarded.
Compare and contrast the characters of the good old couple and the greedy old couple.
The good old couple is portrayed as kind, honest, and compassionate, epitomized by their loving care for their dog, Muko, and their generosity towards the poor and their neighbours. They are content with what they have. In contrast, the greedy couple is cruel, selfish, and envious. They harm Muko out of frustration and try to replicate the good couple's success through force and deceit. The good couple's actions bring blessings and respect, while the greedy couple's malice leads to their ultimate destruction and public disgrace. The story uses them as foils to highlight the virtues of benevolence versus the vices of avarice and cruelty.
What lesson can we learn from the tale, "The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom"?
"The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom" teaches several important lessons. Firstly, it emphasizes that kindness, compassion, and honesty are always rewarded, while greed, envy, and cruelty inevitably lead to ruin. The good old couple's consistent benevolence brings them prosperity, guided by a benevolent spirit. Secondly, it highlights the significance of treating animals with love and respect, as seen in Muko's continued loyalty even after death. Lastly, the tale reinforces the idea of poetic justice, where a higher power or cosmic order ensures that good deeds are recognized and evil actions are met with fitting consequences. It's a reminder to cultivate virtues and avoid vices for a harmonious life.

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