Question

Summary of the ashes that made trees bloom

Answer 1

The story “The Ashes that made Trees Bloom”, written by  William Elliot Griffis, is a based in Japan. It is about a honest and a hardworking couple who live with their pet dog, Muko.

The greedy and cruel nature of their neighbors results in the death of the dog. However, the master receives support and solace in many different unexpected ways from the dog’s spirit.

The story explains that people are known by the deeds they perform, just like a tree which is known by its fruits and leaves. It shows that if people are kind to other people and animals, they tend to be happy. If they are greedy and cruel, they will be unhappy and sad.

   

The story also has hints of magical realism, along with themes of kindness, mythology, karma, animals, fantasy, kindness, and society.

Answer 2

The story contains a powerful message to adopt virtues like honesty, compassion, and truth. In this Japanese story about an old couple who love their pet Muko very much. Muck becomes instrumental in bringing riches to the old couple. First, they get a pot of gold on digging the ground where Muko was trying to remove mud with his paws. They had a greedy neighbor who sees it and he comes and takes Muko along with him. But he doesn't get any gold and in his anger, the wicket neighbor hit him and he died. The old man buried Muko and planted a pine tree on his grave and watered it daily. When the tree grew he thought of making a mortar out of the tree. He wanted to make rice cake by pounding rice in the mortar. When he was pounding boiled rice to make the cake, the rice turned into gold and the couple became richer. The neighbor again saw it and came to them to borrow mortar. The kind man gave him mortar but when he used it, he didn't get any gold. Then he was furious and burned the mortar. When the old man came to ask for his mortar, it was all ashes. He took ashes home. When he sprinkled ashes in his garden, his cherry trees blossomed, though it was winter time. Again the neighbor came to take ashes so that his trees could also blossom. Again his wish didn't come true. so, the story shows how the spirit of Muko helps the old couple.