The Jeweled Branch of Horai: Unlocking the Mystery of Japan’s Impossible Treasure
When exploring the rich tapestry of Japanese folklore, few stories are as poignant and enduring as Taketori Monogatari, or “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.” At the heart of this ancient narrative lies the enigmatic figure of Princess Kaguya and the five impossible tasks she set for her noble suitors. Among these treasures, the Jeweled Branch of Horai stands out not just as an object of exquisite beauty, but as a symbol of human folly and the desperate lengths one will go to for love (or status).
For cultural travelers and myth enthusiasts, understanding the significance of this Jeweled Branch offers a fascinating glimpse into Heian-period aesthetics, the connection between Japanese and Chinese mythology, and the timeless nature of storytelling.
Origins of the Mystical Isle
To understand the branch, one must first understand its alleged source: Mount Horai (or Penglai in Chinese). In East Asian mythology, Horai is a legendary island of immortals located somewhere in the eastern sea. It is a place where there is no pain or winter, where rice bowls and wine glasses never empty, and where magical fruits grant eternal youth.
While Taketori Monogatari is considered Japan’s oldest surviving fictional prose narrative (dating back to the late 9th or early 10th century), the concept of Horai predates it, appearing in earlier historical texts. The island represents the Taoist ideal of paradise. Consequently, the “Jeweled Branch” was said to be a literal piece of this paradise—a branch with a silver root, a gold trunk, and bearing white jewels (pearls) as fruit. It was an object that belonged to the divine, making the request for it an inherent paradox: Kaguya was asking for something that no mortal could truly possess.
The Legend of the Deceitful Prince
In the tale, Princess Kaguya is courted by five high-ranking officials. To turn them away without refusing them outright, she assigns each a quest to retrieve a legendary treasure. Prince Kuramochi was assigned the task of retrieving the Jeweled Branch from Mount Horai.
Prince Kuramochi, however, was a man of cunning rather than courage. Realizing the journey was likely fatal or impossible, he pretended to set sail but actually retreated to a secluded countryside hideout. There, he employed six of Japan’s finest artisans to forge a counterfeit branch. For three years, they worked in secret, crafting a replica of gold, silver, and pearls so perfect it looked indistinguishable from the myth.
The Great Reveal
When the Prince returned to Kaguya with the forged branch, he spun an elaborate tale of his perilous journey across stormy seas and his encounter with celestial beings. Kaguya was nearly convinced and almost resigned herself to marrying him. However, the ruse unraveled in a moment of dramatic irony. The artisans, whom the Prince had failed to pay, stormed the mansion demanding their wages for crafting the “Jeweled Branch.” Exposed as a fraud and a liar, Prince Kuramochi fled in shame, disappearing into the mountains, never to be seen again.
Modern Culture and Symbolism
The Jeweled Branch of Horai has permeated modern Japanese pop culture, serving as a recurring motif for “impossible objects.”
- Studio Ghibli: In Isao Takahata’s masterpiece The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), the segment regarding the Jeweled Branch is depicted with stunning visual artistry, highlighting the superficial beauty of the fake branch versus the authentic beauty of nature that Kaguya craves.
- Anime and Games: Fans of the Touhou Project series or the anime Naruto may recognize references to Kaguya and her five treasures. The branch often appears as a powerful item or a spell card, symbolizing lunar power and mystery.
- Literature: The story serves as an early critique of materialism. The Prince tried to buy love with a manufactured object, failing to understand that Kaguya’s requirements were spiritual tests rather than material shopping lists.
Traveler’s Tips: Finding the Moon Princess
While Mount Horai is mythical, you can still immerse yourself in the world of the Bamboo Cutter during your travels in Japan:
- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove (Kyoto): Walk through the soaring stalks of bamboo in Kyoto. It is easy to imagine the old bamboo cutter finding the glowing stalk that contained the princess in a forest just like this one.
- Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park: The end of the legend is intimately tied to Mount Fuji (where Kaguya sent the Elixir of Life to be burned). Visiting the mountain connects you to the tale’s conclusion.
- Taketori no Okina Museum (Nara): Located in Koryo, Nara, this area claims to be the true setting of the legend. The town features murals and small museums dedicated to the folklore.
- Japanese Gardens: Look for the concept of Horai-jima in traditional Zen gardens. Many dry landscape gardens (karesansui) feature a stone arrangement representing Mount Horai, symbolizing an unreachable paradise within the garden.
Sources & Further Reading
For those wishing to delve deeper into the classical texts that shaped this legend, the following historical and literary works are essential:
- Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter): The primary source of the legend. Various English translations are available.
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): While it focuses on history, this 8th-century text records the legend of Tajima-mori seeking the “Evergreen Fruit” from the Eternal Land (Tokoyo), which shares strong thematic parallels with the concept of Horai.
- Man’yoshu: Japan’s oldest anthology of poetry contains several references to the concept of the Land of Immortals, showing how the idea of Horai was viewed by the ancient aristocracy.