The Stonecutter The Stonecutter
A Japanese folktale, Author unknown A Japanese folktale, Author unknown
There was once a stonecutter who was dissatisfied There was once a stonecutter who was dissatisfied
with himself and with his position in life. with himself and with his position in life.
One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house and One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house and
through the open gateway saw many fine possessions and through the open gateway saw many fine possessions and
important visitors. “How powerful that merchant must be?” important visitors. “How powerful that merchant must be?”
thought the stone cutter. He became very envious, and thought the stone cutter. He became very envious, and
wished that he would no longer have to live the life of a wished that he would no longer have to live the life of a
mere stone cutter. mere stone cutter.
To his great surprise, he suddenly became the To his great surprise, he suddenly became the
merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had
ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less
wealthy than himself. But soon a high officialpassed by, wealthy than himself. But soon a high officialpassed by,
carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and
escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter
how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. “How how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. “How
powerful that official is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be powerful that official is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be
a high official!” a high official!”
Then, he became the high official carried everywhere Then, he became the high official carried everywhere
in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by te in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by te
people all around the world, who had to bow down before people all around the world, who had to bow down before
hims as passed. It was a hot summer day, and the official hims as passed. It was a hot summer day, and the official
felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked
up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his
presence. “How powerful the sun is!” he thought. “I wish I presence. “How powerful the sun is!” he thought. “I wish I
could be the sun!” could be the sun!”
Then he became the sun, shiinning fierecely down on Then he became the sun, shiinning fierecely down on
everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and
laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and
the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on
everything below. “How powerful the storm cloud is!” he everything below. “How powerful the storm cloud is!” he
thought. “I wish I could be the cloud!” thought. “I wish I could be the cloud!”
Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and
villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found out villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found out
that he is being pushed by some great force, and realized it that he is being pushed by some great force, and realized it
was the wind. “How powerful it is!” he thougt. “I wish I was the wind. “How powerful it is!” he thougt. “I wish I
could be the wind!” could be the wind!”
Then he became the wind, blowing tiles of the roots Then he became the wind, blowing tiles of the roots
and houses, uprooting trees hated and feared by all below and houses, uprooting trees hated and feared by all below
him. But after a while, he ran up against something that him. But after a while, he ran up against something that
would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against
it – a huge, towering stone. “How powerful that stone is!” it – a huge, towering stone. “How powerful that stone is!”
he thought. “I wish I could be the stone!” he thought. “I wish I could be the stone!”
Then he became the stone, more powerful than Then he became the stone, more powerful than
anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the
sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock
and felt himself being charged. “” What could be more and felt himself being charged. “” What could be more
powerful than I, the stone?” he though. He looked down powerful than I, the stone?” he though. He looked down
and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter. and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter.
GUIDE QUESTIONS: GUIDE QUESTIONS:
What is the selection mainly about? What is the selection mainly about?
How will you describe the character? How will you describe the character?
Why did he wish to be different? Why did he wish to be different?
What surprised him every time he changed form? What surprised him every time he changed form?
What did he realize after going through several What did he realize after going through several
changes? changes?
What is the moral of the story? What is the moral of the story?
