Reading Notes: Jataka Tales Section B

THE SPIRIT THAT LIVED IN A TREE

Source: Eastern Stories and Legends

by Marie L. Shedlock

This tale features a spirit that lives in a tree pleading to a king to not cut him down. He does this, not to save his life, but the lives of his fellow trees around him. When the king refuses, and claims he wants to build a mighty palace from the bones of the tree, the tree-spirit reveals the reason he doesn't want to be cut down to the king. He persists, saying if he must be cut down, to do it piece by piece to avoid damage to those around him. The king is so moved by this, he decides to spare the tree after all.

The Tree Spirit (Source: wikimedia)

I think this could easily be adapted into a story that is easier to read. A lot of the language is flowery and sounds silly, lots of thoust and other words of a similar nature. I think the wording and phrasing of the story could be changed to more modern language, which would make the story a lot more readable.

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