Tails of the Full Moon

By jedi1357

Based on Imperishable Night by ZUN (Jun'ya Ota)
Based also on the Konjaku Monogatarishuu and on the Kojiki

Chapter 1: The Day of Buddha Remembered

Millennia ago in the lands to the east across the sea where the sun sets, a monkey, a fox and a rabbit resolved to practice charity on the night of the full Moon in observance of Uposatha. They believed a demonstration of great virtue would earn a great reward. They got their chance when they came across an old man, tired and hungry from his long journey. He built a fire to keep himself warm on that cool moonlit night but he had no food to eat. Seeing this, the animals took pity on the man and agreed that feeding him would be the most charitable act they may be capable of.

The monkey, in his folly, took to the trees and brought down numerous pitfulled fruits that where inedible by humans. The fox ran to a nearby farm house and took from there a jerkied lizard and some milk curds as the family slept. While the others where away, the rabbit stayed behind feeling useless. The only food she knew how to gather was grass but she knew humans couldn't eat grass. In the ultimate gesture of charity she threw herself into the fire, offering up her own meat for the old man to feed on.

When the monkey and the fox returned they saw what the rabbit had done and turned to the old man with their own offerings. The old man would have none of it. He stood up to his full and mighty height, casting aside his ragged raiment and aged disguise. He revealed himself to be Sakra, ruler of the heavens and lord of the Devas. The monkey and fox bowed low in respect to their great lord.

The monkey he neither blessed nor cursed, willing instead that he and his kind continue wallowing in their ignorance and never amount to anything. The fox he cursed saying "In your effort to be charitable you have failed to follow the Second Precept by taking what is not given. For this you and your kind are cursed to be hunted by the humans you stole from." The fox was now afraid. In a miracle such as only a god can conjure, the rabbit came out from the fire completely unharmed and bowed low before her lord. To the rabbit Sakra said "I am touched by your virtue, that you would sacrifice yourself so that an old man you had never met may have food for the night. Look up now and be not afraid."

They looked up to see that the smoke from the fire was not sundered by the light breeze but continued to ascend to a great height such that it stained the Moon. There now upon the face of the Moon was the image of a rabbit. "See now." Sakra said "Let this be a reminder of your selflessness for all the world to see for all generations. May you and your kind be blessed with many strong children and may the heavens themselves be blessed with your like as to my own children and that of the Moon"