The Legend of Cuội and the Moon Tree

Once upon a time, in a peaceful village, there lived a woodcutter named Cuội. Every day, Cuội ventured into the forest to gather firewood and make a living. One day, while wandering the woods, Cuội stumbled upon a tiger's den and quickly killed the cubs inside to protect himself. Just as he was about to escape, the mother tiger returned and roared in fury upon discovering her lost cubs. Terrified, Cuội climbed up a nearby tree to hide.

The Magical Banyan Tree and the Power of Resurrection

After crying over her cubs, the mother tiger plucked some leaves from a nearby banyan tree, chewed them, and revived her cubs. Witnessing this miracle, Cuội realized that this banyan tree had the power to bring things back to life. He quickly dug up the tree and brought it back to his home to plant.

On his way back, Cuội encountered an old man who had passed away. Seeing an opportunity, Cuội chewed the leaves and brought the man back to life. Grateful, the old man warned Cuội to always take care of the tree and never water it with dirty water, or else the tree would fly away.

From then on, Cuội took great care of the tree, using only clean water to nourish it. With the tree's magical powers, Cuội was able to save many lives, including that of a drowning dog. Eventually, Cuội saved a young woman, and they fell in love and married. However, as news of Cuội's miraculous abilities spread, it attracted the attention of evil people.

The Family Tragedy and Cuội's Departure

One day, while Cuội was away, a band of thieves attacked his house, killed his wife, and took out her internal organs. When Cuội returned, heartbroken, he tried everything he could to revive his wife but couldn't due to the missing organs. His loyal dog, however, volunteered to give up its organs to save her. Miraculously, Cuội's wife came back to life, and the dog, whose insides were replaced with clay, was also revived.

However, Cuội's wife became forgetful. Cuội often reminded her, "If you need to pee, go toward the West, not the East, or the tree will fly away." But one day, she forgot the warning and watered the tree with dirty water. Instantly, the banyan tree uprooted itself and began to fly into the sky. Cuội rushed to hold onto the tree's roots, but it was too late—he was carried away to the moon.

The Moon and Cuội's Legacy

Now, when people look up at the moon, they see the silhouette of a man sitting beneath a banyan tree. The familiar song still echoes through the air during the Mid-Autumn Festival:

"Cuội sits under the banyan tree,

Calling out for his father, while the cows graze on rice."

Lessons from the Legend

The story of Cuội serves as more than just a magical tale—it carries valuable lessons. It reminds us of the importance of honesty, caution, and responsibility in life. It also offers an explanation for the mysterious image of a banyan tree on the moon, a symbol that continues to be cherished during Vietnam's Mid-Autumn Festival.