Chinese Folktale

            Whenever, the night is clear you can see shadows on the moon. According to an old Chinese folktale, they are the shadows of the cinnamon tree in the moon. This tree came to be because of the laziness of an immortal, Wu Kang.

           

          Wu Kang was in charge of guarding the dragon. However, he was lazy. As soon as he drank wine, he often allowed the dragon to run away. One day, he went to Mount K’un Lun. While he was there he met some of his friends. They began to drink, compose poems, and throw dice. He continued to drink, even after night came. Until he drank some more he became completely tipsy. As soon as he saw some fellows playing chess he asked to join them. They advised him to go home because they knew he was being negligent, but Wu Kang offered to wager the dragons pearls. While, they played a few more moves of the game, Wu Kang lost the pearl. After, he had wagered and lost the dragon pearl and the mighty dragon, the immortal learned of the loss, they were furious. They immediately sowed a pearl in the ground and a tall cinnamon tree grew from it. Whenever the tree reached a great height, they gave Wu Kang an axe and told him to cut off the branches. As soon as after that, bigger ones sprouted and grew. Wu Kang had to cut them off too. Wu Kang is still there to this day cutting off branches. Whenever you see shadows on the moon you will know that they are branches of cinnamon tree falling down.