Many years ago in Japan there lived a man named Akinosuke. He loved nothing more than to sit in his garden under a beautiful plum tree. One afternoon Akinosuke and two friends were sitting under his tree, drinking a bottle of wine and discussing various issues of the day. Suddenly Akinosuke felt very tired and was just able to apologize to his friends before he fell deeply asleep.
During his sleep Akinosuke had a strange dream. He dreamt that he was visited by an envoy from the Emperor. The envoy explained that the Emperor wanted to meet him. Akinosuke was very surprised to hear this news. He was an unremarkable man and was amazed the Emperor even knew his name. Nonetheless he did not want to disobey the powerful ruler, so he allowed the envoy to lead him to the Imperial Palace.
Akinosuke was led into a great hall. The floors were paved with jade and the walls were hung with silk tapestry. In the center of the hall, the Emperor sat on a golden throne. Akinosuke bowed so deeply that his forehead touched the cold green floor. When he finally lifted his head he was amazed to see that the Emperor was also bowing toward him.
The Emperor explained that although Akinosuke was a simple man, he had great respect for him. The Emperor went on to say that he wanted Akinosuke to marry his daughter and become his son-in-law. Of course Akinosuke agreed. The princess was brought into the hall and the two were married immediately. Then the Emperor discussed a certain region of the Empire that was without a governor. The Emperor asked Akinosuke if he would like to become the governor of that region. Of course Akinosuke agreed.
Akinosuke and his new wife moved into a mansion in that region. His position as governor was filled with honor and prestige, and his marriage was filled with happiness and peace. He lived in the region for thirty years and he and his wife had seven children. Then after along and happy life together, his wife died. The Emperor invited him back, but he remained at his wife's grave inconsolable.
Just then Akinosuke awoke from his dream. Upon seeing his old friends sitting under the plum tree. He declared, "Friends, I have just had the strangest of dreams, it was as though I lived for thirty years!"
Akinosuke's friends were amazed. They said, "Akinosuke, you were only asleep for a moment, but during that time the strangest thing happened. A butterfly flew out of your mouth and down into the roots of this tree. It remained hidden briefly and then flew back out of the tree and into your mouth at which point you awoke."
Akinosuke thought for a moment and then announced, "Friends, that butterfly must have been my soul, which left my body as I dreamt. But I wonder were it went."
The three men investigated the roots of the tree and found within a colony of ants. As Akinosuke observed the complex of structures that the ants had built within the roots of the tree, he noticed that one dwelling looked like a miniature version of the great hall in which he had dreamt the Emperor. A little ways off he found a earthy patch that resembled the region that he had presided over. He located a clump of dirt similar to the mansion and just under it he found a solitary ant crying over a tiny mound of sand.
During his sleep Akinosuke had a strange dream. He dreamt that he was visited by an envoy from the Emperor. The envoy explained that the Emperor wanted to meet him. Akinosuke was very surprised to hear this news. He was an unremarkable man and was amazed the Emperor even knew his name. Nonetheless he did not want to disobey the powerful ruler, so he allowed the envoy to lead him to the Imperial Palace.
Akinosuke was led into a great hall. The floors were paved with jade and the walls were hung with silk tapestry. In the center of the hall, the Emperor sat on a golden throne. Akinosuke bowed so deeply that his forehead touched the cold green floor. When he finally lifted his head he was amazed to see that the Emperor was also bowing toward him.
The Emperor explained that although Akinosuke was a simple man, he had great respect for him. The Emperor went on to say that he wanted Akinosuke to marry his daughter and become his son-in-law. Of course Akinosuke agreed. The princess was brought into the hall and the two were married immediately. Then the Emperor discussed a certain region of the Empire that was without a governor. The Emperor asked Akinosuke if he would like to become the governor of that region. Of course Akinosuke agreed.
Akinosuke and his new wife moved into a mansion in that region. His position as governor was filled with honor and prestige, and his marriage was filled with happiness and peace. He lived in the region for thirty years and he and his wife had seven children. Then after along and happy life together, his wife died. The Emperor invited him back, but he remained at his wife's grave inconsolable.
Just then Akinosuke awoke from his dream. Upon seeing his old friends sitting under the plum tree. He declared, "Friends, I have just had the strangest of dreams, it was as though I lived for thirty years!"
Akinosuke's friends were amazed. They said, "Akinosuke, you were only asleep for a moment, but during that time the strangest thing happened. A butterfly flew out of your mouth and down into the roots of this tree. It remained hidden briefly and then flew back out of the tree and into your mouth at which point you awoke."
Akinosuke thought for a moment and then announced, "Friends, that butterfly must have been my soul, which left my body as I dreamt. But I wonder were it went."
The three men investigated the roots of the tree and found within a colony of ants. As Akinosuke observed the complex of structures that the ants had built within the roots of the tree, he noticed that one dwelling looked like a miniature version of the great hall in which he had dreamt the Emperor. A little ways off he found a earthy patch that resembled the region that he had presided over. He located a clump of dirt similar to the mansion and just under it he found a solitary ant crying over a tiny mound of sand.
