A nun named Rengetsu was traveling on a pilgrimage when she stopped in a small village seeking shelter for the night. She was very tired and went door to door asking for a place to stay, but no one would let her in.
As sunset came, she realized she had already passed through the small village. It was getting dark and hard to see, so she continued on a little way to a group of trees and made her bed under one of them. She fell fast asleep.
A few hours later, she awoke. The sight she saw was breathtaking! The night sky was clear and crisp, and the full moon had risen over her. The moonlight was a silver glow shimmering through the cherry trees. The trees were in full bloom, and the sight of the moonlight illuminating the translucent white blossoms was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Awed by this wondrous sight, she turned to the village and bowed, saying:
Through your kindness in refusing me lodging,
I found myself beneath the beautiful blossoms,
On the night of the misty moon.
uin, 2 all right
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Graphics are courtesy Jade Leaves Designs and Laura's Geisha Adoption Agency
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