Reading Notes Part A - The Red Bud Tree

The Red-Bud Tree

Main Characters
Princes
Red-Bud Tree

Plot
In the forest there laid a wonderful tree called the Red-Bud Tree. There lived 4 princes who wanted to be the first to lay eyes on the tree. The eldest prince asked the chariot driver to take him to the forest where the Red-Bud Tree was. He saw a black and bare tree. Later in the spring, the next son went to the tree and saw the beautiful red buds. The third son went to visit the tree and saw that it was covered in green leaves. The youngest prince was taken to the tree and saw that it was covered with little bean pods. When the princes discussed the seemingly different tree, the king resolved their confusion. He said, "My sons, you have all four seen the same tree, but each of you saw it at a different time of year."

Setting
In the forest

Story Idea
A possible story idea that I would have is to use the original concept but possibly use different characters. Another story idea would be to have the tree be a person. This could be a take and insight on people with multiple personalities disorder. There could be four different personalities for the four different seasons. The person could be met by a person as four different times of the year, perhaps various holidays.

(Four seasons tree - image source)

Bibliography. "The Red-Bud Tree" by Ellen C. Babbitt in More Jatakas Tales. Web Source.