Three medieval tales about adventures to the Moon from around the world

With the Japan mission to the Moon just beginning and with the space race to its south polar region, we are reminded of the wonder and excitement of travelling to the Moon. Of course, since the 20th century, humans have been able to physically travel there, but imagining travel to the Moon has been part of our history from long before the 1900s. Looking back through the centuries reveals exciting stories of lunar adventure.

1. An English poem: The Man in the Moon

• The English poem, The Man in the Moon, tells the story of a man who is living and suffering on the Moon.
• There are many versions of this folktale, including in English, German and Dutch traditions.
• In this English version of the story, the man on the Moon (known as Hubert) is imagined as a medieval peasant guilty of stealing thorns to make a hedge.

2. An Italian epic poem: Orlando Furioso

• Orlando Furioso (The Frenzy of Orlando) is an Italian epic written by poet Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533).
• Charlemagne (who died in 814) was a king and emperor who is known for uniting most of Europe under his rule.
• One of his knights is Astolfo, cousin to the knight Orlando.

3. A Japanese story: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

• This very thing happens in a Japanese story from the late 800s or early 900s: Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter).
• They bring a diviner to grant her a name, and she is called Nayotake no Kaguya-hime (Shining Princess of the Young Bamboo).
• The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is the earliest surviving example of the monogatari (tale, novel) and has been adapted into a Studio Ghibli animation, The Tale of Princess Kaguya.
• The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter also reminds us that these stories are not found only in Europe.