"The Stone Cutter"

"The Stone Cutter" is a Japanese folktale about a craftsman who, feeling unrecognized, wishes to be more powerful. He transforms into a king, then the sun, a cloud, and a mountain, experiencing different forms of power. Eventually, he realizes that the mountain, like himself, is subject to erosion by the relentless stone cutter. The story highlights themes of humility, the fleeting nature of power, and the idea that true strength lies in understanding your place within the natural order. It teaches that desires for change or recognition can lead to new perspectives about oneself and the world.