The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary, Explanation Class 7 english

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary & Explanation class 7 English Chapter 4

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary & explanation of chapter 4 class 7 Honeycomb

Imagine having a pet so loyal and magical that it leads you to treasure! Sounds like a dream, right? Well, The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom from Class 7 Chapter 4 is a beautiful folktale that proves kindness always wins. This story isn’t just about gold and magic—it’s about how love, generosity, and good deeds bring happiness, while greed and cruelty lead to disaster. An old couple showers their dog, Muko, with love, and in return, he changes their lives forever. But their selfish neighbors? Well, let’s just say things don’t go as planned for them! Get ready for a story filled with unexpected twists, magical ashes, and a powerful lesson that will stay with you forever! Let’s dive into The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary and Explanation Class 7 Chapter 4 Honeycomb along with the central idea of the chapter that’s going to stay with us forever. 

The ashes that made trees bloom Explanation Class 7

The Kind Old Couple and Their Dog

The story begins with an old couple who live a simple yet happy life. They do not have children, so they treat their pet dog, Muko, as if it were their own child. They provide the dog with the utmost care, giving it a comfortable cushion made of blue crape to sleep on. During mealtimes, Muko sits on the cushion like a pampered pet.

The couple’s love for Muko is evident in how they feed it. Instead of letting it eat from the ground like most dogs, they lovingly offer it food using their chopsticks. They give it fish and as much boiled rice as it wants. This kind treatment makes Muko deeply devoted to its owners, displaying loyalty and affection like a creature with a soul.

The Old Man’s Kindness to Nature

The old man works as a rice farmer. Every day, he goes to the fields, working hard from morning till evening until the sun, known as O Tento Sama in Japanese, sets behind the hills. Muko follows him everywhere, staying by his side as a loyal companion.

One unique thing about the old man is his kindness, not just to his dog but also to all living creatures. A white heron (a type of bird) follows him in the fields, picking up worms from the soil he digs. Instead of driving the bird away, the old man goes out of his way to help it. He sometimes turns up the soil on purpose, allowing the heron to find food easily. This shows his gentle and compassionate nature, as he does not harm any living being and instead helps them in small but meaningful ways.

Muko Leads the Old Man to Treasure

One day, while the old man is working in the fields, Muko suddenly starts behaving strangely. It runs up to him, puts its paws on his legs, and gestures toward a certain spot as if trying to communicate something important. At first, the old man does not take it seriously, thinking Muko is just playing. But when the dog continues to whine and move back and forth anxiously, the old man finally decides to follow it.

Muko leads him to a specific place and begins scratching the ground vigorously. The old man assumes that Muko has found a buried bone or some leftover fish. However, when he digs into the soil using his hoe, he is astonished to discover a pile of gold gleaming in the earth.

The Old Couple’s Generosity

The sudden discovery of gold makes the old couple rich. However, unlike many who might become selfish or greedy after gaining wealth, they remain kindhearted. Instead of hoarding the treasure for themselves, they use it wisely. They buy a piece of land, organize a feast for their friends, and generously share their fortune with their poor neighbors.

Muko, who was responsible for their newfound prosperity, receives even more love and affection. The old couple dote (show a lot of love for somebody/something) on him, showering him with so much kindness that it is almost overwhelming. This reinforces the idea that kindness is always rewarded in some way.

The Wicked Neighbor’s Greed

In the same village, there lives a wicked old man and his wife. They are the complete opposite of the kind old couple. Instead of treating animals with love, they are cruel and heartless, always scolding and kicking dogs that come near their house.

When they hear about their neighbors’ good fortune, they become jealous and greedy. They come up with a plan to lure (trick somebody into going somewhere or doing something) Muko into their garden, hoping the dog will lead them to treasure as well. To trick him, they offer him delicious food—fish and other dainties (tasty treats).

However, Muko, knowing how cruel they are, refuses to eat or move. But the wicked couple is determined to find the treasure. They drag him outside, bringing along a hoe and a spade. The moment Muko reaches a pine tree in their garden, he starts scratching the ground. The greedy old man becomes excited, thinking another fortune is hidden beneath the soil.

A Disgusting Surprise

Eager to find gold, the wicked man grabs his spade while his wife holds the hoe. They begin digging frantically, expecting riches. But instead of treasure, they unearth the dead body of a kitten, which releases a terrible smell. The disappointment and disgust make them drop their tools and cover their noses.

Their greed turns into anger. Furious at Muko for misleading them, the old man kicks and beats the poor dog to death. The old woman, equally cruel, almost chops off its head with the hoe. After murdering the innocent dog, they throw its body into the hole and bury it.

The Old Man’s Mourning and the Dog’s Spirit

When the kind old man hears about Muko’s death, he is heartbroken. He mourns the dog as if he has lost a child. That night, he visits the pine tree where Muko was buried.

As a mark of respect, he sets up bamboo tubes (which are traditionally placed at Japanese graves) and fills them with fresh flowers. He also places a cup of water and a tray of food on the grave and burns incense to honor Muko’s spirit. This shows his deep sorrow and love for the dog.

That night, something miraculous happened. Muko’s spirit appears in the old man’s dream and gives him a message. The dog tells him, “Cut down the pine tree over my grave and make a mortar for your rice pastry and a mill for your bean sauce.”

The Magic Mortar and Mill

The old man follows Muko’s instructions. He cuts down the pine tree and carefully carves out a mortar (a bowl used for pounding rice) from a section of the trunk. He also makes a hand mill to grind beans.

When New Year’s time arrives, he and his wife prepare rice pastry. The moment they start pounding the rice in the mortar, it magically turns into gold. Similarly, when they grind beans in the mill, gold coins rain down. The couple is once again blessed with fortune because of their pure hearts.

The Greedy Neighbors Face Another Misfortune

The wicked neighbors witness this miracle and become envious. They borrow the mortar and mill, hoping to get gold for themselves. However, when they try to pound rice and grind beans, they do not get gold. Instead, the food turns into worms.

Enraged, they destroy the mortar and mill, chopping them into firewood. This marks the second time their greed leads to disaster.

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary Class 7 Honeycomb

In a village in Japan, there lived a kind old couple who had no children. They treated their pet dog, Muko, like their own child, feeding him with love and care. The old man was a farmer, and Muko always accompanied him to the fields. One day, the dog led him to a spot where he started digging, and to the old man’s surprise, he found a pile of gold. The couple became rich but remained kind and generous, sharing their wealth with neighbors.

A greedy and cruel old couple, living nearby, heard about their fortune and wanted the same luck. They lured Muko to their garden, hoping he would lead them to treasure. When the dog scratched the ground near a tree, they eagerly dug but found only a dead kitten. Furious, they killed Muko and buried him under the tree.

The kind old man mourned his pet deeply, offering food, water, and incense at his grave. That night, Muko’s spirit appeared in his dream and told him to cut down the tree and make a mortar (grinding bowl) and a mill out of it. When the couple used the mortar and mill, they magically produced gold instead of rice and bean paste, making them rich once more.

The wicked neighbors, filled with jealousy, borrowed the magical mortar and mill. But when they used them, only worms and rotten food appeared. In anger, they destroyed them.

Despite their cruelty, Muko’s kindness and loyalty continued to bring happiness to the good old couple.

Central Idea of The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom chapter 4

This story is like a magical lesson wrapped in kindness and karma! It teaches us that being good-hearted, caring, and selfless always brings happiness and unexpected rewards, while greed and cruelty lead to disaster.

The kind old couple loved their dog, Muko, like family, and in return, the dog brought them fortune. On the other hand, the greedy neighbors, who only cared about wealth, ended up ruining everything for themselves. The story shows that true riches come not from gold but from kindness, love, and generosity.

So, the big takeaway? Be kind and patient, and good things will bloom in your life—just like the magical ashes that made trees bloom in this heartwarming tale!

Conclusion: the ashes that made trees bloom summary & Explanation class 7 chapter 4

The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom teaches us a timeless lesson—kindness and compassion always bring rewards, while greed and cruelty lead to downfall. The old couple’s love for their dog brings them happiness and prosperity, while their wicked neighbors, driven by selfishness, face misfortune. The story beautifully shows that good deeds always come back in unexpected ways, just like the magical ashes that made the trees bloom. In the end, it reminds us that true wealth lies in kindness, not in gold.

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