This is a very old Japanese legend. The really amazing thing about it is that the entire story, as happens in Japanese legends occasionally, can be illustrated in actual physical things—in this case, the anatomy of a flower.
There once was a young man who fell dearly in love with a beautiful and wealthy maiden. He made her lavish gifts to try to win her love. Firstly, he gave her a pair of the most luxorious rabbits to keep as pets.
These she took happily, but declared she could not love him. Still, he can’t bear to give up hope, and he makes her another gift of slippers made of the finest silk.
She also recieved these gifts, but told the young man her feelings would never change towards him. Desperate, he spends the rest of his small savings to send her the most beautiful pair of earrings he could purchase.
The maiden took the earrings, but still refused to marry the young man. Torn, and bereft, the young man knew finally that he had no more to give, and so he took his knife and pierced himself through the heart.
The first Bleeding Heart plant sprung from the place where he died.
