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A Fairy Tale from Vietnam

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The Pupil and the Stone Dog - fairy tale of Vietnam

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Long, long ago, in old Japan, the Kingdom of the Sea was governed by a wonderful King. He was called Ryn Jin, or the Dragon King of the Sea. His power was immense, for he was the ruler of all sea creatures both great and small, and in his keeping were the Jewels of the Ebb and Flow of the Tide. The Jewel of the Ebbing Tide when thrown into the ocean caused the sea to recede from the land, and the Jewel of the Flowing Tide made the waves to rise mountains high and to flow in upon the shore like a tidal wave.

The Palace of Ryn Jin was at the bottom of the sea, and was so beautiful that no one has ever seen anything like it even in dreams. The walls were of coral, the roof of jadestone and chrysoprase, and the floors were of the finest mother-of-pearl. But the Dragon King, in spite of his wide-spreading Kingdom, his beautiful Palace and all its wonders, and his power which none disputed throughout the whole sea, was not at all happy, for he reigned alone. At last he thought that if he married he would not only be happier, but also more powerful. So he decided to take a wife. Calling all his fish retainers together, he chose several of them as ambassadors to go through the sea and seek for a young Dragon Princess who would be his bride.

At last they returned to the Palace bringing with them a lovely young dragon. Her scales were of glittering green like the wings of summer beetles, her eyes threw out glances of fire, and she was dressed in gorgeous robes. All the jewels of the sea worked in with embroidery adorned them.

The King fell in love with her at once, and the wedding ceremony was celebrated with great splendor. Every living thing in the sea, from the great whales down to the little shrimps, came in shoals to offer their congratulations to the bride and bridegroom and to wish them a long and prosperous life. Never had there been such an assemblage or such gay festivities in the Fish-World before. The train of bearers who carried the bride's possessions to her new home seemed to reach across the waves from one end of the sea to the other. Each fish carried a phosphorescent lantern and was dressed in ceremonial robes, gleaming blue and pink and silver; and the waves as they rose and fell and broke that night seemed to be rolling masses of white and green fire, for the phosphorus shone with double brilliancy in honor of the event.

Now for a time the Dragon King and his bride lived very happily. They loved each other dearly, and the bridegroom day after day took delight in showing his bride all the wonders and treasures of his coral Palace, and she was never tired of wandering with him through its vast halls and gardens. Life seemed to them both like a long summer's day.

Two months passed in this happy way, and then the Dragon Queen fell ill and was obliged to stay in bed. The King was sorely troubled when he saw his precious bride so ill, and at once sent for the fish doctor to come and give her some medicine. He gave special orders to the servants to nurse her carefully and to wait upon her with diligence, but in spite of all the nurses' assiduous care and the medicine that the doctor prescribed, the young Queen showed no signs of recovery, but grew daily worse.

Then the Dragon King interviewed the doctor and blamed him for not curing the Queen. The doctor was alarmed at Ryn Jin's evident displeasure, and excused his want of skill by saying that although he knew the right kind of medicine to give the invalid, it was impossible to find it in the sea.

"Do you mean to tell me that you can't get the medicine here?" asked the Dragon King.

"It is just as you say!" said the doctor.

"Tell me what it is you want for the Queen?" demanded Ryn Jin.

"I want the liver of a live monkey!" answered the doctor.

"The liver of a live monkey! Of course that will be most difficult to get," said the King.

"If we could only get that for the Queen, Her Majesty would soon recover," said the doctor.

"Very well, that decides it; we MUST get it somehow or other. But where are we most likely to find a monkey?" asked the King.

Then the doctor told the Dragon King that some distance to the south there was a Monkey Island where a great many monkeys lived.

"If only you could capture one of these monkeys?" said the doctor.

"How can any of my people capture a monkey?" said the Dragon King, greatly puzzled. "The monkeys live on dry land, while we live in the water; and out of our element we are quite powerless! I don't see what we can do!"

"That has been my difficulty too," said the doctor. "But amongst your innumerable servants you surely can find one who can go on shore for that express purpose!"

"Something must be done," said the King, and calling his chief steward he consulted him on the matter.

The chief steward thought for some time, and then, as if struck by a sudden thought, said joyfully:

"I know what we must do! There is the kurage (jelly fish). He is certainly ugly to look at, but he is proud of being able to walk on land with his four legs like a tortoise. Let us send him to the Island of Monkeys to catch one."

The jelly fish was then summoned to the King's presence, and was told by His Majesty what was required of him.

The jelly fish, on being told of the unexpected mission which was to be entrusted to him, looked very troubled, and said that he had never been to the island in question, and as he had never had any experience in catching monkeys he was afraid that he would not be able to get one.

"Well," said the chief steward, "if you depend on your strength or dexterity you will never catch a monkey. The only way is to play a trick on one!"

"How can I play a trick on a monkey? I don't know how to do it," said the perplexed jelly fish.

"This is what you must do," said the wily chief steward. "When you approach the Island of Monkeys and meet some of them, you must try to get very friendly with one. Tell him that you are a servant of the Dragon King, and invite him to come and visit you and see the Dragon King's Palace. Try and describe to him as vividly as you can the grandeur of the Palace and the wonders of the sea so as to arouse his curiosity and make him long to see it all!"

"But how am I to get the monkey here? You know monkeys don't swim?" said the reluctant jelly fish.

"You must carry him on your back. What is the use of your shell if you can't do that!" said the chief steward.

"Won't he be very heavy?" queried kurage again.

"You mustn't mind that, for you are working for the Dragon King," replied the chief steward.

"I will do my best then," said the jelly fish, and he swam away from the Palace and started off towards the Monkey Island. Swimming swiftly he reached his destination in a few hours, and landed by a convenient wave upon the shore. On looking round he saw not far away a big pine-tree with drooping branches and on one of those branches was just what he was looking for-a live monkey.

"I'm in luck!" thought the jelly fish. "Now I must flatter the creature and try to entice him to come back with me to the Palace, and my part will be done!"

So the jelly fish slowly walked towards the pine-tree. In those ancient days the jelly fish had four legs and a hard shell like a tortoise. When he got to the pine-tree he raised his voice and said:

"How do you do, Mr. Monkey? Isn't it a lovely day?"

"A very fine day," answered the monkey from the tree. "I have never seen you in this part of the world before. Where have you come from and what is your name?"

"My name is kurage or jelly fish. I am one of the servants of the Dragon King. I have heard so much of your beautiful island that I have come on purpose to see it," answered the jelly fish.

"I am very glad to see you," said the monkey.

"By the by," said the jelly fish, "have you ever seen the Palace of the Dragon King of the Sea where I live?"

"I have often heard of it, but I have never seen it!" answered the monkey.

"Then you ought most surely to come. It is a great pity for you to go through life without seeing it. The beauty of the Palace is beyond all description-it is certainly to my mind the most lovely place in the world," said the jelly fish.

"Is it so beautiful as all that?" asked the monkey in astonishment.

Then the jelly fish saw his chance, and went on describing to the best of his ability the beauty and grandeur of the Sea King's Palace, and the wonders of the garden with its curious trees of white, pink and red coral, and the still more curious fruits like great jewels hanging on the branches. The monkey grew more and more interested, and as he listened he came down the tree step by step so as not to lose a word of the wonderful story.

"I have got him at last!" thought the jelly fish, but aloud he said:

"Mr. Monkey. I must now go back. As you have never seen the Palace of the Dragon King, won't you avail yourself of this splendid opportunity by coming with me? I shall then be able to act as guide and show you all the sights of the sea, which will be even more wonderful to you-a land-lubber."

"I should love to go," said the monkey, "but how am I to cross the water! I can't swim, as you surely know!"

"There is no difficulty about that. I can carry you on my back."

"That will be troubling you too much," said the monkey.

"I can do it quite easily. I am stronger than I look, so you needn't hesitate," said the jelly fish, and taking the monkey on his back he stepped into the sea.

"Keep very still, Mr. Monkey," said the jelly fish. "You mustn't fall into the sea; I am responsible for your safe arrival at the King's Palace."

"Please don't go so fast, or I am sure I shall fall off," said the monkey.

Thus they went along, the jelly fish skimming through the waves with the monkey sitting on his back. When they were about half-way, the jelly fish, who knew very little of anatomy, began to wonder if the monkey had his liver with him or not!

"Mr. Monkey, tell me, have you such a thing as a liver with you?"

The monkey was very much surprised at this queer question, and asked what the jelly fish wanted with a liver.

"That is the most important thing of all," said the stupid jelly fish, "so as soon as I recollected it, I asked you if you had yours with you?"

"Why is my liver so important to you?" asked the monkey.

"Oh! You will learn the reason later," said the jelly fish.

The monkey grew more and more curious and suspicious, and urged the jelly fish to tell him for what his liver was wanted, and ended up by appealing to his hearer's feelings by saying that he was very troubled at what he had been told.

Then the jelly fish, seeing how anxious the monkey looked, was sorry for him, and told him everything. How the Dragon Queen had fallen ill, and how the doctor had said that only the liver of a live monkey would cure her, and how the Dragon King had sent him to find one.

"Now I have done as I was told, and as soon as we arrive at the Palace the doctor will want your liver, so I feel sorry for you!" said the silly jelly fish.

The poor monkey was horrified when he learnt all this, and very angry at the trick played upon him. He trembled with fear at the thought of what was in store for him.

But the monkey was a clever animal, and he thought it the wisest plan not to show any sign of the fear he felt, so he tried to calm himself and to think of some way by which he might escape.

"The doctor means to cut me open and then take my liver out! Why I shall die!" thought the monkey. At last a bright thought struck him, so he said quite cheerfully to the jelly fish:

"What a pity it was, Mr. Jelly Fish, that you did not speak of this before we left the island!"

"If I had told why I wanted you to accompany me you would certainly have refused to come," answered the jelly fish.

"You are quite mistaken," said the monkey. "Monkeys can very well spare a liver or two, especially when it is wanted for the Dragon Queen of the Sea. If I had only guessed of what you were in need, I should have presented you with one without waiting to be asked. I have several livers. But the greatest pity is, that as you did not speak in time, I have left all my livers hanging on the pine-tree."

"Have you left your liver behind you?" asked the jelly fish.

"Yes," said the cunning monkey, "during the daytime I usually leave my liver hanging up on the branch of a tree, as it is very much in the way when I am climbing about from tree to tree. Today, listening to your interesting conversation, I quite forgot it, and left it behind when I came off with you. If only you had spoken in time I should have remembered it, and should have brought it along with me!"

The jelly fish was very disappointed when he heard this, for he believed every word the monkey said. The monkey was of no good without a liver. Finally the jelly fish stopped and told the monkey so.

"Well," said the monkey, "that is soon remedied. I am really sorry to think of all your trouble; but if you will only take me back to the place where you found me, I shall soon be able to get my liver."

The jelly fish did not at all like the idea of going all the way back to the island again; but the monkey assured him that if he would be so kind as to take him back he would get his very best liver, and bring it with him the next time. Thus persuaded, the jelly fish turned his course towards the Monkey Island once more.

No sooner had the jelly fish reached the shore than the sly monkey landed, and getting up into the pine-tree where the jelly fish had first seen him, he cut several capers amongst the branches with joy at being safe home again, and then looking down at the jelly fish said:

"So many thanks for all the trouble you have taken! Please present my compliments to the Dragon King on your return!"

The jelly fish wondered at this speech and the mocking tone in which it was uttered. Then he asked the monkey if it wasn't his intention to come with him at once after getting his liver.

The monkey replied laughingly that he couldn't afford to lose his liver: it was too precious.

"But remember your promise!" pleaded the jelly fish, now very discouraged.

"That promise was false, and anyhow it is now broken!" answered the monkey. Then he began to jeer at the jelly fish and told him that he had been deceiving him the whole time; that he had no wish to lose his life, which he certainly would have done had he gone on to the Sea King's Palace to the old doctor waiting for him, instead of persuading the jelly fish to return under false pretenses.

"Of course, I won't give you my liver, but come and get it if you can!" added the monkey mockingly from the tree.

There was nothing for the jelly fish to do now but to repent of his stupidity, and to return to the Dragon King of the Sea and to confess his failure, so he started sadly and slowly to swim back. The last thing he heard as he glided away, leaving the island behind him, was the monkey laughing at him.

Meanwhile the Dragon King, the doctor, the chief steward, and all the servants were waiting impatiently for the return of the jelly fish. When they caught sight of him approaching the Palace, they hailed him with delight. They began to thank him profusely for all the trouble he had taken in going to Monkey Island, and then they asked him where the monkey was.

Now the day of reckoning had come for the jelly fish. He quaked all over as he told his story. How he had brought the monkey halfway over the sea, and then had stupidly let out the secret of his commission; how the monkey had deceived him by making him believe that he had left his liver behind him.

The Dragon King's wrath was great, and he at once gave orders that the jelly fish was to be severely punished. The punishment was a horrible one. All the bones were to be drawn out from his living body, and he was to be beaten with sticks.

The poor jelly fish, humiliated and horrified beyond all words, cried out for pardon. But the Dragon King's order had to be obeyed. The servants of the Palace forthwith each brought out a stick and surrounded the jelly fish, and after pulling out his bones they beat him to a flat pulp, and then took him out beyond the Palace gates and threw him into the water. Here he was left to suffer and repent his foolish chattering, and to grow accustomed to his new state of bonelessness.

From this story it is evident that in former times the jelly fish once had a shell and bones something like a tortoise, but, ever since the Dragon King's sentence was carried out on the ancestor of the jelly fishes, his descendants have all been soft and boneless just as you see them to-day thrown up by the waves high upon the shores of Japan.

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The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! Long, long ago, in old Japan, the Kingdom of the Sea was governed by a wonderful King. He was called Ryn Jin, or the Dragon King of the Sea.

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Korean Folktale

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Long ago, the green frog lived with his widowed mother in a small pond. The green frog never listened to his mother, and when she told him to do something, he always did the opposite. If his mother told him to play in the hills, he went to the river. If she told him to go up, he went down. If she told him left, he went right. If she told him this, he did that.

The mother frog worried about what she would do with her son-he caused her so much distress and embarrassment. "Why can't he be like other frogs?" she said to herself. "Why can't he respect his elders and do what he's told?" She worried about what would happen to him when she was gone. She knew she would have to do something to break his bad habits.

Day after day, week after week, the mother frog scolded the green frog and tried to teach him the proper way to behave, but he continued to ignore her and did just as he wished. The mother frog was growing old, and she worried so much that eventually she became sick. But even then the green frog did not change his ways.

Finally, when the mother frog knew she was going to die, she called her son to her side. She wanted a proper burial on the ountain, and since she knew that the green frog would do the opposite of what she told him, she chose her words carefully. "I don't have much longer to live," she said. "When I die, do not to bury me on the mountainside. You must bury me on the bank of the river."

The green frog looked at her forlornly with his head bowed.

"Promise me," said the mother frog. "You must promise."

"I promise," said the green frog.

Four days later, the mother frog died and the green frog was terribly sad. He blamed himself for her death and he was sorry for all the heartache he had caused her. He knew it was too late to undo all of his past misdeeds, but he could become a good frog for her now. He resolved finally to listen to his mother's instructions. "I always did the opposite of what she told me when she was alive," he said to himself, "but now I will do exactly as she told me."

So, even knowing that it was unwise, the green frog buried his mother by the river. And when it rained, he stood watch, praying to heaven that the water would not rise. But when the monsoon rains came that summer, the river rose higher and higher-it flowed over its banks and washed his mother's grave away.

The green frog sat in the pouring rain by the river bank, crying and crying for his mother. And that is why, to this day, the green frogs cry when it rains.

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Sejong Cultural Society - Sample Korean Folk Tales

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Long ago, the green frog lived with his widowed mother in a small pond. The green frog never listened to his mother, and when she told him to do something, he always did the opposite. If his mother told him to play in the hills, he went to the river.

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A Tale of Indonesia

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Once on the island of Java there was a little girl named Too-too-moo. She lived with her Mama in a one‑room house in a forest. They were poor but they were happy.

Or they would have been happy, if not for a terrible giant who came every day.

Each morning, when Too-too-moo woke up, she fastened her hair in a knot with her long hairpin. Then she hurried into the woods to help Mama gather firewood and herbs to sell at the village market.

When that was done, Mama cooked a small pot of plain rice and shared it with Too-too-moo for breakfast. She also cooked a huge pot of sweet porridge. She made it from tasty rice flour, fragrant coconut milk, and lots of sugar.

But not even the tiniest bit of the porridge was for Too-too-moo and her Mama. It was all for the giant. Mama knew, if the giant came and did not find a full pot of porridge, he would eat Too-too-moo instead!

Then Mama left for the market, while Too-too-moo did the housework. She shook out their sleeping mat, swept the floor, and washed their few dishes. Then she went outside to play.

Soon she heard the giant's terrible footsteps.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Too-too-moo ran into the house, picked up the covered pot of porridge, placed it outside on the doorstep, and shut and locked the door. Then she crouched and trembled in a corner.

The giant stamped up to the house. With one huge finger, he knocked on the door- Tock, tock, tock. Then he called,

And Too-too-moo answered, "In the house."

"And where is your Mama? "

"At the market."

"And where is my PORRIDGE?"

"In the pot!"

The giant took off the cover, picked up the pot, and swallowed the porridge in one big gulp. Then he threw down the pot and stamped back through the forest.

This happened every day.

When Mama returned in the evening, she brought food that she had bought with the money earned at the market. But since they had to feed the giant, there was never enough for themselves.

One day, Mama did not sell as much as usual. When she came home, she had only enough food for the giant. She and Too-too-moo had to go hungry.

The next day was the same. And so was the day after that.

Too-too-moo and her Mama were starving.

On the fourth morning, Too-too-moo got up, fastened her hair with her long hairpin, and helped Mama gather firewood and herbs. Then Mama cooked the porridge for the giant and left for the market.

The sweet smell of the porridge filled the little house. Too-too-moo was so hungry, she couldn't stand it.

"I'll eat just one spoonful," she said to herself. "The giant will never know."

Too-too-moo uncovered the pot and ate one spoonful. But she was too hungry to stop! Before she knew what she was doing, a quarter of the porridge was gone.

Then she heard the giant's terrible footsteps.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Too-too-moo quickly covered the pot, placed it outside on the doorstep, and shut and locked the door. Then she crouched and trembled in a corner.

The giant stamped up to the house. With one huge finger, he knocked on the door- Tock, tock, tock. Then he called,

And Too-too-moo answered, "In the house."

"And where is your Mama? "

"At the market."

"And where is my PORRIDGE?"

"In the pot!"

The giant took off the cover, picked up the pot, stopped, and looked.

"This pot is not full! " bellowed the giant. He threw it down and called again,

"Too-too-moo!

Where are YOU?"

Too-too-moo did not answer.

With one blow of his fist, the giant knocked down the door. He reached in his long arm and felt all around till he found Too-too-moo. Then he pulled her from the house, tossed her in his mouth, and swallowed her in one big gulp.

Too-too-moo tumbled into the giant's stomach. "Please let me out!" she shouted.

But the giant didn't listen as he turned and stamped back through the forest.

Too-too-moo cried and shook with fear. Then all of a sudden, she remembered her long hairpin.

Quickly she pulled it from her hair. With both hands and all her strength, Too-too-moo stuck it into the giant.

"YOW!" howled the giant.

Too-too-moo stuck him again.

"OUCH! YOW!" The giant danced about, but there was nothing he could do. "TOO-TOO-MOO, STOP!"

But Too-too-moo did not stop. She stuck the giant again and again.

The bellowing giant raced through the woods. Mad with pain, he did not look where he was going. He tripped on a root and cracked his head on a rock.

The giant was dead!

But Too-too-moo was still trapped inside.

At that moment, Mama was on her way home. She had been lucky that day, and had quickly sold all she had carried to market. So she had bought rice and fish and vegetables, and even roasted peanuts as a special treat for Too-too-moo.

But when she reached the house, she saw the porridge thrown down and the door knocked in. She called,

There was no answer.

Mama grabbed a big cooking knife and ran along the trail of the giant's footsteps, calling,

"Too-too-moo!

Where are YOU?"

Still no answer.

Then she came to where the giant lay dead. But her daughter was nowhere to be seen, so she called one last time,

"TOO-TOO-MOO!

WHERE ARE YOU?"

And Too-too-moo answered, "IN THE GIANT!"

With both hands and all her strength, Mama slit open the giant's side.

And out climbed-

Too-too-moo!

From that time on, Too-too-moo and her Mama were happy. There was no more giant to bother them. They always had enough to eat. And they had sweet porridge for breakfast, every single day.

About the Story

This tale comes from Java, the main island of the country of Indonesia. Indonesia itself lies entirely on islands, stretching across the Pacific Ocean between southeast Asia and Australia. Over 200 million people live there, and each major island has its own distinctive culture.

The culture of Java is an eclectic one, and this story echoes motifs from many lands. Japan has the tale of "The Inch Boy," a Tom Thumb character who jumps into an ogre's stomach and defeats him with his sewing-needle sword. Africa has many stories of mothers who rescue children from the belly of an elephant or giant caterpillar. In Western culture, Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother are cut out of the stomach of the wolf. "Too-too-moo" blends these elements with a distinctive Javanese flavor.

To my knowledge, this is the first time the tale has been published outside of Asia. It is here retold chiefly from "Tu‑tu‑mu and the Giant," in Favourite Stories from Indonesia, by Marguerite Siek, Heinemann Educational Books, Kuala Lumpur, 1972.

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Once on the island of Java there was a little girl named Too-too-moo. She lived with her Mama in a one‑room house in a forest. They were poor but they were happy. Or they would have been happy, if not for a terrible giant who came every day.

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Folktales > Asian folktales > Chinese folktales > A Chinese Wonder Book at World of Tales - Stories for children from around the world!

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A Vietnamese Folktale

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The Magic Tea Kettle | January 2015 | Highlighting Japan

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Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had an antique store. One day he found a tanuki (raccoon dog) caught in a trap. Feeling sorry for the creature, he set it free. The tanuki visited the man that night. "Thank you very much for your kindness," he said.

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A Collection of folktale, folklore, and legends from Indonesia

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kumpulan legenda rakyat indonesia cerita rakyat cerita indonesia cerita daerah indonesia cerita bahasa inggris

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A FARMER and A HEDGEHOG STATUE A Story from Roti Island AJI SAKA ANGELS LAKE (TELAGA BIDADARI) BANTA BARENSYAH THE HONESTY FLUTIST ...

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Notes: The Chinese Fairy Book contains 74 Chinese folktales, sorted into several categories.

Author: Various
Editor: Dr. R. Wilhelm
Published: 1921
Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York

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Notes: The Chinese Fairy Book contains 74 Chinese folktales, sorted into several categories. Author: Various Editor: Dr. R. Wilhelm Published: 1921 Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York

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Folktale from Vietnam

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How Tiger Got His Stripes (Animated Stories for Kids)

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A Japanese Legend

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Posted by admin at 2005, October 16, 11:36 PM
More of this topic in Fairy tale

Long ago, in Japan, a young farmer named Sei was sowing his fields.

Suddenly, he spied a snake slithering across the ground, preparing to eat a spider. Sei took pity on the spider and drove the snake away.

The next day, someone knocked on Sei's door. Opening it, Sei saw a young woman standing there, who offered to weave for him.

Sei welcomed the young woman and led her to his weaving room. "You can work here," he said.

That evening, upon returning from work, Sei found that the woman had woven a dozen beautiful pieces of cloth.

"Impossible," he said. "How could you finish so much?"

The young woman said, "You mustn't ask me that, and never come into the weaving room while I am working. Promise me that."

"I promise," Sei replied. Day after day, the woman wove for him. ōＷＷＷ．faＩRy-talＥ.IｎfOムìシ낱πヲ

After many weeks, Sei's curiosity overcame him. One afternoon, he tiptoed to the weaving room window and peered inside.

He was shocked when he saw an enormous spider instead of the young woman. Then he understood that this was his reward for saving the spider.

He could see that the spider would need more cotton soon.

The next morning, he went to the village and purchased cotton.

On his way home, Sei stopped to rest. As he dozed, the snake he had driven away weeks ago slipped inside the bundle of cotton.

Arriving home, Sei handed the bundle to the weaver.

"Thank you so much," she bowed, and returned to the weaving room.

Inside again, she transformed into a spider, and she began to consume the cotton so that she could spin it into thread. When she reached the last of the bundle, there was the snake. Terrified, the spider leaped out of the window.

The snake caught her just outside Sei's house. Just as he was about to swallow her, a sunbeam lifted the spider up into the sky to safety.

ЕlネＷwＷ.FaＩRＹ－TaｌＥ.ＩnFｏ9gムД|

The spider then used the cotton she had swallowed to weave fluffy clouds in the sky.

This is why the Japanese word "kumo" means both cloud and spider.

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The Weaver Of Clouds (a Japanese legend), - Fairy tale,fairy tale,admin,Legend,Myth

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Posted by admin at 2005, October 16, 11:36 PM More of this topic in Fairy tale Long ago, in Japan, a young farmer named Sei was sowing his fields. Suddenly, he spied a snake slithering across the ground, preparing to eat a spider. Sei took pity on the spider and drove the snake away.

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A Korean Folktale

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Long, long ago a little green frog and his old widowed mother lived in a small pond in a tiny fishing village. His name was Chung Kaeguri and though he loved his mother wholeheartedly, he was always making trouble.

Chung Kaeguri always did the opposite of what he was told. Once Mother Kaeguri said, " Kaegul, kaegul . There are some snakes slithering around in the area. Stay close to home today." Promptly, Chung Kaeguri hopped to his friends and said, " Kaegul, kaegul . Let's go for an adventure and find some snakes to dodge."

Mother Kaeguri was always distressed with her son's lack of respect for elders and she often wondered, "Why can't my son be like other frogs?" and she reprimanded him to no avail. She scolded, coaxed and cajoled but the little green frog did as he pleased and blissfully ignored his mother's wise words. She often wondered how he would manage when she was no more to take care of him.

Being old, Mother Kaeguri worried herself sick over her son's behaviour. Knowing that she had only a few precious moments of her life left to live, she called her son to her bedside.

Chung Kaeguri waited by his mother's side for her words with forlorn looks and a bowed head. Finally, Mother Kaeguri said, "My dear son, I don't have much longer to live. Promise me that when I die, do not bury me on the mountainside instead bury me on the bank of the river." She knew that her son would not mend his ways and wanting a decent burial, she decided that she would ask of him to bury her in the mountainside fully knowing that he would do just the opposite of what he promised.

Tears flowed down his face and he pleaded with his mother, " Kaegul, kaegul . Please don't die momma. I will do whatever you ask of me." But his words were too late as his mother had already left for her heavenly abode. With a heavy heart, he remembered all the times he had troubled his mother and decided that he would repent for all the bad things he had done.

Chung Kaeguri resolved that starting from now; he was going to follow his mother's instructions to the letter. He knew that his mother's last wish wasn't a very prudent one but he did just as she had asked him to and buried her by the river.

Soon, the rains arrived and he looked up at the sky and prayed for the river not to be flooded as it did after a downpour. That summer, the rains were torrential and the river swelled and rose very high, flooding the banks and washing away his mother's grave.

Chung Kaeguri saw the rushing water washing his mother's grave away. He sat by the riverbank in the pouring rain and mournfully began to cry. He cried and cried. " ", he called over and over.

To this day, the green frogs cry when it rains. In , That is why people who do the opposite of what they are told are called Chung Kaeguri.

Make a Chung Kaeguri to tell your tale:

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Why the frogs cry when it rains (Korean folktale)

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Long, long ago a little green frog and his old widowed mother lived in a small pond in a tiny fishing village. His name was Chung Kaeguri and though he loved his mother wholeheartedly, he was always making trouble. Chung Kaeguri always did the opposite of what he was told.

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THE LEGEND of BANYUWANGI

A long time ago, the island of Java was ruled by a king. The King had a Loyal Prime Minister whose name was Sidapaksa. This is a story about the prime minister.
Sidapaksa's wife was beautiful. He loved her very much. But his mother did not like her.

One day, Sidapaksa's mother asked the King to send her son to a faraway place. She though while his son was away, she had a chance to get rid of his wife. Of course, she did not tell the King about it.
The King agreed with her. So he gave Sidapaksa a task. "Go to Mount Ijen. There grows a flower that can keep a woman beautiful. Get the flower for the Queen," says the King.
Sidapaksa went home sadly. He told his wife about the task.
"I cannot leave you alone. Soon you will give birth to our child," Sidapaksa answered.
"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."
The next day, Sidapaksa left for Mount Ijen. It was a long and hard journey.
A few days after Sidapaksa left, his wife gave birth to a handsome baby boy. She was very proud of the baby.
One day, Sidapaksa's wife went to the spring. The wicked woman took the baby away. She threw the baby into a river.

Sidapaksa's wife was shocked when she could not find her baby. "Where is my baby?" she cried.
She searched for her son. But she could not find him. Finally she fell sick because she did not eat or drink. She grew thin and weak day after day.
After two years, Sidapaksa came home. He could not wait to see his wife and child.

His mother saw him at the gate. She said to him,"My son, your wife is wicked woman. She killed her own baby. She killed your son. She threw you son into the river."
Sidapaksa was very angry to hear it. He did not believe in anything his wife said. He was very angry that he would kill his wife.
Sadly his wife said, "I'm very sad because you don’t believe me. You don't have to kill me. Because I will die soon."

Then she ran to a river nearby. Before the current of the river took her away, she said, "my dear husband, if the fragrant smell comes out of this river, then I'm innocent."

A miracle happened. From the river, there came out some fragrant smell. At the center of the river came out two beautiful flowers. A big flower and a small one. The small flower said, "Father, I'm your son. My mother is innocent. It was grandmother who threw me to the river."
Sidapaksa cried loudly. He regretted what he had done to his wife. But it was too late. His wife and child turned into two flowers.
The smelly and dirty river turned into clear and sweet smelled one. In Javanese, It's called Banyuwangi. It means fragrant river. The land around the fragrant river is now known as Banyuwangi, a town in East Java.

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A Chinese Tale of True Beauty

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The Peacock Fairy had the head and arms of a woman but had a peacock's tail and body. All the peacocks in the world wanted to be her apprentice and learn some of her magic tricks. One day she brought them all together.

"I know you all want to be my apprentice, but I can only choose one of you, and you all look alike," she said. "Come back to me at midnight, and don't all look the same!"

They all left making plans to make themselves more beautiful and stand out from the crowd. But one good-hearted little peacock thought to himself, "I am such an ordinary peacock, there is no hope for me. I'll just go on my way and not worry about it."

Soon he met an old man who was hot and sweating. Little Peacock gave him some of his tail feathers to make a fan and cool off.

Then he met a young girl, crying by the roadside. When he asked what the matter was, she said, "I have been asked to a dance, and I have nothing good to wear." Without a word, Little Peacock pulled some feathers from his tail, and gave them to her, to put in her hair and cover her gown.

And so it went the rest of the day, with Little Peacock giving away all his plumes to help people in need. Near dark, he overheard voices from a hut along the road. A little boy said, "Mommy, I know I must stay in bed to get better, but I know if I see fireworks at the festival I will be well. Can't I see the fireworks now?"

"But my child, they don't set off the fireworks until the festival starts, and it is too early for the festival," answered his mother.

When Little Peacock heard these words, his eyes filled with tears. "If only I could show him my display of feathers, he might believe they were fireworks." But, sadly, he had given away all his plumes.

At midnight, all the peacocks assembled before the Peacock Fairy. Some had fireflies set in their tails to look like stars, and many had flowers in their plumes. Surely it would be difficult to choose an apprentice!

"My friends," said the Peacock Fairy, "you all look so beautiful! But I see one who looks very different from the rest. Little Peacock, come here. Where are all your feathers?"

Little Peacock told his story, how he had given away all his feathers to help people. The Peacock Fairy thought for a while, then smiled and said, "Little Peacock, you are the apprentice I want." With a wave of her hand, one plume from every peacock rose in the air and formed a large beautiful fan. Then the fan came down upon Little Peacock's tail!

"Now, I will teach you another trick," the Peacock Fairy said. She whispered magic words in his ear, and, when he repeated them three times, his tail burst into a kaleidoscope of fire!

Little Peacock soared into the air, flying over all the villages with his fiery tail. When the sick little boy saw the fire in the sky, he said, "Mommy, I see the fireworks! I feel better already!" Little Peacock flew through the night, bringing joy and happiness throughout the land.

And so when you see fireworks exploding during festivals, look closely for the Little Peacock with the Fiery Tail.

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The Fiery Tail: A Chinese Tale of True Beauty

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The Peacock Fairy needs to choose an apprentice, but all of the peacocks look alike. To stand out, most of them decide to add things to their feathers, but the Little Peacock doesn't follow suit, and his actions succeed in catching the Peacock Fairy's attention.

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A Text Set from Newsela

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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A Korean Folktale

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A Chinese Folktale

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Hou Yi And The Ten Suns: A Chinese Folktale

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A Red-Riding Hood Tale from China

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Stories Podcast - A Free Children's Story Podcast for Bedtime, Car Rides, and Kids of All Ages! - Stories Podcast - A Free Children's Story Podcast for Bedtime, Car Rides, and Kids of All Ages!

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Stories Podcast - A Free Children's Story Podcast for Bedtime, Car Rides, and Kids of All Ages!

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Stories Podcast - A Free Children's Story Podcast for Bedtime, Car Rides, and Kids of All Ages!

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Yeh-Shen - A Cinderella Story from China