Ancient Chinese Culture
Archive for category Chinese Folktale
Moon Palace
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Folktale on June 6, 2010
Moon Palace, also called Guanghan Palace, refers to the Palace on the moon. Legend goes that it is inhabited by the goddess of the moon – Chang’e, the Jade Rabbit and the woodcutter Wu Gang.
As is known to all, Chang’e stole the Pill of Immortality and flew to the moon and then she became the Chinese goddess of the moon.
There were many versions about the background of the goddess’s best friend – the Jade Rabbit. It was widely believed that it was sent to the Palace to alleviate Chang’e's sorrowful solitude. It was busy all day long, pestling medicinal materials in efforts to concoct a pill that could help the goddess return to Earth. However, it never succeed.
Originally, Wu Gang was a woodman who lived on Earth. It was said that he offended the Almighty and was sent to the Palace. He was told that once he fell the sweet-scented osmanthus tree, he would attain magic powers. Therefore, Day after day, Wu Gang wielded his ax, but the tree had magical power and the cleaving scars disappeared seconds after each stroke. Wu Gang continued his labors day after day. But years after years, the tree still grew verdantly and heavily sheltered the palace beside.
His Spear Against His Shield
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Folktale on April 22, 2010
In ancient times, there was a man of the state of Chu selling a spear and a shield in the market. Both of them were weapons in ancient China. In order to attract others, he shouted loudly to praise his shield: “Come and see, my shield is so strong that no matter how sharp the spears and arrows are, they can’t go through it!” Then he began to sing praises of his spear: “My spear is the sharpest spear in the world and it can pierce through anything.”
Heard his words, a man asked him: “What would happen if you pierce your shield with your spear?” The man had nothing to say when he heard that. The only thing he could do was gathering his two things and left with embarrassment.
When Chinese people saying “like the spear and shield,” they mean that someone has made two statements that are contradictory.
Lady General Hua Mulan
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Folktale on December 1, 2009
For hundreds of years, the name of Hua Mulan has been equaled to the word heroine in Chinese history and culture.
Legend goes that her sick father was conscripted to go to war. But he was too sick to fight and her only younger brother was too young to go to war. At last, she decided to disguise herself as a man and join the army to fight in place of her father.
For then years on the battlefield, Mulan got promoted to general due to her bravery and the extraordinary fighting skill. She was so excellent that when they were permitted to return home, she was summoned to the court by the emperor.
Hua Mulan (2009), Chinese actress Zhao Wei acted as Hua Mulan
The story is so popular that it has provided much inspiration for poetry, operas, paintings, films and even the Disney movie. However, there is also a debate on whether Hua Mulan is a historical figure. The basis of the folk story is a 300-word poem from the Southern and Northern dynasties (420-589), which gives the broad sketches of her life, leaving plenty to the imagination of the storyteller.
Aping a Beauty
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Folktale on October 25, 2009
Xi Shi, one of the Four Beauties in ancient China, was a legendary beauty of the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC). She was so beautiful that all the other girls dreamt to be as beautiful as she was.
However, she would often put her hands on her bosom and had a frown on her face as she often suffered from pains in her chest. An ugly girl who lived nearby saw her and thought that she looked very beautiful that way. Therefore, when she went out, she also put her hands on her bosom and had a frown on her face.
However, no one wanted to see her and they all believed that she was even ugly with that pose. As she lived in the east of the village, what she did was called Dong Shi (Miss East) aping the frown of Xishi.
The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Folktale on August 23, 2009
In China, the star of Vega is also known as the Weaving Maid Star and the star of Altair is as the Cowherd Star. It is believed that they will meet on a bridge of magpies across the Milky Way once a year. Interested? Let’s appreciate the beautiful story together.
The story goes that there was a poor boy lived with his elder brother and sister-in-law. He was mistreated by them and eventually was chased out with only the company of an old ox. He had to work on the farm with the ox everyday, so he was called a cowherd.
The 7th daughter of the Queen of the Heaven was good at weaving. With her sisters, she worked hard to weave beautiful clouds and rainbows to beautify the world.
The old ox was actually an immortal from the Heaven. He had made mistakes in the Heaven and was published to revive as an ox in the Earth. One day, the ox suddenly opened his mouth and told the cowherd that the Heavenly Weaving Maid and her sisters would bathe in the Silver River. He asked the boy to rob the Weaving Maid’s clothes while she was bathing and then ask for her hand in exchange for the return of her clothes.
The boy followed the ox’s instruction. After a little hesitation and with a mixture of shyness and eagerness, she agreed to his request. They married and had two children later.
They lived a happy life together. However, the Queen of Heaven discovered the absence of the Weaving Maid. She was quite annoyed and had her brought back to the heaven. Luckily, before dying, the ox had left his hide which could take the cowherd fly to the heaven. Seeing her leaving, the cowherd wore the ox hide, took his children in two bamboo baskets and chased after his wife in the sky.
However, when he was about to reach his wife, the Queen pulled off her hairpin and draw a line between them. The line became the Milky Way. They could not reach each other any more. They were only allowed to meet once each year on the double seventh. Moved by their love, magpies gathered and formed a bridge for the couple to meet in the evening of the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, the day they were allowed to meet once a year.
Therefore, the day they meet also became Chinese Valentine’s Day.
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