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    Chinese Myths & Folk Tales
    Chinese Myths & Folk Tales
    Chinese Myths & Folk Tales
    Ebook98 pages1 hour

    Chinese Myths & Folk Tales

    By Rosalind Kerven

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    About this ebook

    Re-issue of this highly acclaimed book, previously published by Cambridge University Press under the title In The Court of the Jade Emperor: Stories from Old China – first edition 1993, second edition 1999.

    Reviews from the first edition:

    ** ’What riches there are to be read here! A wonderful variety of stories…and in a variety of tellers’ voices, so that every story is different and a delightful surprise. The language itself is immediate... the words have a truth and depth... this is a book both to instruct us on Chinese culture and to delight our narrative thirst. A real find!’ – School Librarian

    ** ‘luminously clear prose’ – Times Education Supplement

    ** ‘Rosalind Kerven is the author of a number of excellent retellings from around the world, and this collection is as good as the others. The language is lively and direct … the stories have a timeless feel but are easy to read’ – English and Media Magazine

    ** SELECTED BY THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS FOR NATIONAL TELL A STORY WEEK, 1994

    A rich tapestry of stories full of extraordinary magic. Read about stern Dragon Kings and enchanted Dragon Princesses; laugh at the outrageous adventures of the super-hero King Monkey; mingle with a colourful crowd of gods and goddesses; visit the terrifying Palace of Boundless Cold; and even discover the secrets of Everlasting Life. The stories will transport you right into the heart and mind of ancient China – one of the oldest and greatest civilisations in the world.

    ** Stories tried and tested in primary schools over many years – perfect for reading alone or reading aloud
    ** Ideal for the government’s National Curriculum English statutory requirements: ‘increasing familiarity with … fairy stories, myths and legends’
    ** Fun and informative for readers of all ages including adults.

    Full contents:
    THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF KING MONKEY
    Part 1 – In Which Monkey Proves That Nothing Is Impossible
    Part 2 – In Which Monkey Gets Too Big For His Boots
    Part 3 – In Which Monkey Tastes The Peaches Of Immortality
    Part 4 – In Which Monkey Takes A Giant Leap To Nowhere

    WOMAN-OF-THE-MOON, MAN-OF-THE-SUN
    THE FARMER AND THE WEAVING GODDESS (Selected for the Puffin Book of Stories for Nine-Year-Olds)
    DARKNESS
    THE PALACE OF BOUNDLESS COLD (Selected for the Puffin Book of Stories for Eight-Year-Olds)
    THE GOLDEN KEY
    THE MAN WHO DID DRAGON’S WORK
    THE HOT PIG AND THE DRAGON PRINCESS
    THE GIRL WHO WENT HER OWN WAY
    CAKES AND KITCHENS
    STORM GIRL
    THE BOYS WHO FELL OUT OF TIME
    BACKGROUND TO THE STORIES
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTalking Stone
    Release dateAug 26, 2016
    ISBN9781783019939
    Chinese Myths & Folk Tales
    Author

    Rosalind Kerven

    Rosalind Kerven, “connoisseur of myths and folk tales” – The Independent, is a narrative folklorist and the author of over 70 books published in 22 countries. She has specialist knowledge of world myths, legends and folk tales and is on a mission to bring these wonderful old stories back to life for modern readers. Her bestselling titles include English Fairy Tales and Legends, Viking Myths & Sagas, Faeries, Elves & Goblins and Arthurian Legends. She lives in the Northumberland National Park. Her website is: workingwithmythsandfairytales.blogspot.com

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      Book preview

      Chinese Myths & Folk Tales - Rosalind Kerven

      MONKEY

      Part 1

      In Which Monkey Proves That Nothing Is Impossible

      First there was just a rock. The sun warmed it.

      Then there was magic. The rock cracked open like an egg. And Monkey jumped out!

      How can a living creature hatch out of stone? Who understands the ten thousand things, the mysteries? Yet this is how it happened.

      Monkey thought to himself, ‘I’m impossible! No one has ever been born this way before. It must mean that, for me, nothing is impossible. Fantastic! I’m going to be the greatest creature that ever lived. One day I shall rule the whole world! More than that, I shall take over Heaven too!’

      This thought made him bubble with so much excitement that he broke into a crazy, leaping dance.

      Just then, a crowd of other, ordinary monkeys came by. They all stopped and stared at him. None of them had ever seen anyone look so happy and full of fun. It was irresistible: all the other monkeys found themselves queuing up to shake his paw and slap him on the back, each one desperate to be his friend.

      Monkey was delighted. Very soon, and without even trying, he had gathered together hundreds – no, thousands – of friends and followers.

      ‘Hey,’ laughed Monkey, ‘how about making me your king? I promise I can protect you from every danger you can imagine. All you have to do is agree to listen to everything I say, and always obey me. In return, I swear I’ll always give you everything you need.’

      ‘Hurrah!’ cheered all the ordinary monkeys. ‘That’s the best idea we ever heard!’

      In no time at all, some of them had made a magnificent throne for King Monkey to sit on, inlaid with gold and sparkling jewels. Then they all made a great ceremony of bowing down before him, clapping and shouting, ‘Long live King Monkey!’

      In the centre of the new kingdom, they soon built a magnificent stone palace, surrounded by beautiful gardens. It had unlimited space, so that everyone who wanted to could live there. It was hidden from the outside world by the wet, shining curtain of a waterfall.

      King Monkey was absolutely thrilled. Oh yes, how he loved to be totally in charge and boss everyone else about!

      Every single one of his subjects was happy too, for there was always plenty to eat and drink. In fact, a party of some kind, with music, games, dancing and feasting, seemed to be held in the palace every single day.

      What a wonderful life!

      And yet, and yet...

      All things in Earth and Heaven must change – and not always for the better.

      One night, King Monkey was presiding over a wonderful banquet, surrounded by sumptuous flowers and fruit, when suddenly he burst into noisy tears.

      ‘Your majesty,’ shouted all his subjects in dismay. ‘Tell us what is wrong. Let us comfort you. Let us help you.’

      King Monkey held up a solemn paw.

      ‘My friends,’ he said, ‘listen, for I have really terrible news. I am growing old! Hidden corners of my fur are turning grey. The palms of my paws are developing wrinkles. There is no turning back. One day I shall actually die! Then I will not see any of you, ever again. And you will not see me. The worst thing of all is this: no one can possibly save me from this dreadful fate.’

      At this thought, many of the other monkeys also began to weep and moan in sympathy. But there was one very small, humble fellow who ran urgently up to the king and begged him to listen.

      ‘Your majesty,’ he whispered, ‘do not despair, for your fate is not quite sealed yet. Haven’t you heard? There are people who have discovered the secret of everlasting life – who know how to live for ever!’

      A silence fell over the hall.

      Into it, King Monkey said, ‘Yes, I have indeed heard strange rumours of this. But how can they possibly be true? Who are these amazing people?’

      ‘They are most certainly true, my lord,’ said the little fellow excitedly. ‘Few, yet many are those who know this secret. They are called The Immortals.’

      ‘Are they, now?’ exclaimed Monkey. He sat up very straight, and his eyes began to sparkle again. ‘So, tell me, little friend, where may I find these wonderful people?’

      ‘They live far away, here and there, your majesty,’ the little fellow answered, ‘in ancient caves amongst enchanted hills. Look hard enough, and surely you will find them in the end.’

      No sooner had King Monkey heard these encouraging words than he leaped up from the table and hurried off to prepare himself for a very long journey. The next day he called all his dear subjects into his palace and spent many hours exchanging fond farewells with them.

      Then, dressed only in the simplest clothes and carrying a very small pack on his shoulder, he climbed onto a wooden raft and sailed away over the sea.

      The wind blew strongly, the waves rose endlessly up and down, the sun sank and rose again, day after day after day. Monkey sailed on for many leagues until at last his little raft reached the white sands of a country in the mysterious Southern Continent.

      There Monkey went ashore and disguised himself so cleverly that he looked exactly like a man. In this form he went wandering amongst the people of this land, hoping someone would point him in the direction of The Immortals. But unfortunately, everyone he met was so busy trying to become rich or famous that they had no time for thinking about the great mysteries of life and death, and they all just laughed in Monkey’s face.

      Years passed. Monkey kept on wandering here and there, on and on, never losing sight of his great quest. Eventually he found himself standing on the windswept edge of the Western Ocean. He built himself another raft and sailed across it until he reached the shore of the Western Continent.

      Here he landed wearily, gazing up at hills and mountains that rose almost to the sky, covered with dark forests and blue, drifting mists. Monkey walked high into the towering peaks, meeting no one... Until suddenly he stumbled upon an old woodcutter dressed in torn and dirty rags. This man was singing away cheerfully as he worked, as if he had not a care in the whole wide world.

      ‘Good morning, Mr. Woodcutter,’ called Monkey. ‘That’s a very happy song you’re singing.’

      ‘It certainly is,’ replied the woodcutter, ‘for the man who taught it to me is the happiest person I ever met.’

      ‘Oh,’ said Monkey, ‘and why is that?’

      The cutter winked at him. ‘Well, my friend, he has...The Knowledge.’ He put down his axe and sidled closer. ‘You know: The Great Secret.’

      Monkey stared at him. ‘Surely you don’t mean...?’

      ‘I do indeed, my friend.’ The woodcutter glanced around and lowered his voice. ‘He’s an Immortal. He’s found... everlasting life!’

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