The Two Friends and the Golden Nugget - Part One

Ki-Wu and Pao-shu were friends and were always found together and liked each other a lot. One day early in the spring morning, the two friends set out for a walk. 

They wanted to be away from the city and the noises there.

They decided to go to the pine forest and they crossed a little stream as they headed towards the forest. They crossed many trees and shrubs on the way and they were happily talking with each other. 

That was when they saw something very strange on the path before them.

There was a huge lump of gold on the path!

Ki-Wu picked up the lump of gold which was nearly as big as a lemon and he handed it over to Pao-shu. “This should belong to you because you saw it first.”

Pao-Shu shook his head. “No! No, no! I do not want it. You spoke about it first and I am very sure that the good fairies have rewarded you for the faithful work that you do.” Pao-Shu nodded at his friend. “This should belong to you.”

Thus neither of the friends took the gold for themselves. They talked with each other for sometime and they realized that the other would not take it. Finally the two of them left the gold there and walked further into the forest.

The two friends realized that they had come to the forest for a walk and finally decided to sit down on the rocks near the water because it was the coolest place in the entire forest. 

Unfortunately there they found that the spot that they had intended to use had already been occupied by another man.

Adapted from Chinese Folktales

சம பலம் அற்றவர்களிடம் நட்பு சாத்தியமா?

ஒரு பாம்பாட்டிக்கு அவர் வழக்கப்படி சென்று கொண்டிருக்கும்போது ஒரு பாம்பு கிடைத்தது.  அதை தன்னுடைய பெட்டியில் போட்டுக் கொண்டார் . இன்னும் சிறிது தூரம் சென்றவுடன் ஒரு எலியும் கிடைத்தது . அதை அந்த பாம்புக்கு உணவாக அந்தப் பெட்டியிலேயே போட்டுவிட்டு அந்தப் பெட்டியை தன் தலையில் வைத்து  நடக்க ஆரம்பித்தார்.  பாம்பும் தன் இறையான எலியை சாப்பிட தயாரானது. 

எலிக்கு தன்னுடைய விதி முடியப்போகிறது என்று புரிந்தது . ஆனாலும் அது தன்னுடைய பயத்தை வெளிக்காட்டக் கொள்ளவில்லை . தைரியமாக பாம்புடன் “ என்னை இப்பொழுது தாங்கள் சாப்பிடாமல் இருந்தால்,  சிறிது நேரத்தில் உங்களை இந்த பெட்டியில் இருந்து வெளியே செல்ல என்னால் உதவ முடியும்”  என்று கூறியது.  ஆனால் பாம்பு அதை லட்சியம் செய்யாமல் “எனக்கு இப்பொழுது பயங்கர பசியாக இருக்கிறது.  ஆகவே உன்னை உண்ணப் போகிறேன்”  என்றது.  எலி பாம்பைப் பார்த்து “ நான் இவ்வளவு சிறிதாக இருக்கிறேன் என்னை சாப்பிட்டா  உன் பசி தீரப் போகிறது என்னை இப்பொழுது உயிரோடு விட்டால் உன்னை இந்த பெட்டியில் இருந்து வெளியே செல்ல என்னால் உதவ முடியும் ஒரு முறை வெளியே சென்று விட்டால் உனக்கு எக்கச்சக்கமாக உணவு கிடைக்கும் “ என்று ஆசை மூட்டியது.  பாம்பு எலி சொன்ன வார்த்தையை சிறிது நேரம் நினைத்துப் பார்த்தது.  அதற்கும் எலி சொல்வதுதான் சரி என்று தோன்றியது . தான் ஒரு முறை இந்தப் பெட்டியில் இருந்து வெளியே சென்று விட்டால் எலியை விட பன்மடங்கு பெரிதான உயிர்களை எளிதாக சாப்பிட முடியும் என்று நினைத்தது . ஆகவே அந்த எலியை உயிரோடு விட்டது.  எலியும் அந்த பெட்டியில் தன்னுடைய பற்களால் ஒரு பெரிய ஓட்டை போட ஆரம்பித்தது.

பாம்பாட்டிக்கு தெரியாமல் , அந்த எலி தான் செய்த ஓட்டை வழியாக வெகு  வேகமாக வெளியேறி,  அருகில் இருந்த ஒரு எலி வளைக்குள் ஒளிந்து கொண்டது.  பாம்பும் எலி செய்த ஓட்டை வழியாக வெளியேறினாலும்,  அதனால் எலி அளவு வேகமாக ஓட முடியவில்லை . அதற்குள் எலி அந்த வளைக்குள் புகுந்து ஒளிந்து கொண்டது.  பாம்பும் அந்த எலி வலையினுள் நுழைய முற்பட்டது . ஆனால்  அது மிகவும் சிறியதாக இருந்ததால் அதனால் நுழைய முடியவில்லை.  இப்பொழுது பாம்புக்கு இருந்த ஒரே வழி , எப்படியாவது எலியை அந்த வளையில் இருந்து வெளியே வரவழைத்து சாப்பிடுவதுதான் . அது அன்பு ஒழுக “நண்பனே வெளியே வா . என்னிடமிருந்து ஏன் நீ விலகி ஓடுகிறாய் . நான் உன் உயிரைக் காப்பாற்றினேன் இல்லையா ?  எதற்காக என்னிடமிருந்து இப்படி விலகி ஓடுகிறாய் ?”  என்று கேட்டது . ஆனால் எலி இடம் இருந்து எந்த பதிலும் வரவில்லை.  பாம்பு விடாமல் “ அந்த பாம்பாட்டி இடம் இருந்து என் உயிரை நீ காப்பாற்றி இருக்கிறாய் . ஆகவே நான் உன்னை ஒன்றும் செய்ய மாட்டேன் . ஆகவே வெளியே வா “ என்றது.  வளையின் உள்ளிருந்து எலி “ நாம் இருவரும் சமமானவர்கள் இல்லை . என்றைக்கு இருந்தாலும் நான் உன்னுடைய உணவு . ஒரு பிரச்சினை என்று வரும்போது நாம் நண்பர்களானோம். ஆனால் சாதாரண சமயங்களில் உன்னை நான் நம்ப முடியாது”  என்றது . பாம்புக்கு தன் இயலாமை புரிந்தாலும்,  அந்த எலியின் சாமர்த்தியம் அதற்குப் புரிந்தது . வேறு வழி இல்லாமல் அந்த இடத்தை விட்டு நகர்ந்து சென்றது.

( இந்த கதை கவிஞர் மஞ்சனா அவர்களின் கதையிலிருந்து தழுவி எழுதப்பட்டது).

Empress Jokwa and the Path of the Sun and the Moon - Part Seven

Shikuyu the fire king took the body of the wicked Kokai and carried it to Empress Jokwa. Now that her enemy had been vanquished she showered gifts and honours upon Shikuyu and her own soldiers. 

However, the troubles of the Kingdom were not yet over.

Kokai had fallen on the rocks of Mount Shy with so much force that the mountain had burst and fire rushed out from the Earth. Unfortunately, because of this, one of the pillars upholding the Heaven broke and that corner of the sky broke and touched the Earth.

Because of the fire bursting from the earth, whole villages were destroyed, rice fields were burnt up and all the people were in great distress. 

Empress Jokwa left the capital and she went to the villages where the disaster had occurred. 

She found that both Heaven and Earth had been damaged because of Kokai’s actions.

After assessing the damage she sent her people to collect five different coloured stones. The stones were blue, yellow, red, white and black in colour. 

She got these stones, boiled them and in a large caldron and made them into a beautiful paste.  

With the paste she mended the sky.

After repairing the Earth she summoned the clouds, and after the clouds came down, she mounted the clouds and went heavenward and carried the paste. She carried the paste in a vase, through the skies. She reached the corner of the sky that had been broken and she applied the paste and mended that part too.

After doing that, she came back to Earth and she was sure that now things would go back to normal. 

Much to her dismay, it was very dark. Neither the sun nor the moon came out in the skies though the sky and the earth had been repaired.

Not knowing what to do she called all the wise men of the kingdom to know why it was still dark.

The wise man finally figured out that when the road of Heaven had been damaged the Sun and moon had tried to make their daily journey, but they could not.

Now Empress Jokwa had repaired the path of heaven. However, the Sun and the moon did not know that the roads had been repaired. That was why the earth was still dark.

It was finally decided that someone had to go to the Sun and the Moon and tell them that their path had been set right and that they could make their journey every day.

Empress Jokwa sent two wise men as ambassadors with wonderful chariots that she had created by her magic. 

These chariots would carry the two wise men across hundreds and thousands of miles into the east because traveling by foot to the Palace of the Sun and the Moon was not possible.

The 2 wise men met the Sun. And the moon in their palace and learn that the Sun and the moon believed that their path had been damaged and that it was dangerous for them to make their usual journey and that was the reason that they had not come to it. 

However, the two ambassadors successfully convinced the Sun and the moon that Empress Jokwa had repaired the road with the stones of five colours.

However, the Sun and the Moon still hesitated because one of the pillars of Heaven had been broken. 

That was when the two ambassadors told the Sun in the Moon that Empress Jokwa had restored the pillar of Heaven with the legs of a great tortoise and that it was now strong and sturdy. 

The Sun and the Moon were convinced and they started their daily journey again and gave light to all of earth.

Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales

Empress Jokwa and the Path of the Sun and the Moon - Part Six

That the magic of Kokai had been countered by Shikuyu, Eiko attacked Kokai with his weapons. Eiko fought very well but he began to tire.

In an attempt to help Eiko, Hako attacked Kokai. Kokai knew that he could not survive the attack of a fresh person now at this time of the battle so Kokai looked to divert Hako’s attention and fool him.

“You are a good man Hako, I will not attack you. The only reason you have attacked me now is because you want to save your friend from doom. But I do not want to hurt you so walk away from here.”

Shikuyu heard Kokai’s words and he easily saw through Kokai’s trick. Shikuyu realized that Kokai wanted Hako to turn away and then Kokai would attack Hako from the back. “You cannot deceive me.” Shikuyu yelled and he ordered his army men to attack Kokai’s army forces.

Now that all the three of the soldiers and others had turned their attention to Kokai, Kokai realized that could not lead his army and Kokai’s army was routed. Kokai was also attacked by Hako and Eiko and Shikuyu also joined this attack. 

Kokai tried to call the Water Devil for help again but this time Shikuyu knew the counter incantations which would prevent Kokai from using his power.

Realizing that there was no way out for him, Kokai dashed his head against the rocks of Mount Shu and immediately Kokai fell dead.

Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales

Empress Jokwa and the Path of the Sun and the Moon - Part Five

It so happened that Shikuyu the Fire King lived in the south pole. There was ice and water there and it is the only safe place for Shikuyu to live safely because Shikuyu burnt up everything around him but it was impossible to burn up ice and snow.

Shikuyu was also a giant and he was thirty feet tall and his face was like marble and his hair and beard was long and white as snow.

Empress Jokwa sent Eiko to the South Pole to request Shikuyu to lead their army against Kokai.

The Fire King smiled on hearing Eiko’s request. “I came to your rescue when you and your friend were drowning in the flood created by Kokai. I will definitely help you now. Just as Kokai is the master of water, I am the master of fire. I can definitely destroy him.”

So Shikuyu happily agreed to help Empress Jokwa. 

He asked all the thirty thousand soldiers of Empress Jokwa of whom he was the head, to burn a particular shrub and keep the ashes in a bag. He knew that this was the best way to counter Kokai.

The battle started again. Kokai did not think of anything then he Shikuyu leading the battle. Kokai in his arrogance believed that Shikuyu was not as powerful as him.

On seeing the army march towards him Kokai created a water flood.

However this time something astonishing happened.

The soldiers of Shikuyu’s army scattered the ashes which they had, around them.

As every soldier did that they realized the importance of burning the shrub. The power of the shrub was such that its ashes mingled with the water created by Kokai and a strong mud was formed after that. As the water could do nothing to them, all the soldiers were safe from drowning.

Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales

Empress Jokwa and the Path of the Sun and the Moon - Part Four

Hako and Eiko were struggling in the water. 

At that time they were stunned when they saw an island rise out of the water. There was an old man with white hair smiling at them from the island. The old man waved the two generals to come towards him.

Hako and Eiko signaled the old man for help. 

The old man nodded and came down to the edge of the water. Something extraordinary happened when the old man’s feet touched the water. The water parted and a dry road appeared in the water and the Road led to the island of the old man.

Kokai, who had created the flood, also saw the island which had come and he saw that Hako and Eiko were about to be safe on the island Kokai became angry. He swam through the water towards the old man. 

But the old man is not even a little bit worried about it.

As Kokai reached the island, suddenly the old man laughed and turned into a large and beautiful crane and flew away from there.

Though Hako and Eiko did not know who the old man was, they both realized that whoever had helped them by forming the island there, was not a mere human being but could be a God in disguise.

Now that the water was gone both Kokai and the young warriors were tired. Neither wanted to fight for that day and went their ways. 

That night Hako and Eiko realized that they were just human and they could not fight against the magic of a wizard like Kokai. So they went to Empress Jokai and told her what had happened at the battle.

Empress Jokwa thought through everything and after consultations with all, she decided to ask the Fire King Shikuyu to help her against the rebel wizard.

Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales

Empress Jokwa and the Path of the Sun and the Moon - Part Three

Kokai saw the two generals much towards him and he was sure he was going to blow the two men away in a single breath. 

The two young warriors nodded at each other. “We cannot let him escape.”

So the two of them together attacked Kokai. 

The three of them fought for a long time and neither side won or lost.

As they were fighting Hako turned his horse too quickly. The horse hit a large stone and fell. As a result of this Hako fell on the ground and the horse ran away from there.

After that Kokai drew his sword and he was about to kill Hako. At that time Eiko brought his horse in front of Kokai to fight him now. “Do not go after a man who has fallen down.”

However Kokai had been fighting for a long time and he was very tired. He knew that he could not fight a fresh warrior at this time. So instead of accepting Eiko’s challenge Kokai turned his horse and fled from there.

The fallen Hako found his horse and after that both Eiko and Hako followed Kokai who was fleeing.

Kokai drew his arrow and tried to hit Eiko. However Eiko avoided the arrow and the arrow also did nothing to Hako’s coat of armour.

Kokai realized that he did not have the time to pull a second arrow and the two generals were already gaining on him.

Kokai used his magic and created a huge flood. 

Empress Jokwa’s army and her brave generals were swept away in the waters of the flood.

Adapted from Japanese Folk Tales