Chử Đồng Tử and Princess Tiên Dung

The legend that follows is one of the oldest of Vietnam, reputedly going back to the early years of the semi-legendary Hồng Bàng dynasty. It is probably of Taoist inspiration and affirms a belief in genie and immortals.

The third King Hùng Vương had a beautiful daughter named Tiên-Dung (Divine Beauty), who, although of fairy-like loveliness, was endowed with a whimsical nature. Despite her father's entreaties, she rejected every offer of marriage, preferring, as she said, to remain single in order to satisfy her passion for visiting the many beautiful sites of her father's kingdom, known as Van Lang. As the king loved his daughter tenderly, he tried to please her in every way possible, even placing at her disposal a number of vessels including the royal barge, so that she could navigate the rivers of the realm.

At that time, in the village of Chử Xá (Hưng Yên province), lived Chử Cù-Vân and his son Chử Đồng-Tử (Marsh Boy). They were poor fishermen whose home had been ruined by fire. They had lost all their clothing except a single loincloth, which they took turns wearing. When Chu Cu-Van fell seriously ill and felt death approaching, he called his son to the side of his mat.

"After my death," he said, "keep this loincloth for thyself."

But Chử Đồng-Tử was a pious son and could not let his old father be buried without shroud. He attended the funeral in borrowed clothes and then found himself without a garment of any kind. The poor young fisherman was obliged to do his fishing at night. During the day he would attempt to sell his catch to the people in the boats passing along the river, remaining immersed in the water up to his waist. One day, Princess Tien Dung, then in her twentieth year, accompanied by a brilliant suite, happened to approach the very place where Chu Dong-Tu was standing in the water. When the young fisherman heard the sound of gongs and bells and perceived the wonderful array of parasols and banners, he became frightened and took cover behind some bulrushes. Then he quickly dug a hole in the sand and covered himself so completely that only his nose was exposed.

Taking a liking to the picturesque surroundings, the princess expressed a desire to bathe there. A tent was set up on the shore. The princess entered, disrobed, and began to pour water over her head and shoulders. As the water trickled to the ground, it washed away some of the sand, exposing Chu Dong-Tu in all his nakedness.

 (Tien Dung - Painted by Nguyen Phan Chanh)

"Who are you?" asked the princess. "What are you doing here?"

"Your Royal Highness," replied the frightened youth, not daring to raise his eyes, "I am only a poor fisherman. Having no garment with which to clothe myself, I was forced to hide in the sand at the approach of the royal barge. Will you not pardon my error?"

Princess Tien Dung dressed in haste and threw a remnant of cloth to the young man so that he could cover himself. Then she questioned him in great detail about his past life. Hardship had not marred Chu Dong-Tu's handsome features, and the princess was not displeased with his demeanor. After some deliberation, she reached a decision.

"I had not expected to marry," she said with a sigh, "but Heaven has ordained this meeting. I cannot oppose Heaven's Will." She immediately ordered all her officers and ladies to come forward. When they had assembled, she told them of the extraordinary adventure that had just befallen her. Then she announced that it was her intention to marry the young man. 
"But Your Royal Highness," cried Chu Dong-Tu on hearing these words, "how can I, a penniless fisherman, be the husband of a royal princess?" 
"It has been predestined," replied the young woman; "therefore, there can be no reservations about the matter." 
"Long live Their Royal Highnesses." cried the officers and ladies in chorus.

Chu Dong-Tu was properly clothed and groomed and the royal wedding took place that same evening with great pomp. But when King Hung-Vuong learned of it, he became furious and shouted angrily at his courtiers.

"In marrying a vagabond," he said, "Tien Dung has dishonored her rank of royal princess. She is to be disinherited and forever banned from my court." The princess had no desire to face her father's wrath. In order to provide for her husband and herself, she decided to go into business. She sold her junks and her jewels, bought some land at a crossroads near the village of Chử Xá, and established a trading post. Visited by merchant vessels from the entire kingdom of Van Lang and from countries overseas as well, the village prospered and in time became a great emporium.

One day, a foreign merchant advised the princess to send an agent across the sea to purchase some rare merchandise that could then be sold at a tenfold profit. Chu Dong-Tu was charged with this mission and together with the foreign merchant left by sea. On reaching the island of Quỳnh Viên, they met a Taoist priest who immediately recognized the sign of immortality on Chu Dong-Tu's forehead. The former fisherman then entrusted his gold to the foreign merchant and remained on the island for one year in order to be initiated into the secrets of the Way (Đạo).

On the day of Chu Dong-Tu's departure, the priest gave his disciple a pilgrim's staff and a conical hat made of palm leaves. He advised him never to be without them.

"This staff will give you support," he said, "but it is worth much more. The hat will protect you from the rain and also from harm. Both have supernatural power."

On returning to Chu Xa, Chu Dong-Tu converted his wife to Taoism. They repented their earthly sins, abandoned their possessions, and left in search of a deserted place, where they would be able to devote themselves entirely to a study of the True Doctrine.

All day they stumbled on through the wilds and at last fell to the earth exhausted. But before lying down to sleep, Chu Dong-Tu planted his staff in the ground and on it hung the conical hat.

The couple had been asleep only a few moments before being awakened by a crash of thunder. They sat up between flashes of lightning and saw a magic citadel suddenly rise from the earth. It was complete with jade-and-emerald palaces, public buildings, and houses for the inhabitants. Mandarins, both civil and military, courtiers, soldiers, and servants came forward to welcome them to the city, begging them to rule over the new kingdom. Chu Dong-Tu and his wife entered their palace and began a reign of peace and prosperity.

When King Hung-Vuong learned of the existence of the magic citadel, he thought that his daughter had rebelled against his authority and was desirous of founding a new dynasty. He assembled an army and ordered his generals to destroy the rival kingdom. The people of the citadel urged the princess to give them weapons so that they might defend her territory.

"No," she said, "I do not intend to defend this citadel by force of arms. Heaven created it and Heaven has sent my father's army against it. In any case, how can a daughter oppose her father's will? I must submit to the inevitable."

 (Chu Dong Tu and his two wives ascending to Heaven)

That evening King Hung-Vuong's army camped on the bank of the river opposite the magic citadel. His generals planned to attack the following morning. But at midnight a terrible storm arose and the entire citadel with all its inhabitants was seen to rise into the air and disappear. The next morning the royal army found only a marshy pond and a sandy beach at its former sight. The pond received the name of Đầm Nhất Dạ, which means "Pond Formed in One Night", the beach was called "Spontaneous Beach", or Bãi Tự-Nhiên, which the King, and the whole Kingdom, forever honoured.

- The End -

Con Rong Chau Tien

Thousands of years ago, King Duong Vuong, King of Xich Quy, married Long Nu, a princess from Dong Dinh Ho lake.  Because of Long Nu’s origin, their son Sung Lam, popularly known as  Lạc Long Quân, was believed to be descended from the line of the Dragons. Lac Long Quan had superhuman strength, and he liked to stay near water. He succeeded to the throne of his father, and governed the Lac-Viet tribe.

De Lai, king of a northern tribe, with his daughter  Âu Cơ made a trip to visit the south. Admiring Lac Long Quan’s talent, De Lai married Au Co to Lac Long Quan. Au Co became pregnant and gave birth to a membraneous sac. The sac kept getting larger and larger, and burst on the seventh day. There were one hundred eggs in the sac, and they hatched into one hundred beautiful children.

Even though Lac Long Quan now had a family of his own, he often missed the coast and visited his mother Long Nu frequently. Au Co was unhappy with his absence.

Lac Long Quan told Au Co: "I am from the Dragon line. I like to dwell on the Coast. You are from the Fairy line, you like to be on highlands. Therefore, we can no longer live together. It is better that we separate now. You take fifty children to the highlands, and I will take fifty children down the coast..."

So, Lac Long Quan took fifty children to the coast and divided the areas to govern. He taught his people the skills of fishing and the art of tattoos so that when they dove into the water, the tattoos would scare off other marine animals.

He also educated the people about agriculture -- how to sow rice seeds and harvest rice. He showed them how rice can be cooked in a bamboo tube with some water and broiled over an open fire. When done, the bamboo tube is split and delicious cooked rice is inside.

Au Co took fifty children to the highlands, and also divided the areas to govern. The people who went to live in the jungle or the mountainous regions learned to breed animals, and worked the land to grow fruit trees for food. They lived above the ground in houses built on stilts made of bamboo trees, to avoid wild animals.

Even though Lac Long Quan and Au Co were separated, Lac Long Quan stated: "Despite the distance and separation, we must listen for one another and lend a hand to one another when needed. We must never let our bond be broken."

Ever since, the Bach-Viet race has scattered throughout SouthEast Asia. The children of Lac Long Quan and Au Co are the ancestors of Vietnam, and so the Vietnamese are known as "Dragon and Fairy descendants."

The golden ax

Adapted by George F. Schultz 

 

There was once a very poor man who lived near the forest. He was able to earn enough for a bare existence by cutting firewood, which his wife would barter for rice in the market place.

One day, when this man was cutting wood at the river's edge, the ax slipped from his hands and fell into the water. Although the woodcutter searched for it everywhere, it was not to be found. Discouraged, he sat down on the bank, lowered his head sadly, and wondered how he would be able to earn a living in the future. When the man raised his eyes again, he saw a little old man standing in front of him. The newcomer asked the woodcutter the reason for his unhappiness. The latter described what had happened and added that the lost ax had been his most valuable possession. Only with it would he be able to earn his daily rice.

"I am the dragon of this river," said the old man sympathetically, "and I am going to help you. If you will wait here for a minute, I will recover your ax for you."

With these words the old man plunged into the water. A few moments later, he reappeared, holding a golden ax in his hand.

"Is this your ax?" he asked.

"No," replied the woodcutter, "that is not mine. My ax was made of iron and had a wooden handle."

The river-dragon plunged into the water again and then emerged holding aloft a silver ax.

"Is this ax yours?" he asked.

Again the honest woodcutter replied in the negative.

The dragon then submerged for a third time. When he reappeared, he was holding a very ordinary iron ax in his hand.

"Is this your ax?" he asked the woodcutter.

"Yes," came the reply, "that is mine, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your assistance."

"You are an honest man," said the river-dragon then. "For that reason, in addition to this iron ax, I am going to give you one of silver and one of gold as well."

It was difficult for the simple woodcutter to find words with which to thank his benefactor. He picked up the three axes and returned to his cottage.

The evidence of all this new wealth soon aroused the speculation of the woodcutter's neighbors. With the exception of one man, however, they all wished him well.

This man was full of envy and was greatly desirous of obtaining for himself a golden or silver ax. From the woodcutter he obtained an exact description of the place on the river bank where the miraculous event had taken place. The greedy man then found an old, rusty ax and went there with it. He threw the iron ax into the water and pretended to be greatly troubled because of its loss.

The little old man appeared before the man and asked the cause of his trouble. Falsely the man described his loss and begged for the old man's assistance.

"You shall receive justice," was the reply. Thereupon, the old man plunged into the river and reappeared with a golden ax in his hand.

Before the dragon even had time to ask the question, the man shouted, "That's my ax. Give it to me at once."

"You are lying," replied the dragon angrily. Raising the ax high in the air, he struck the liar a blow on the neck, killing him instantly.

Since that time, no one has ever tried to obtain a golden ax or even a silver one from the river-dragon's hoard.

The Hundred-Knot Bamboo (Cây Tre Trăm Đốt)

There was a rich devious landowner who used all kind of tricks to exploit his servants and laborers. He had a beautiful nubile daughter . Khoai lived as a servant in this household from the time he was a young boy. He had to work very hard. He is now in his late teens. The landowner was afraid that Khoai will leave the household and thus he would lose a very hard working helper. So, one day he called Khoai and told him:

“If you stayed in the household and work hard day and night, I will give you my daughter in marriage.”

Khoai believed the landowner and was very happy. He redoubled his efforts to win the heart of the landowner. Three years have passed. The daughter is now grown. In the region, there is this very wealthy village chief, who eyed the daughter for his son. So, the village chief came and ask for the hand of the daughter. The landowner agreed and set out to prepare for the wedding.

When Khoai realized that he has been taken advantage of, he was mad and went to the landowner to complain. He asked the landowner:

“You have promised your daughter to me. Why are you going back on your promise now?”

The landowner did not like to be addressed in such a manner. He was going to beat him, but taking another look at the young man, he dared not. He told him instead:

“My son, you are mistaken! My daughter is now of age and the preparation for the wedding that I am undertaking now is actually for you. However, if you want the wedding to take place, you must accomplish the following task. You need to find a bamboo with one hundred knots. Then you will need to cut it up into chopsticks for the wedding feast. That is my condition for giving you my daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Khoai again believed him and went up the forest in search of the bamboo with 100 knots. He searched for days on end and went from one end of the jungle to the other without success. In despair he sat down in the jungle and wept in despair.

Suddenly he saw an old cheery man with all white hair but with rosy complexion. The old man approached him and asked:

“Son, why are you so sad?’.

Khoai told him his story. The old man told him:

“Go and cut 100 stems of bamboo and bring them back here”.

Khoai went out and brought back the bamboo that the old man asked. The old man then gave the command

“Stick together! Stick together”

The bamboo sticks that were lying here and there on the ground immediately came together all in a row to make a bamboo with 100 knots. Khoai was filled with joy. He wanted to thank the old man, but he has disappeared. He realized that he has met Buddha. He set out to bring the bamboo back. But there was no way for him to load this long bamboo on his shoulder. He kept on running into other trees. He sat down again in despair and wept. Immediately he saw the old man reappear. Buddha asked him:

“Why do you weep?”

He explained his situation. Buddha pointed at the bamboo and said

“Unstick! Unstick!”

and the bamboo came apart in 100 stems. And Buddha disappeared. Khoai tied up the 100 bamboo stems and proceeded to take them home.

When he arrived home, he found the two families preparing to feast in the courtyard. The village chief family has come for the wedding. Khoai was really mad and ran to the landowner to ask for an explanation. The landowner told him

“I asked you to get me a bamboo with 100 knots, not 100 stems of bamboo!”

Both family stopped their feasts and laughed derisively at Khoai, and joked about his naivety. Khoai told the landowner that he has the bamboo and the courtyard and the landowner should come out and examine it. As the landowner approached the pile of bamboo, Khoai said in a low voice “stick together! stick together!”. Immediately the bamboo stems came together and the landowner was also stuck at the end of the bamboo. The landowner tried to pull himself away but failed. The future in-laws came to his rescue. Khoai waited until the village chief has touched the landowner before he said “stick together! stick together!“. Immediately the village chief became stuck to the landowner. The same fate happened to the village chief’s son. The more they tried to pull away, the harder and more painful they became stuck. Both families were now in panic. Nobody dared to pull the three men away any longer nor joked about Khoai. They lined up and asked him to pardon the 3 men stuck at the end of the bamboo.

Khoai had the landowner promise his daughter to him and the village chief has to agree not to seek vengeance. Then Khoai said “unstick! unstick!” and they all became free.

The village chief and his party quickly left the festivities. And Khoai moved into the bridegroom chair and the celebration continued!

The legend of Sơn Tinh and Thủy Tinh

Intro
Vietnamese folklore not only embodied ethical values and morality but also they attempt to explain natural phenomenon in the geographic location of the tropical and monsoon land. One of these legend that attempted to explain such is the story of Son Tinh (mountain spirit) and Thuy Tinh (spirit of the sea).

The Legend

According to legend, during reign of the 18th Hung king, there was a beautiful princess named Mỵ Nương (in fact Mỵ Nương was the title for a princess during the Hồng Bàng period, her actual name was Ngọc Nga). She was the King’s only child, thus she is most precious. The King and Queen loved her very much. Moreover, she was very well respected and well-known throughout the perimeter of our land. The commoners, courtiers, and those of noble blood not only praised her for beauty but also her kindness.

When she grew up and became a woman, the King looking to arrange her for marriage. However, he could not find anyone that is worthy for his daughter. Many men from the area came asking for her hand, but the King was not satisfied with anyone of them. He wanted My Nuong to marry a really great man who posses strong power and had endless love for her.

 

One day, there were two strangers came to court. They both proposed to marry the princess. The King asked them for their names. One bowed his head and introduce himself and said that he was Son Tinh—the God of the mountain—he reigned on the height of Tản Viên mountain and govern all creatures above. The other one said in a polite voice that he was Thuy Tinh—God of the sea—and he governed all living creatures below sea level.

These two proclaimed to admire beauty and kindness of the princess and willing to do anything to win her heart. Son Tinh promised to make My Nuong the happiest queen of the high land, while Thuy Tinh promised to make her become the glorious Queen of the Sea.

The king asked these two handsome young men to present their power. The God of the Sea waved his hands and the wind start blowing. He spoke a word and the rain started falling heavily. He kept waving his hands and the sea level rises. Everyone was afraid, except for the God of the Mountain, he asked the King to present his power. He waved his hand and many tree growths up quickly and made a big forest. He whispered a word and many mountain and hill spouted up. He kept waving his hands and all the hills and mountains started to move.

After witnessing their powers, the king was glad to have any one of them as his son-in-law because they were both equally great. He could not decide which on is the winner. He looked at his daughter…then went to discuss the issue with his most trusted courtiers. After the discussion, he told these men that he would gladly accept both of them if he had two daughters, however he only had one. He then announced that, in the following morning whoever showed up to court the earliest with the wedding present will marry the princess. The two men were exciting and asked the King about the wedding presents. “Wedding presents include a nine tusk elephant, a nine spur cock, a nine color hair horse, 100 pots of glutinous rice and 100 bánh chưng (square rice cakes)” – the King said. The two Gods hurried back into their world to make preparations.
 

The following morning, Thuy Tinh (water spirit) and his servants arrived at court when the sun still did not show up. He thought that he was definitely going to marry the princess. Although, however, Son Tinh (Moutian spirit) had came earlier and already married the princess. My Nuong gave her hand to Son Tinh and he took her to the palace on the mountain in the sounding of wedding music. My Nuong became the most beautiful and happiest bride ever. Everyone greeted them at the wedding.

 
Thủy Tinh was furious. His heart was broken. He ordered his servants to pursue Thủy Tinh and get Mỵ Nương back. He used his magic to make heavy rain. He called strong winds and thunders. He ordered water of the sea, rivers and springs increase. A terrible flood appeared immediately. He asked all creatures living in water to kill Sơn Tinh and his men.
 

Thuy Tinh was enraged because his heart was broken. He ordered his servants—creatures of the seas—to pursue My Noung and get her back. He unleashed heaven rain, strong wind, and thunder. He ordered the sea, river, and spring to rise. All in combination created a flood, immediately. He commanded all creatures of the sea to kill Son Tinh and his men.

Everyone cried and shout in distress. They all feared the anger of Thuy Tinh. However, Son Tinh was calm. He used his power to raise mountain, move hill, and raised mountain to stop the flood. He made a huge levee to protect people and their domestic animals. All creatures on the mountain helped him to battle the Water Spirit. After sometime the God of the Sea withdrawn, and thus My Nuong lived on the mountain with her prince happily ever after.

Although, however, Thuy Tinh (God of the Sea) never given up the idea of getting the princess from Son Tinh (Mountain God). He still uses his power to wage war with Son Tinh. And that is why many flood and prolong raining came every year.

And that’s the legend explains our flooding seasonal patterns in the tropical monsoon region.

 (The gate of St. Tản temple on Ba Vì mountain)

- The End -

The Legend of the Betel Leaf and the Areca Nut - Sự Tích Trầu Cau

In Vietnam, during festivals or party times, Vietnamese serve betel leaves and areca nuts for chewing as a conversation opener. In fact, betel leaves and areca nuts are symbolic of love and marriage and are a must during an engagement. How did this customs come about is quite interesting.

Once upon a time, there was a pair of twin brothers, Tân and Lang, whose parents had died since they were small kids. They loved and took good care of each other. They looked so much alike that people often mistook one for the other. They liked learning very much so they came to learn with a teacher. The teacher let them stay with his family. The two brothers studied hard and worked hard everyday. Their teacher was very satisfied with them.

The teacher had a very beautiful young girl at a marriageable age. It was a Vietnamese custom that the elder was to marry first. She moved for them and wanted to married the elder brother. Her parents agreed with her. So, one day the girl's parents invited the two young men for dinner. However, they only served only a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks and hid behind a baboo screen and watched. It was also a Vietnamese custom that the younger brother must pay his respect to his elder brother at all times. So Lang, the younger brother offered the pair of chopsticks to his elder brother Tan. The teacher came in and told them he would marry off his daughter to the elder. A happy wedding was held. After that, the new married couple lived happily in a small house with the younger brother.

One day, the two brothers worked hard outside and came home in late afternoon. The young wife was longing to her husband so she hugged him tight. Since the two of them were alike, the young wife showed her deep affection to her brother-in-law without realizing she made a mistake. Lang did not say anything but felt very ashamed afterwards about what had happened, decided to run away. Miles and miles away from home, he came upon the river and sat there crying, days passed then weeks passed, he died and transformed into a block of limestone.
 

His elder brother was naturally deeply concerned and went and looked for his younger twin brother but had no luck. He finally ended up at the same place by the river and felt too tired. He sat down, leaned against the limestone and cried and cried until he too passed away. At the spot of his death, grew a tree known as the areca nut tree.
 

The young wife waited for her husband and his brother for days. However, they did not show up. She was so worried and decided to go and search for them. She went to many places, asked many people but she couldn’t see the twin brothers. Her feet were pain and her heart was broken. He called her husband but there was no answer. When the wife came to the river, she was too tired. She sat under the strange tree next to the limestone and cried until she no longer could. She died and became a small plant which had heart-shape leaves. It wound around the trunk of the strange tree. People called the tree “cau” (areca palm) and the plant “trầu” (betel).

The villagers set up a shrine to venerate the three souls who sought to be united in death. Their love and unity was praised by the whole village. One day King Hùng passed by and sat on the block of limestone to rest, he noticed the shrine and asked how it came about and was told the story of the three departed. He was so sorry for them. He then proceeded to take the areca nut and a betel leaf to chew. He felt such a wonderful sensation of love and happiness. When he spat on the limestone, the liquid was as red as blood. The King said it could happen because of the love between the husband and wife and the love between the two brothers.

Astonished and touched by what happened, he declared that the three should be united and the areca nut, the betel leaves and limestone should be served during engagement festivals.

Although the habit of chewing betel leaves is nowadays not much popular, most people who keep this habit are old ones, betel leaves and areca nuts still are the most important presents which are brought to the bride’s family. They contain best wishes of people to the married couple.

- The end - 

The Saint Gióng

An invasion by the Ân enemy ravaged the country during the reign of the sixth Hùng King. Everywhere villages were set on fire and the population massacred. Everywhere the drum rolls of the war mingled with the cries of the victims.

The King sent messengers out to every corner to discover a hero capable of saving the homeland.

At this time there lived a woman in Ke Dong who was no longer very young but still celibate. One day, on crossing the garden planted with aubergines, she saw the enormous footprint of a man. One does not know why but she had the idea to compare the footprint with her own. Scarcely had she put down her foot then she felt a strange sensation.

Some time after, she found that she was pregnant. Ashamed, she abandoned her native village and went to live in the forest. At the end of twelve months she brought a handsome boy into the world.

As she was homesick, she returned home with her son and again started to cultivate aubergines and to fish for crabs and snails to satisfy her needs and those of her little Giong.

She courageously faced everything, but one thing meanwhile saddened her. Giong, nearly three years old, neither spoke nor laughed. The whole day he remained motionless where she had left him.

The day the royal herald passed through the village hardly had the speaking horn become silent when the baby, standing up abruptly, called:

"Mother, will you invite the King's messenger to come in here for a few minutes?"

His mother, very happy, called the messenger.

"Return immediately to the Court and request the King to have a horse, armour, and an iron helmet made for me, and I will undertake to annihilate the invader," Giong said. 

The representative, rather surprised, made his report to the King. The King gave an immediate order to the blacksmiths to work night and day to make the armour and the horse required by Giong.

After his interview with the King's messenger, the child grew in front of everyone's eyes. He each day swallowed larger potfuls of rice and every evening his clothes burst at the seams. As his mother no longer had enough rice and aubergines, the whole village helped her to feed Giong.

When the horse was finished, it was brought to the village. But Giong tapped the animal lightly on the back, and it collapsed and the blacksmiths, ashamed, carried it away.

They returned with a horse twice as larger and heavier. This time it again flattened under Giong's hand. Giong laughing, said to them: 

"I need a horse with all its organs: heart, liver, lungs and intestines."

The King tore out whole sections of the mountain to find iron and thousands of workers speeded up the iron works day and night.

On the day fixed for the departure, the village offered Giong a meal composed of seven baskets of cooked rice and salted aubergines. Giong soon devoured the lot. Then he stood up and one could see him grow enormous.

The blacksmiths pushed the iron horse with great difficulty. Giong put on the helmet, but the armour was too small, and cracked. The village children filled the cracks with reed flowers.

Then, taking the iron whip, Giong jumped on the horse which, with a long whinny, bounded forward. Flames spouted from its nostrils. The enemy was then halted at Tran Son.

 (St. Gióng - Đông Hồ painting)

On his galloping horse Giong brandished his whip and rode into the crowd of soldiers who fell like cut straw. The survivors fled. Giong followed them. But his whip suddenly broke. Then Giong tore out bunches of bamboo on his path to strike blows.

All the enemy were exterminated or dispersed.

Feeling thirsty, Giong tied his horse to a tree and, approaching a well, entirely emptied it.

Leaving the broken whip near the well, Giong galloped as far as Sóc Sơn mountain where he deposited the armour and helmet on. He climbed onto the top of the mountain, looking at his native land for a last time, then, on his iron horse, he rode up to the heaven.

The King had a temple erected at Ke Dong to the hero, saviour of the Homeland, and awarded him the title of "Celestial Prince of Phù Đổng."

This temple is still in existence at the village of Phù Đổng. They can show you the tracks of the horses' shoes where Giong passed. Today these are lakes which are round.

As for the bamboo which grows in the plain, they have the yellow colour called Dang Nga. This colour resulted from the fire which spouted from the nostrils of the iron horse. This fire even burnt a village still called today "Cháy" (Burnt Village) in northern Ha Bac province.

Every year, on the ninth day of the fourth lunar month, the Giong festival is held to commemorate the Saint Giong's victory over the invaders.

The story of LUU-BINH and DUONG-LE 

By Tran Van Dien 

 

Long ago there were two very close friends. One named Luu-Binh, came from a wealthy family; the other, named Duong-Le, came from a pool family.

Knowing that Duong-Le did not have enough money to study, Luu-Binh kindly invited him to come and live with him to help him. Conscious of his poverty, Duong-Le was hard working and industrious while Luu-Binh, satisfied with his wealth, was wasteful and lazy. As expected, when the final examination arrived Luu-Binh failed while Duong-Le succeeded. He then became a high-ranking official and lived comfortably in a big house in the capital.

Luu-Binh went on with his idle, wasteful and extravagant way of life. Soon he had squandered all his fortune and was still not graduated. Reduced to bare poverty, Luu-Binh then remembered his old friend, now a high ranking official. So he made the trip to the capital and called at Duong-Le's to ask for help. Duong-Le pretended to be cold and indifferent because he knew his friend too well. If he helped him at once he would be always lazy.

"You're not my friend. All my friends are rich and important people not poor and ignorant like you." he shouted at Luu-Binh contemptuously. He then called: "Guards! See the man out. Give him some leftover rice and salt!"

Ashamed and disappointed to see that his friend was not too proud to remember their lifelong friendship, Luu-Binh sadly returned to his village, determined to study hard so that he would one day erase this shame.

In the meantime Duong-Le told his beautiful third wife, Chau-Long to dress as a girl selling silk, to go to Luu-Binh`s village, get acquainted with Luu-Binh and then propose to stay with him. She would be selling silk and supporting him while he was studying. She also promised that they would become husband and wife once he successfully completed his studies. Encouraged by that promise, Luu-Binh studied hard day and night. It was not long before the examination came again and Luu-Binh passed it. As soon as he heard the result he hurried home to share the good news with Chau-Long only to find that she had disappeared. Later on, Luu-Binh, too, was invited to serve as a high ranking official. But he did not forget the shame Duong-Le had caused him in the past. So he went to Duong-Le's to seek revenge. Duong-Le treated him completely differently when he arrived. This time he greeted him with open arms. He did not mind his friend's harsh words. Patiently waiting for his friend to calm down, Duong-Le then called his wife Chau-Long out to introduce her to his friend. Only then did Luu-Binh realize that Duong-Le, a true friend, had really helped him complete his studies. Both friends ran to each other and hugged each other tightly.

The Story of Tấm and Cám 

Long, long ago there was a man who lost his wife and lived with his little girl named Tam. Then he married again a wicked woman. The little girl found this out on the first day after the wedding. There was a big banquet in the house, but Tam was shut up in a room all by herself instead of being allowed to welcome the guests and attend the feast.

Moreover, she had to go to bed without any supper.

Things grew worse when a new baby girl was born in the house. The step-mother adored Cam--for Cam was the name of the baby girl--and she told her husband so many lies about poor Tam that he would not have anything more to do with the latter.

"Go and stay away in the kitchen and take care of yourself, you naughty child," said the wicked woman to Tam.

And she gave the little girl a dirty wretched place in the kitchen, and it was there that Tam was to live and work. At night, she was given a torn mat and a ragged sheet as bed and coverlet. She had to rub the floors, cut the wood, feed the animals, do all the cooking, the washing up and many other things. Her poor little soft hands had large blisters, but she bore the pain without complaint. Her step-mother also sent her to deep forests to gather wood with the secret hope that the wild beasts might carry her off. She asked Tam to draw water from dangerously deep wells so that she might get drowned one day. The poor little Tam worked and worked all day till her skin became swarthy and her hair entangled. But Sometimes she went to the well to draw water, looked at herself in it, and was frightened to realize how dark and ugly she was. She then got some water in the hollow of her hand, washed her face and combed her long smooth hair with her fingers, and the soft white skin appeared again, and she looked very pretty indeed.

When the step-mother realized how pretty Tam could look, she hated her more than ever, and wished to do her more harm. One day, she asked Tam and her own daughter Cam to go fishing in the village pond.

"Try to get as many as you can," she said. "If you come back with only a few of them, you will get flogged and will be sent to bed without supper." Tam knew that these words were meant for her because the step-mother would never beat Cam, who was the apple of her eyes, while she always flogged Tam as hard as she could.

Tam tried to fish hard and by the end of the day, got a basket full of fish. In the meantime, Cam spent her time rolling herself in the tender grass, basking in the warm sunshine, picking up wild flowers, dancing and singing.

The sun set before Cam had even started her fishing. She looked at her empty basket and had a bright idea. "Sister, sister," she said to Tam, "your hair is full of mud. Why don't you step into the fresh water and get a good wash to get rid of it? Otherwise mother is going to scold you."

Tam listened to the advice, and had a good wash. But, in the meantime, Cam poured her sister's fish into her own basket and went home as quickly as she could. When Tam realized that her fish were stolen away, her heart sank and she began to cry bitterly. Certainly, her step-mother would punish her severely tonight!

Suddenly, a fresh and balmy wind blew, the sky looked purer and the clouds whiter and in front of her stood the smiling blue-robed Goddess of Mercy, carrying a lovely green willow branch with her. "What is the matter, dear child?" asked the Goddess in a sweet voice.

Tam gave her an account of her misfortune and added: "Most Noble Lady, what am I to do tonight when I go home? I am frightened to death, for my step-mother will not believe me, and will flog me very, very hard."

The Goddess of Mercy consoled her. "Your misfortune will be over soon. Have confidence in me and cheer up. Now, look at your basket to see whether there is anything left there."

Tam looked and saw a lovely small fish with red fins and golden eyes, and uttered a little cry of surprise. The Goddess told her to take the fish home, put it in the well at the back of the house, and feed it three times a day with what she could save from her own food.

Tam thanked the Goddess most gratefully and did exactly as she was told. Whenever she went to the well, the fish would appear on the surface to greet her. But should anyone else come, the fish would never show itself. Tam's strange behavior was noticed by her step-mother who spied on her, and went to the well to look for the fish which hid itself in the deep water. She decided to ask Tam to go to a far away spring to fetch some water, and taking advantage of the absence, she put on the latter's ragged clothes, went to call the fish, killed it and cooked it.

When Tam came back, she went to the well, called and called, but there was no fish to be seen except the surface of the water stained with blood. She leaned her head against the well and wept in the most miserable way. The Goddess of Mercy appeared again, with a face as sweet as a loving mother, and comforted her: "Do not cry, my child. Your step-mother has killed the fish, but you must try to find its bones and bury them in the ground under your mat. Whatever you may wish to possess, pray to them, and your wish will be granted."

Tam followed the advice and looked for the fish bones everywhere but could find none. "Cluck! cluck!" said a hen, "Give me some paddy and I will show you the bones.

Tam gave her a handful of paddy and the hen said, "Cluck! cluck! Follow me and I will take you to the place." When they came to the poultry yard, the hen scratched a heap of young leaves, uncovered the fish bones which Tam gladly gathered and buried accordingly. It was not long before she got gold and jewelry and dresses of such wonderful materials that they would have rejoiced the heart of any young girl.

When the Autumn Festival came, Tam was told to stay home and sort out the two big baskets of black and green beans that her wicked step-mother had mixed up.

"Try to get the work done," she was told, "before you can go to attend the Festival." Then the step-mother and Cam put on their most beautiful dresses and went out by themselves.

After they had gone a long way Tam lifted her tearful face and prayed: "O, benevolent Goddess of Mercy, please help me." At once, the soft-eyed Goddess appeared and with her magic green willow branch, turned little flies into sparrows which sorted the beans out for the young girl. In a short time, the work was done. Tam dried up her tears, arrayed herself in a glittering blue and silver dress. She now looked as beautiful as a princess, and went to the Festival.

Cam was very surprised to see her, and whispered to her mother: "Is that rich lady not strangely like my sister Tam?" When Tam realized that her step-mother and Cam were staring curiously at her, she ran away, but in such a hurry that she dropped one of her fine slippers which the soldiers picked up and took to the King.

The King examined it carefully and declared he had never seen such a work of art before. He made the ladies of the palace try it on, but the slipper was too small even for those who had the smallest feet. Then he ordered all the noblewomen of the kingdom to try it, but the slipper would fit none of them. In the end, word was sent that the woman who could wear the slipper would become Queen, that is, the King's First Wife.

Finally, Tam had a try and the slipper fitted her perfectly. She then wore both slippers, and appeared in her glittering blue and silver dress, looking extremely beautiful. She was then taken to Court with a big escort, became Queen and had an unbelievably brilliant and happy life. The step-mother and Cam could not bear to see her happy and would have killed her most willingly, but they were too afraid of the King to do so.

One day, at her father's anniversary, Tam went home to celebrate it with her family. At the time, it was the custom that, however great and important one might be, one was always expected by one's parents to behave exactly like a young and obedient child. The cunning step-mother had this in her mind and asked Tam to climb an areca tree to get some nuts for the guests. As Tam was now Queen, she could of course refuse, but she was a very pious and dutiful daughter, and was only glad to help. But while she was up on the tree, she felt that it was swaying to and fro in the strangest and most alarming manner.

"What are you doing?" She asked her step-mother.

"I am only trying to scare away the ants which might bite you, my dear child," was the reply. But in fact, the wicked step-mother was holding a sickle and cutting the tree which fell down in a crash, killing the poor Queen at once.

"Now we are rid of her," said the woman with a hateful and ugly laugh, "and she will never come back again. We shall report to the King that she has died in an accident and my beloved daughter Cam will become Queen in her stead!"

Things happened exactly the way she had planned, and Cam became now the King's first wife. But Tam's pure and innocent soul could not find any rest. It was turned into the shape of a nightingale which dwelt in the King's garden and sang sweet and melodious songs.

One day, one of the maids-of-honor in the Palace exposed the dragon-embroidered gown of the King to the sun, and the nightingale sang in her own gentle way: "0, sweet maid-of-honor, be careful with my Imperial Husband's gown and do not tear it by putting it on a thorny hedge." She then sang on so sadly that tears came into the King's eyes. The nightingale sang more sweetly still and moved the hearts of all who heard her.

At last, the King said: "Most delightful nightingale, if you were the soul of my beloved Queen, be pleased to settle in my wide sleeves."

Then the gentle bird went straight into the King's sleeves and rubbed her smooth head against the King's hand. The bird was now put in a golden cage near the King's bedroom. The King was so fond of her that he would stay all day long near the cage, listening to her melancholy and beautiful songs. As she sang her melodies to him, his eyes became wet with tears, and she sang more charmingly than ever.

Cam became jealous of the bird, and sought her mother's advice about it. One day, while the King was holding a council with his ministers, Cam killed the nightingale, cooked it and threw the feathers in the Imperial Garden.

"What is the meaning of this?" said the King when he came back to the Palace and saw the empty cage. There was great confusion and everybody looked for the nightingale but could not find it.

"Perhaps she was bored and has flown away to the woods," said Cam.

The King was very sad but there was nothing he could do about it, and resigned himself to his fate. But once more, Tam's restless soul was transformed into big, magnificent tree, which only bore a single fruit, but what a fruit! It was round, big and golden and had a very sweet smell.

An old woman passing by the tree and seeing the beautiful fruit, said:

"Golden fruit, golden fruit, drop into the bag of this old woman.

This one will keep you and enjoy your smell, but will never eat you."

The fruit at once dropped into the old woman's bag. She brought it home, put it on the table to enjoy its sweet-scented smell. But the next day, to her great surprise, she found her house clean and tidy, and a delicious hot meal waiting for her when she came back from her errands as though some magic hand had done all this during her absence.

She then pretended to go out the following morning, but stealthily came back, hid herself behind the door and observed the house. She beheld a fair and slender lady coming out of the golden fruit and starting to tidy the house. She rushed in, tore the fruit peel up so that the fair lady could no longer hide herself in it. The young lady could not help but stay there and consider the old woman her own mother.

One day the King went on a hunting party and lost his way. The evening drew on, the clouds gathered and it was pitch dark when he saw the old woman's house and went in it for shelter. According to custom, the latter offered him some tea and betel. The King examined the delicate way the betel was prepared and asked: "Who is the person who made this betel, which looks exactly like the one prepared by my late beloved Queen?"

The old woman said in a trembling voice: "Son of Heaven, it is only my unworthy daughter."

The King then ordered the daughter to be brought to him and when she came and bowed to him, he realized, like in a dream, that it was Tam, his deeply regretted Queen Both of them wept after such a separation and so much unhappiness. The Queen was then taken back to the Imperial City, where she took her former rank, while Cam was completely neglected by the King.

Cam then thought: "If I were as beautiful as my sister, I would win the King's heart."

She asked the Queen: "Dearest Sister, how could I become as white as you?"

"It is very easy," answered the Queen. "You have only to jump into a big basin of boiling water to get beautifully white." Cam believed her and did as suggested. Naturally she died without being able to utter a word! When the step-mother heard about this she wept until she became blind. Soon, she died of a broken heart. The Queen survived both of them, and lived happily ever after, for she certainly deserved it.

The End