Vietnamese Legends

By Mrs. Bach Lan

Mrs. Bach Lan has assembled an interesting selection of Vietnamese legends. These tales, well and simply translated by the author, have considerable charm, derived in no small part from the sense they convey of familiar human situations clothed in exotic dress. Here, in tropical settings, we have faithful lovers, jealous wives, unkind stepmothers, the stuff of which so many Western folk stories are made. One story indeed is Cinderella over again. We hope that this little book will find many readers and stimulate friendly interest in a country whose present-day problems are regrettably better known than her past culture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olympia Press
• Release date: Feb 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781608723263

Book preview

Table of Contents

Vietnamese Legends

I. THE BICH-CAU PREDESTINED MEETING

II. DO-QUYEN

III. THE GOOSE-DOWN COAT

IV. THE STORY OF TU-THUC

V. CINDERELLA

VI. THE RAVEN'S GEM

VII. BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

VIII. THE BETEL AND THE ARECA TREE

IX. TU-NHI-KHANH, THE GAMBLER'S WIFE

X. TRUONG-CHI AND MI-NUONG

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Vietnamese Legends

Mrs. Bach Lan

This page copyright © 2007 Silk Pagoda.

PRINTED IN VIET-NAM

BY KIM-LAI-AN-QUAN

FOR MRS. L.T. BACH-LAN

C/O 6, LE-VAN-HUU

SAIGON

FOREWORD

Mrs. Bach Lan has assembled an interesting selection of Vietnamese legends for which I am glad to write a brief foreword. These tales, well and simply translated by the author, have considerable charm, derived in no small part from the sense they convey of familiar human situations clothed in exotic dress. Here, in tropical settings, we have faithful lovers, jealous wives, unkind stepmothers, the stuff of which so many Western folk stories are made. One story indeed is Cinderella over again. I trust that this little book will find many readers and stimulate friendly interest in a country whose present-day problems are regrettably better known than her past culture.

Saigon, 26th February 1958

R.W. Parkes

I. THE BICH-CAU PREDESTINED MEETING

(or «The Portrait of the Fairy»)

In the early days of the Le dynasty, there lived at Bich-Cau village a young scholar named Tu-Uyen. He was known far and wide, for he came from a family of distinguished scholars, and was brought up in the world of books. He spent most of his time studying hard, reciting aloud his favourite prose selections and poems, intoning the words with great pleasure.

There were dozens of fair and rich young maidens who would have liked to marry him if he had asked them, but he wished to marry none of them.

One day, in the middle of the Spring Festival, he decided to go in the open air to enjoy spring time and the warm sun. He went alone, for to wander thus was his chief delight.

It was very beautiful in the country. Nature was luxuriant and wonderful. The rice-fields were green, the trees were swaying to and fro under the fresh wind and wild flowers peeped among the verdant meadows. The sun shone brightly upon him as upon the gardens and fields. He turned towards the warm sun, looked up to the sky and listened to the birds singing in the air.

«How lovely it is when spring comes» he thought. «The sun warms me and the wind plays with me. Oh! how greatly I am blessed! I wish this could last for ever.»

Then he went on and on along the winding road skirted by tall fruit-trees bending under their heavy load of golden fruit. The roses opened their pink or red or white petals and sent forth a fragrance wonderfully sweet and strong and this was the way they greeted spring. Everything was so fresh and delightful that Tu-Uyen walked and walked, admiring and wondering and forgot the time.

At last, the evening drew on, and the sky gleamed like gold under the full moon.

Tu-Uyen went back home and when he passed by the richly carved Tien-Tich pagoda, he beheld the most beautiful maiden in the world under a blossoming peach-tree. It was clear that from her slim and tapering fingers, her delicate figure, her smooth silken complexion, her beautiful dress and her noble bearing that she was not an ordinary woman. She was dreamy and ethereal like a fairy, with the moonlight playing on her white face and bright eyes.

Fascinated by her, he grew bold, bowed to her politely and said:

«Most honoured lady, as the night is drawing near, may your humble servant, the unworthy scholar of Bich-Cau village accompany you to your distinguished abode?». The beautiful maiden curtsied back in the most graceful and courteous manner and said she would be delighted and grateful to be taken home by the young man.

Then they walked side by side, emulating each other in making alternate love songs and clever poems.

But when they came to the Quang-Minh temple, the lady vanished, and it was only then that Tu-Uyen realized he had met a «Tien» (fairy).

When he reached his home, he kept