CHENNAI: A Chinese Myth
A long time ago in China, there was a young boy named Tchang who lived with his mother on the bank of a lake. They owned a very small patch of land that was not very fertile and as a result, they hardly had any food to eat. Even the lake had no fish.
“Life is just not fair!” said Tchang to his mother. “We work long and hard, yet our land yields nothing. I don’t understand why there are no fish in the lake either! I’m going to travel West and ask the Great God why we suffer like this.”
And he set out on a long and arduous journey to the hostile terrain of the West where the Great God dwelt. After fortynine days, he reached a farm where lived an old woman. The woman was kind and offered him food and a bed for the night. The woman had a daughter who was beautiful but mute. On hearing that Tchang was headed to meet the Great One, she told him, “I’m too old to go with you, but there’s a question you must ask the Great Being from me.”
“Ask him why my daughter cannot speak. After all, we live by the law, cause no one harm and are honest people. Why this punishment?” sighed the woman. Tchang promised to ask and left the next morning.
He walked for fortynine more days through desolate, barren lands. Tired and hungry, he came upon an isolated hut. He knocked on the door and an old man opened it. The man shared his meagre dinner with Tchang and allowed him to spend the night there.The next morning, Tchang thanked him for his generosity.
“I do not know how to return your kindness for I have nothing left with me,” said he to the old man, explaining why he was making that journey.
“You do not have to, boy. How I wish I could accompany you to meet the Great One myself. There’s a question I have for him too. But I’m too old,” said the old man.
“I will ask him for you, old uncle! What is your question?” asked Tchang. “Well, ask him why my trees won’t bear fruit. All the care I give them...” sighed the old man.
He walked and walked, another fortynine days passed. At last, he reached the bank of a wide river. The water was foaming and the current was swift. How can I get across these treacherous waters? He thought to himself. There seems to be no bridge, no stepping stones or even trees from which I could use a frond or a log of wood to get across.
Suddenly out of the water, arose a dragon. Tchang knew that dragons were guardian angels and often lived in the water. But this one appeared different. It had tiny wings and a gleaming white pearl on its forehead.
“So you wish to cross the river?” asked the dragon. Tchang nodded his head and explained why.
“All for a good cause,” said the dragon. “Climb on my back and I’ll take you across.” On the other side, he thanked the dragon profusely and asked if there was anything he could do for him.
“Well, maybe! You could ask the Great Being why he made my wings so small that I can’t fly like the other dragons.”
“You can be sure I’ll ask him,” said Tchang and continued his journey.
At last, he came to a snow white mountain atop which was a palace that shimmered with a thousand mirrors. He entered the palace and was soon ushered into the Great One’s chambers.
The Great One was an old man with a flowing, white beard. “You have undertaken such a long and hard journey and there’s surely a reward at the end of it. Ask me three questions only. No more, no less.” Tchang was heartbroken but dared not question God. So he held back his own question and asked the ones that the woman, the man and the dragon had asked. The Great One gave the answers and Tchang made his way back.
He met the dragon and gave him the reply, “When you do a good deed, God shall give you the power to fly.”
“You have a good heart Tchang. I think this pearl will be of use to you. Take it for that’s all I can give you,” said the dragon after he heard Tchang’s story. As he gave it, his wings grew and the dragon soared skyward.
Next, he reached the old man’s hut. He had an answer for him too. “Just dig under your lemon tree. That’s what the Great One said.’’
Together they dug under the tree and found nine golden jars full of crystal, sparkling water. They watered the trees with water from the jars and immediately fruit appeared on the trees! “Thank you!” said the old man hugging Tchang and gifted him one of the golden jars.
When he reached the old woman’s farm, he found the girl running up to him smiling. “I can speak now, thanks to you!” Her voice was sweet like the tinkling of tiny silver bells.
The old woman came out of her house crying happy tears. “What can I give you for granting me this blessing? Just my most precious, my daughter! You shall make her your bride!”
When Tchang returned home with his bride, he found that his mother had gone blind. Why does misfortune still plague me? thought Tchang and handed his poor mother the dragon’s pearl. When she touched it, darkness lifted and she could see again. The magic pearl made their land fertile and the lake full of fish.
Tchang lived happily with his beautiful bride and his mother and every year, the dragon would fly down to visit them.