Asia
China
The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid
Most fairy tales end when the hero and heroine marry and live happily ever after. This ancient Chinese myth does not stop on the wedding day! It tells the tale of a cowherd who looks after an old Ox. The Ox is semi-divine. He is a star who is spending some time on Earth. He decides to help the boy to marry one of the weaving maidens who blow the clouds through the sky - but the Queen of Heaven is not pleased by this plan.
The tale is recalled every year in August on the Chinese festival known as The Double Seventh. It is a holiday a little like Valentine's day that celebrates romantic love.
Duration: 00:13:36
Author - Storynory
How the Tiger Got his Stripes
We celebrate the Year of the Tiger with a legend of how the tiger got his stripes. The Chinese New Year was on February 14th in 2010, and anyone born that year is believed to be lucky and brave (according to horoscopes).
Duration: 00:07:01
Author - Storynory
Madame White Snake
February 10th, 2013 marked the start of the Year of the Snake. We are remembering the Chinese New Year with a famous story about a snake-spirit who turns into a beautiful girl and marries a human man. A wicked monk is keen to ruin their happiness by letting the husband know who his wife really is. There's lots of romance and lots of magical armed combat. Madame White Snake is often told by the Chinese Opera.
Duration: 00:18:17
Author - Storynory
The Horse that Ran Away
2014 was the Chinese Year of the Horse, and we are celebrating with a traditional Chinese tale about a man whose prize possession ran away.
This story really has a brilliant insight into life – it shows that you can never tell if an event will turn out to be good or bad luck in the long term. The idea is part of Taoist philosophy which teaches that you must live in harmony with nature and what it brings you, good or bad.
Duration: 00:07:25
Author - Storynory