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Home , Chinese zodiac, Dragon (zodiac), Ox in Chinese mythology, Rooster (zodiac)

THE LITTLE ROOSTERAND THE HEAVENLY

A folktale from . days long ago the had beautiful golden horns. morning he would strut up and down in the yard calling "[,OOK at my golden HORNS! I,OOK at my golden HORNS!" was so proud of those horns.

day as the Roosterwas crowing, magnificentHeavenly Dragon came soaring down from the skies.

"Little Rooster, you have such beautiful golden horns!" I CELEBRATETHE WORLD

"Aren't they marvelous? hhl I have the finest horns in the universe!"

"Little Rooster, I would like to ask you a favor. I have been invited to a banquetat the JadeEmperor's palace in heaventonight. iffirI golden If I could wear your horns, glrhg r ( there. I would be the most magnificent creature VERYi borrow yours horns? Do you think I could 'trf YES-- I Just for one night?"

Tcu"-diry "I-don't think so. I never lend my horns to anyone." .fCr tr rum I "But Little Rooster you can trust ME. *Sr'' I am the magnificent Heavenly Dragon!" YES.- I

"How do I know you will bring them back? *Yes,* urhiry You might just stay up in heavenand never return." *Sire y(n rl "If you aren't sure you can trust me, I trust yw tll why not ask my cousin the Centipede. Ail rigtu. Drl He is your neighbor. I niltr kmd ,ru He lives right here in the farmyard. Bw bring ntrFr You can trust his word."

Rmster removed h So Little Rooster called his neighbor, the Centipede. "Centipede! Centipede! Crffid them o,n fre I Come over here and talk to me." fleB Se Dnagonl ")ior*"tr Centipedebegan to wriggle his one hundred legs. anndr

2 VORLD THE LITTLE ROOSTERAND THE HEAVENLY DRAGON

out from his hiding place and wobbled over to see what dverse!" r wanted.

"Centipede ask you a favor. is this Dragon really your cousin?" t at the JadeEmperor's looked at the Dragon. ns. was glaring at Centipede. rt creaturethere. looked VERY dangerous. run horns? "Say YES," he hissed.

"Yes," whisperedthe little centipede. 'e. "Can I trust him to bring back my horns?" St\IE. "Say Dragon!" YES," hissedthe Dragon.

"Yes," ; them back? whisperedCentipede. :n and never return." "Since you are my neighbor, ;t me. I trust you little Centipede. rtipede. All right, Dragon. I will lend you my horns. rard. But bring them back FIRST THING tomorrow morning." r Centipede. Rooster removed his golden horns. placed them on the head of the Dragon.

flew the Dragon! "Now f,,edlegs. I am the most magnificent creature in the universe! CELEBRATETHE WORLD IITII.E NfiETT

SEE-E-E-Emy GOLDEN HORNS! n-gRoocr-i SEE-E-E-Emy GOLDEN HORNS!" ?Lgbctryfl Dragon tossedhis head proudly and flew back and forth through the ndrgHmyt[ air, showing off. hig brk my I[ That evening, the Dragon wore the horns to the banquet at the 's palace in heaven. kwuty Dregm E How everyonedid admire those golden horns. The Dragon was so proud of his new adornments. N(II "Such horns belong on the head of a magnificent creature

like myself . . not on a puny little rooster!" cdls m fue qkies. I I{OR!{S:- 'ffin .Bl kffiof rhDrer 'Sc+<-e Next morning the Rooster was up early watching the skies m1-Cmtdeatilm He was waiting for the Dragon to return his horns. Ttas sor-r n'mks r*eilI as rr "Bring back my HORNS!" he called to the skies. -Jade "Bring back my HORNS!" Tb Emperw- rs rd -drcd to his ban$Er rabh Dragon did not return. But the The centipede is ooe of ffic ' He did not return that morning. 5th d*f- of tre 5rh mod.. He did not return the next. ffil- fm 1-o,ur Double FifiL "g He NEVER returned. r,ersion of rhis stortr-ilp{€t dral's 616 this story usmg ! Come out of tbe eru.d r To this day the HeavenlyDragon still wears those beautiful golden ing for the tale nores I d "milli@e- horns. of a and sp6ci rnost so{rrcesdescribe frE fri ud that insect for this versil -f The Roosterwas SO angry. Gr€ information about fre He calledup the little Centipede. "Centipede, you told me the Dragon would bring back my CO^\{P horns! You lied to me!" tale is elaborated from a r-mi n\e*' York: Putnam. l95t) he PECKED at Centipedeand ate him up. Rooster was so angry, Eberhard's l'ersion n Fd To this day, everytime Rooster seesa Centipedehe PECKS at it and . 1965),pp. 5-6, "\lihv Dot eats it up. in Roger I-ancelyn Green'l )RLD THE LITTLE ROOSTERAND THE HEAVENLY DRAGON

S: cvery morning Rooster looks up to the skies and calls "Bring s:" back my HORNS! ack and forth through the Bring back my HORNS! Bring back my HORNS!" r the banquet at the Jade the Heavenly Dragon never brings them back. ns. tments. NOTES ON TELLING f a magnificent creature r linle rooster!" Roostercalls to the skies,his words shouldecho a crowing sound."LOOK Golden HORNS!" and "BRING back my HORNS!" Make much of the Dragon's flight through the sky showing off his golden nhing the "See-e-e-e skies my GoldenHorns!" and tossinghis headproudly. ; horns. This story works well as tandemtelling, story theater,or as a simple puppet led to the skies. "Jade The Emperor" is ruler of heaven,surrounded by a pantheonof gods. be invited to his banquettable is the highest honor. "five The centipedeis one of the poisonousinsects" which are exterminated Orc5th day of the 5th month. The cock is the centipede'sprimary enemy.Use story for your Double Fifth program (see p. 101) as well as here. Leslie 's version of this story usesan earthwormfor Cock's barnyardenemy and I "Little always told this story using an earthwonn. Earthworm! Little - ! Come out of the ground and talk to me!" says my Rooster. However in i those beautiful golden hing for the tale notes I discoveredthat Wolfram Eberhard'soriginal text "millipede" rpeaks of a and specifically notes the associationwith Double Fifth. Sincemost sources describe the five poisonousinsects as including a "centipede,"I hve usedthat insectfor this version. Seemy notesfor the DoubleFifth celebration "five for more information about the poisounousinsects" tradition. on would bring back my COMPARATIVE NOTES

This tale is elaboratedfrom a variant in Leslie Bonnet's, ChineseFolk and Fairy rpedeand ate him up. Tales(New York: Putnam, 1958),pp. 111-114. Bonnet'sversion is basedon Wolfram Eberhard'sversion in Folktalesof China (Chicago:University of Chicago oedehe PECKS at it and "Why Press,1965), pp. 5-6, Does the Cock Eat the Millipede?" Other variants appearin Roger Lancelyn Green'sA Cavalcadeof (New York: Walck, CELEBRATETHE WORLD lg72), pp. 157-160 and in a picturebook by Ed Young,with Hilary Beckett,The &rr Rooster'sHorns (New York: Collins and World, 1978). C| For tales of other animalsborrowing and not returning seeMargaret Read MacDona\d'sTheStoryteller's Sourcebook A2241 charqcteristics:borrow- ing and not returning.This sourcecites a Mayan tale in which a turkey borrowsa whipporwill's feathersto wear to the king's election, a Japanesetale in which a lmi cricket borrows an earthworm'svoice, and a Russiantale in which a wagtail ftflhul I borrowsa wren'stail to wearto a wedding.Stith Thompson'sMotif-Index of Folk- tLdh Literaturecites variants of A2241fromIndia, Finland,, Rhodesia, Ekoi, and Menomini sources.The Typesof the Folktaleby Antti Aarne and Stith Thompson rruF lists Finnish, Irish, French,Catalan, German, Polish, and PuertoRican variants &r ttcr under Type 234 The Nightingale and the Blindworm. Each has one eye. The hrn,c nightingaleborrows the blindworm'seye and then refusesto returnit. Sincethen, mcrl she has two-eyes, the blindworm none. The latter is always on a tree where a nightingalehas her nest and in revengebores holes in the nightingale'seggs. F cf ryEnt Referenceto this tale appearsalso in Shakespeare'sRomeo and Julief, Act III, line 3l. Type 235The Jay Boruows the Cuckoo'sSkin and Fails to Return1r is found in Finland, Lithuania, Ireland, Germany,Russia, and Indonesia. t Chmcsc m rilFr

ff;tr.h;mmB r TRADITION lr NEW YEAR IN THE CHINESE d iM ufr""[email protected]}-

The New Year officially begins with the first new moon after the sun enters d prryrm :lilntd .This can occur betweenJanuary 2l andFebruary 9. Familiesgather to Hfu, L'ilm L'rl dineon specialdishes on New Year'sEve andthe head of the family paysrespect to the family's ancestors.At midnight the din of firecrackersbeing set off all over town raisessuch a ruckusthat all evil spiritsare frightenedaway. On New Year's Day familiesbegin visits to friendsand relatives. Piles of round, goldenoranges or 'house tangerinessymbolizing wealth and good luck are found in every and are carriedas gifts. Childrenare presented with red paperpackets embossed with gold good luck symbolsand containingsmall gifts of money.Above eachdoor a good luck symbolpainted in gold on red paperinvites good luck for the comingyear. To celebratethe holid ay, martial arts groups may roam the streetsperforming lion dancesand collectingmoney for charity.A New Year'sparade may be held featur- ing a dragon dance, exciting drumming, and more firecrackers!The New Year seasonextends until Moon l, Day 15. In many areasthe fifteenthday is celebrated with a LanternFestival. Children paradecarrying paperlanterns. Or the festival WORLD THE LITTLE ROOSTERAND THE HEAVENLY DRAGON ld lbung, with Hilary Beckett, The ude more dragon dancing, fireworks, and feasting. The New Year tradi- d, 1978). vuy throughoutChina and in the many overseasChinese communities. d not returning seeMargaret Read t4l Animal ch.aracteristics: bomow- SUGGESTIONS FOR A NEW YEAR CELEBRATION rn tale in which a turkey borrows a 'The bction, a Japanesetale in which a Little Roosterand the Heavenly Dragon" r Russiantale in which a wagtail -The Small " (pp. 89-99) h Thompson'sMotif-Index of Folk- -The Clever Daughter-in-Law" (pp. l37aa5) inland. Japan,Rhodesia, Ekoi, and y Anni Aarne and Stith Thompson the room with good luck symbolstraced in gold on red paper.Most books Polish, and Puerto Rican variants ChineseNew Year will show these. ndworm. Each has one eye. The "Happy "Gung ren refusesto return it. Since then, the Chinese words for New Year," Hay Fat Choy" and laner is always on a tree where a the charactersfor thesewords in Chinese(below). s holes in the nightingale'seggs. a pile of tangerinesor orangesto admire. Eat them during your re's Romeoand Juliet, Act III, line celebra- in and Fails to Returnlr is found in and Indonesia. about the Chinesezodiac. Let eachchild find out which horoscopesign they born under.

your storytime with animal honoredinthisyear...i.e. ]SE TRADITION tales about the Year of the , The Year of the , etc. t new moon after the sun enters out red paperpackets. You can purchasethese in Chinesegift shops,or you ud February9. Families gather to fold them from bright red paper. King County librarian, JoyceWagar, asks e headof the family paysrespect to firecrackersbeing set off all over -rLfq e frightenedaway. On New Year's i. Pilesof round,golden oranges or AN ane found in every house and are paperpackets embossed with gold f money.Above each door a good ru ;good luck for the comingyear. To rouunthe streetsperforming lion FE r Year'sparade may be held featur- 2U1 more firecrackers!The New Year fFl n l-lJLr reas the fifteenth day is tE t*7r celebrated EJ,II ing paper lanterns. Or the festival 0$a CELEBRATETHE WORLD [JT]

the children to give their birth year when they sign up for her program. She locates a penny minted in the year of each child's birth and presentsthis to the child in the red paper packet. Note however that the gift of a single small could be considered bad luck in Chinese tradition.

Make a paper dragon puppet. MW &l See also: Double Fifth, p. 101; Mid-Autumn Feast,p. 146. nSnl Erw€ ftrqgq TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY d llsm, \ n l\rcn See entries for China, , Mauritius, , and People's Republic of "Moon hrcn China under l, Days 1-15: The New Year" in Folklore of Wortd Holidays by Margaret Read MacDonald (Detroit: tnrille:'lf Gale Research, lgg}). -nprur ilffi

Chinese Festivals in Hong Kong by JoanLaw and Barbara E. Ward (Hong Kong: South China Morning Post, 1982.) color photos and fascinatingcomments. H ChineseNew Year: Fact and Folklore by William C. Hu (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Ars Ceramica, 1991). Four hundred pagesof information, including recipes. fr {-'ry; .m hr r..,i I r Fun with ChineseFestivals by Tan Huay Peng. Illus. by Leon Kum Chuen (Union City, Calif.: Heian International, Inc., l99l). Humorous and informative publication C,msY -tr preparedby two Singaporecartoonists. i"5tril

BOOKS TO SHARE WITH CHILDREN

Chin Chiang and the Dragon's Dance by Ian Wallace" Illus. by author (New york: Atheneum, 1984).Set in Vancouver,British Columbia's Chinatown. A young boy lacks the confidence to calry the dragon's tail in the New Year parade. An old woman janitress gives him the courageto dance.The book has been criticized for implying that the old woman could take his role in the dragondance, apparently an inaccurateplot line. "The "Guardians "The God That Lived in the Kitchen," of the Gate," Painted Eye- "Ting brow," and Thn and the Lamb" in Tales of a Chinese Grandmother by york: Frances Carpenter (Garden City, New Doubleday, Doran & Co. , lg37). The ChineseNew Year by Cheng Hou-tien. (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, "The 1976). Descriptions of Little New year" . . . a time of preparation; ..The r \,'ORLD THE LITTLE ROOSTERAND THE HEAVENLY DRAGON

"The sign up for her program.She locates Days of "; and " . a feast of the h and presentsthis to the child in the full moon which concludes the New Year .Illustrated in papercuts by ft of a single small coin could be author. Includes the . (New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, ). New Year by Tricia Brown, photographs by Fran Ortiz. (New York: Henry and Co., 1987). Black and white photographsand clear text show a Chinese Feast.p.146. y in San Francisco preparing for New Year and celebrating. : Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year bv Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz- - Photographsby Manha Cooper. (New York: Scholastic, 1990). New Year's t THIS HOLIDAY and New Year's Day with Ernie Wan, his family, and his father's Kung Fu in New York City. His father's school performs Lion Dances for the New ,. Taiu,an,and People'sRepublic of Ycar Parade and Ernie and his little sister have been trained to dance with their Year" rn Folklore of World Holidays cl smaller lion. An excellent book to share the excitement of children at New Research,1992). Year with your class.

I tsarbaraE. Ward(Hong Kong: South rnd tascinatingcomments. PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT THE ZODIAC m C. Hu (Ann Arbor, Michigan:Ars formation,including recipes. Ra, the , and the Zodiac: A Chinese Legend by Dorothy Van Woerkom. Illus. by Enol Le Cain (New York: Crown, 1976). lus.b1'lron Kum Chuen(Union City, urnorousand informativepublication Rat Comes First: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Clara Yen (San Francisco: Children'sBook Press, 1991).

TH CHILDREN lallace. Illus. by author (New York: Columbia'sChinatown. A young boy tail in the New Year parade. An old rnce. The book has been criticized for ole in the dragondance, apparently an

"The ans of the Gate," Painted Eye- Tales of a Chinese Grandmother by : Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1937). r lbrk: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, ar" . a time of preparation; "The nel

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didmcrc hhssmh.fr BENIZARA AND KAKEZARA n-mted m I A folktale from Japan. bat'e Iowd n I lo rrite nith- was gir-en noehg There once was a girl named Benizara. "crimson Benizara means plate." dry' fre srepmorbercr Benizata lived with her stepmotherand a stepsisternamed Kakezara. "broken a bag for gfui1 Kakezara means plate" and the two girls -Go were much like into fre fau their names. she gal-e a sE lf,cniz^ra As so often happensin theseold tales, Benizara'sstepmother treated she gar-e a tr1 her poorly. th it was futrIof hoh Benizara was made to do all of the work around the house, and she was given only old clothes to wear. the grrls reached tb Benizara could not md Kakezaru was given every beautiful thing she wanted. ime she drop'ped w 10