Proxy Server Problems
It has been brought to my attention that the link to the Project Gutenberg text of "A Chinese Wonder Book" was no longer working (its possible that the proxy server changed IPs). So, here is the original link to the text:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18674/18674-h/18674-h.htm
You'll need to use a proxy server to see it if you're behind the Great Firewall, I recommend youhide.com or freeproxyserver.ca
(note: the popular proxy server anonymouse.org appears to no longer be working in China)
Comments Add a public comment
-
-
-
-
hmm... that doesn't appear to have worked too well, so I'm putting in the link here
-
-
This book should be banned in China. The first story was about how the gods has provided to the poor in China. That's an absolute lie. Everyone knows that the Party provides for the poor, not the Gods.
-
-
Thank you for the extra link ^=^
-
-
well, seeing as this is a pretty neat collection of folk stories, i shall post as i go. The Golden Beetle/Dog Hates Cat was a very interesting way to explain the whole cat/dog ordeal, but i must admit i found it comforting in the fashion it was written. i feel like it was written from an oral tradition akin to a Griot. either way it was a cool story that explained the cat/dog thing and neatly threw in the filial piety thing (so the kiddies will think of it as a good thing).
-
-
allright, onto The Great Bell! again, a fun read and again, more about filial piety (can China not get enough?) anyway it was another fun read which showed some more extreme kindness towards depicting the emperor and how (in my mind) Ming-li was ultimately punished for his greed in having his daughter in laws father work a grand project for a much larger dowry. it seems to be a story that should be told to school kids as they tour the bell (if at least the tower; i don't know if the bell still exists.) i guess i am just a fan of stories that squeeze in some gore with a twisted moral (sacrifice for pops, and the loss of family ties between Ming-li and Kwan-yu.)
-
-
onto The Strange Tale of Dr. Dog! again, like the first story, an explanation to something that could only be suggested instead of scientifically proven (the origin of the Yus.) a neat story of (you guessed it, if you haven't... i'll try to write in multiple languages) filial piety, plus the origin of a clan of people. anyone know if this is supposed to be a positive for the Yus or a negative (dog/magic-man as father to people?)
-
-
How foot binding started! i heard the story of how an emperors wife was so beautiful and that the emperor spoke of her beautifully small feet (foot fetish more likely) and how it became the norm for foot binding. this story is a lot cooler if you ask me and throws some cunning in there with the whole women dressed in armor bit. i am starting to feel bad about these posts and in future posts plan to be more general because i don't want to ruin a good read. a question of my own: did these battles actually occur (history buff, thought it would be cool if there was historical precedence.)
-
-
ok, after this one i swear i won't post again for another 10-30 minutes (i swear!) The Talking Fish! this one was just a lot of fun, mainly because i can imagine myself telling this story to a bunch of kids in hopes of one crying and screaming for their loving parents. aside from child cruelty i think this story is meant to curb the adventurous child's will to go too far and to stop the kid from doing anything stupid while sick. this story i think it was interesting that the main character got all the way to the point of his fatal demise before waking (i promise it makes sense if you read the story.) i do have a few questions though: does anyone know when this was written? i say this because Li speaks of the japanese as a mightier people (emperor wise) than China's emperor. this also leads me to suggest that this story, if of chinese origin, might not be an old tale. if it is, i am sure it was twisted for political means (boxer rebellion maybe?)
-
-
allright, back in action! Bamboo and the Turtle not sure what to make of this one except a good story. i wish i could think of a rational reason for this story to be told by chinese villagers... and maybe why the turtle is commonly at the base of tablets(?) it felt more like just a cool story.
-
-
a quick random thought: the Chinese mythology believes that turtles created earth, then why do they enjoy eating them? why wasn't there a certain level of respect for them?
-
-
The Mad Goose and Tiger Forest another cool story, this time it reminds me all too much of a western classic story of the knight and the helpless princess (a twisted version of the toad and the princess anyone?) i guess this story might have lost most of its veneer because slavery (as they claim) no longer exists in most of the world; hence children can only relate if they have abusive parents. and of course girls who think there parents are abusive and just want to find the handsome and rich guy next door (its just a story! don't flirt with the old geezer!)
-
-
The Nodding Tiger when i think "chinese folklore" i think filial piety... at least now i do. if anything it seems they want to emphasize this to such an extreme, along with piety towards the law, that mother nature herself bows to this type of order. a very cool story though. another question of interest: does this tombstone still exist? does anyone have any pics of it?
-
-
@bluecomet: glad that you liked the style :)
(I'm really enjoying reading your analyses)
-
-
The Princess Kwan-Yin. an interesting story, if not a story against filial piety with the outright refusal of the kings/fathers wish upon his daughter. although a cool story that managed to show the plus (help from nature itself!)and the minus (humans abusing you at every turn) of being merciful. i am assuming there are other cool stories for once mortal gods in chinese folklore?
-
-
wow, no other comments since eh? The Two Jugglers this one was entertaining, as all the other ones. i was surprised that after the son had popped out of the box that the mandarin and the people who threw money at the jugglers (for the sons funeral) weren't angry at being deceived. it was another cool story for the origin of a place/thing (like the bell). does anyone know what city they are speaking of?
-
-
The Phantom Vessel Again more sacrificial filial piety. i thought it was pretty cool, the whole iron staff thing. as a curiosity, again, did anyone know if this staff exists? i know, these kind of stories are said to be ridiculously old and all, but i just thought it would be cool if the rod existed (even if it is a foam stick painted a rusted black behind a bullet proof case.)
-
-
The Wooden Tablet all right, i think i no longer need to say that these stories will all have something about filial piety in them. aside from that, i don't know which reality the story is actually in. is it the poor family who gets their mud walled house burned down or is the the rich kid version? i can more easily see the latter, but i am curious if it was the first and when K'ang-p'u was sleeping he was killed by a soldier or something. i know, a much bleaker end with no strong backing for filial piety, but maybe it could be another lesson: don't sleep in the open near highly visible landmarks!
-
-
The Golden Nugget the thought just occurred to me: what if some college student was reading my story summaries in order to quickly do some assignment. to those kids... do your own work! sorry, as a college student myself, i hate those kids who just copy from others. it makes my degree look useless when one of these monkeys gets a job and fucks up because he didn't read this himself. i know, a little too much, i got carried away. nugget was a weird read, i think it was a cool story about friendship. but i also think it was waaaay too happy a story. like a fairy tale, on drugs.
-
-
The man Who Would Not Scold another good one, i love how all these stories go to the extreme to teach these characters. i think that is what makes them children's stories, but awesome ones! another note: no filial piety in the main story line this time (excluding the history of Wang's parents!)
-
-
Lu-San, Daughter of Heaven
Another cool story, i wish i heard these when i was a kid! it was a nice flip of being beaten every day to having a pimped out ship. i also thought it was cool to have Kwan-Yin brought back in.
-
-
Now that i am done with my view of the stories, i have a few general questions: what about the other gods? i am sure they probably have some sweet origin stories as well, does anyone know if a written copy of them still exists? i have a fear that when the cultural revolution went into full swing such classical stories might have been discarded. if this is true, has there been any effort to speak to the elders of china in hopes of getting as many of the stories written down? one final bone to pick (unless some cool questions get thrown around by other people) Wade-Giles... really? i understand the origin of this book and all, but are there better versions which aren't censored/ "edited" by any governments?
-
-
wow bluecommet your comments are so interesting!
I read these stories and wonder if this China really exhists anymore...
I agree, Wade-Giles really annoying.
-
-
interesting or way too long? yeah, what happened to china (i know, i know...) and i wonder if these stories are told anymore. i am assuming that they were common stories before the fall of the last emperor. does anyone know if these are still told in taiwan?
-
-
@bluecomet91: I don't think too long is the right word, but I definitely think that the single tiered comment system that CW uses means that it will be hard for anyone to comment on your comments (and thus continue a discussion)
@meibaihu: don't get all existentialist on me, k? :)
It is an interesting question: do some folk tales still exist in China and no longer in the mainland?
-
-
@juhuacha: sorry about that then, first time on this form of a discussion thread.
@everyone: but yeah, good question about the folktales. i am curious if there are mao zi dong folktales instead of these or something. anyone? (short enough?)
© 2007 Beijing Ringier International Advertising Company. All rights reserved.
京ICP备05061149号
http://www.cheekymonkeytheater.com/books/The%20Project%20Gutenberg%20eBook%20of%20A%20Chinese%20Wonder%20Book,%20by%20Norman%20Hinsdale%20Pitman.webarchive
btw: here is a link to the book as uploaded on my website (just in case you can't figure out how to get the proxies to work)