The C Celestial M Maiden N Narratives o of Southeast A Asia , C China , IIndia , a and Japan Articulating Commonalities Commonalities and Appreciating Distinctiveness
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The Celestial Maiden Narratives of Southeast Asia, China, India, and Japan
collected by
Amparo Adelina ―Jina‖ C. Umali, III, Ph.D. East and Southeast Asian Studies Center for International Studies University of the Philippines Diliman Cover Photos: Japan’s Noh Noh “Hagoromo” “Hagoromo” Photo ©CNZayas ©CNZayas Thailand’s “Manohra” in India’s Bharatanatyam and P hilippines’ hilippines’ Igorot of Bontoc’s “Taraw Siblaw” Photos ©Jon Lazam Inside Photos: Photos: Cambodia http://seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/system/files/DanceUnitComplete.pdf Indonesia http://betw http://betwobeasia.fil obeasia.files.wor es.wordpre dpress.com/201 ss.com/2011/05/jaka-taru 1/05/jaka-tarub.jpg b.jpg Thailand http://www.sexglitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Manohra-is-the-art.jpg Vietnam http://www.vietnamsvisa.net/the-legend-of-the-milky-way India http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/bce_299_200/ Mahabharata/menaka Mahabharata/menaka/menaka.ht /menaka.html ml
China http://cultureofchinese.com/traditions/folklore/folklore-cowherd-and-the -weaver-girl/
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I. Brunei Darussalam’s Si Butatal
Si Butatal is about an ugly young man with skin disease who is ostracized by society. He lives alone in the forest where he catches catfish through fish traps. He exchanges fish for clothes and rice. One day, however, the trap does not yield any fish. This goes on for many days while the water of the stream gets murky. Wondering what has happened, he decides to go upriver to investigate. He comes upon a fall and a pool of clear water where he sees seven princesses bathing. He steals the f lying lying robe of the youngest and most beautiful princess. The six princesses fly off to their heavenly kingdom, leaving behind their youngest sister. Butatal falls in love with her and invites her to live with him as his wife. She agrees, and later bears bears him a daughter. daughter. One day, while Butatal is out fishing; the princess notices a flute in the ceiling. She takes the flute and tries to play it, but it is blocked. She looks inside the flute and finds her flying robe. Angry at her husband for hiding the robe, she puts it on and flies back to heaven, leaving her baby and husband behind. husband behind. When he found his wife gone, Butatal is disconsolate. He then looks for her with the help of an old monkey. An old monkey brings Butatal across seven erupting volcanoes (the number seven appears as a very significant number in many of these tales). 1
This story was taken from the response of Nicanor G. Tiongson, Ph.D., to the presentation of the Japanese Japanese Hagor Hagoromo omo.. In Amparo Adelina C. Umali, III, ed. Celestial Maiden of Japan Japan and Southeast Asia (Quezon City: University of the Philippines Center for International Studies, 2009) 40-42.
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Butatal rides on the monkey’s back, while his daughter rides on his back. As they pass over every volcano, Butatal says the word ―thirsty,‖ and one layer of his clothing comes off. Finally, the monkey saves Butatal from falling off into the last volcano and gets him to the heavenly palace. The palace is abuzz with preparations for the wedding of the youngest princess to her original fiancée. The princess sees Butatal and her daughter and reveals to the king that she had gotten married when she was on earth. The king suspects that Butatal is not an ordinary man. As in the other tales, Butatal has to undergo four tests to retrieve his wife. First, the king asks Butatal to level the hill to the ground, which Butatal does with the help of two big pigs. Second, he asks Butatal to cut down a tree into four sections without the tree falling down and using no tools. Two eagles come to help him with this. Third, the king orders him to collect the oil which was poured into the paddy. For this the ants come to his rescue. Lastly, the king asks him to scoop seawater with a basket. The jellyfish help him perform the task. After Butatal passes the tests, the king agrees to marry him off to the princess. Butatal asks for a fortnight to clean himself and turns into a handsome man. Later the fiancée arrives and Butatal apologizes to him. The fiancée accepts the apology. They engage in a friendly fight, where Butatal defeats the fiancée. At one point, Butatal strikes the ring finger of the fiancée who falls to earth and dies. Butatal sprinkles rose water on him and he lives again. Butatal and the princess are married.
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Neang Monorea II. Cambodia’s Preah Sothun Neang
Neang Keo Monorea Monorea and her six siblings, siblings, all sisters, reside in the heavens with their parents. One day their father allows them to visit earth. Each wearing a scarf with magical powers granting them the ability to fly away from their celestial abode, they promise their father father to return home home as soon as they hear hear the ringing of the gongs. When they reach earth, they go to bathe in a lotus pond. Unbeknownst Unbeknownst to them, however, a hunter leads Preah P reah (Prince) Sothun to watch the celestial visitors clandestinely. Upon the ringing of the gongs, they prepare to take leave of earth, as they
had pledged. But Neang Monorea’s magic scarf has disappeared. Unable to join her sisters as they departed, she cries cri es herself unconscious. unconscious. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented him, Preah Sothun offers to help. He and Neang Monorea fall in love, return to the Prince’s palace, and marry. 2
This synopsis was adapted from the program notes of Princess Norodom Buppha Devi’s 2003 remounting of Preah of Preah Sothun Sothun Neang Monorea Monorea as as a full-length classical dance Inno vation in Cambodian Dance, A performance in Tono Tono Shapiro-Phim, ―Tradition and Innovation NY: Southeast So utheast Asia Curriculum Unit for Post- Secondary Level Educators‖ Ithaca, NY: Program Outreach Office May 15, 2013 http://seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/system/files/DanceUnitComplete.pdf
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One day, Preah Sothun’s country is invaded. His father orders him to go to war to save the country. While he is away, the prince’s mother summons a fortune-teller to interpret a frightening dream she has had. Being cruel, he lies, explaining to her that because of sins the Queen committed in a previous life, Neang Monorea must be killed to avoid the continuation of war, and the certain certain death of Preah Sothun. The King and Queen send Neang Monorea into exile, rather than to her death. On her way back to the heavens, Neang Monorea Monorea meets a hermit and offers offers him her ring so that should Preah Sothun ever search for her, the hermit could show the ring to him. When he returns to the palace victorious, Preah Sothun is devastated by the news of what has befallen his princess. He asks for permission to search for her. On his search, he meets the hermit and receives the ring she had left for just this purpose. Overcoming many obstacles along the way, the Prince eventually makes it to her world. When he observes royal ro yal maids collecting water at the pond, he uses a magic spell to cause one one of the maid’s water jars to become too heavy to lift. The prince prince appears just then, to offer offer his help. While pretending to assist the maid with the pot, he drops the ring inside it. As the maid bathes Neang Monorea, the ring spills onto her hair, where she finds it. The maid tells her the story of the helpful stranger. Neang Monorea Monorea runs to the pond, and there she finds her
beloved. Neang Monorea’s parents parents grant them permission to remain in the heavens as a married couple
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III. Indonesia’s Jaka Tarub and the Seven Celestial 3 Maidens Jaka Tarub was a handsome and diligent young man. He lived in a village near a lake. One day, when Jaka Tarub passed the lake, he heard some giggles and laughs of some girls who were bathing in the lake. He was curious, so he peeped through the bushes. There were seven beautiful girls in the lake. They're fairies from the heavenly kingdom of kahyangan. Jaka Tarub saw a scarf near the bushes. It belonged to one of the fairies. Jaka Tarub then took it and hid it. Crack!!! Accidentally, Jaka Tarub stepped on a twig. "There's someone!" said one of the fairies. .'Let's get back. Hurry!" she said. They pulled over and wear their scarf. '.Where is my scarf?" one of the fairies couldn't find her scarf. She was the youngest youngest fairy called Nawang Wulan. They tried to search for it, but it was nowhere to be found. "We're "We're sorry, sorry, Wulan. We We have to go back to kahyangan," kahyangan," said the eldest fairy. "You'll have to find it by yourself. We'll wait 3
This story originated from East Java. It was provided by University of Indonesia student-participants Anantama Fauzan Azhima and Dinar Rami and Gadjah Mada University student-participant Ni Wayan Radita NP to the UPCIS-SEASREP Asian Emporiums Program 2010 at UP Diliman.
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for you in kahyangan," she said in empathy. The other fairies then flew to the sky leaving Nawang Wulan behind. Nawang Wulan saw them leaving in tears. She was so sad. "Excuse me ...," said Jaka Tarub, startling Nawang Wutan. "Are you okay?" he asked. Nawang Wulan moved backward, "Who are you?" she asked. "My name is Jaka Tarub. I was passing by and I heard you crying, so I came to see what happen," Jaka Tarub lied.
Nawang Wulan then told him about her problem. ―I can't fly without my scarf," she said. Jaka Tarub then asked Nawang Wulan to come home with him. At first, Nawang Wulan refused the offer. But since she didn't have anywhere else to go, Nawang Wulan then decided to follow Jaka Tarub. Nawang Wulan stayed with Jaka Tarub in the village. A month passed, and they decided to get married. Nawang Wulan was willing to marry a human because she fell in love with Jaka Tarub. After a year, they had a beautiful daughter. They named her Kumalasari. They lived happily. Jaka Tarub was also happy to live with Nawang Wulan and Kumalasari. Especially because he always got a lot of harvest since he married Nawang Wulan. He couldn't even keep all of his harvest in the barn because it was always full. "It's so weird. Nawang Wulan Wulan cooked everyday, everyday, but why is my m y barn always full," Jaka Tarub mumbled to himself. He was so curious. One day, Jaka Tarub stayed at home. "I want to stay home today. I'd like to play with Kumalasari," he said to his wife. "Well, I'll go to the river to wash the clothes. Please keep an eye on Kumalasari," asked Nawang Wulan. Wulan. "I'm cooking rice now. Please do not open the pan cover before it's done," she said just before she left. "Could this be the secret?" Jaka Tarub thought. After Nawang Wulan left, he curiously opened the pan cover. He found only one single paddy. "How come?" he wondered. Before lunch, Nawang Wulan came home. She headed to the kitchen to see the rice she had cooked. She found that the rice turned only a few grains. "Did you open the pan cover?" she asked 8
her husband. ―I'm sorry. I was curious," Jaka Tarub said as he realized his fault. Ever since, Nawong Wulan had lost her power. She couldn't cook rice with only a single paddy. Their poddy supply was slowly lessened. Their barn was almost empty. One day, Nawang Wulan went to the barn to get some paddy. When she took one of them, she found a scarf. "What's this? This is my scarf," said Nawang Wulan startled. That night, Nawang Wulan asked her husband about the scarf. Jaka Tarub's eyes widened, "You found it?" he asked. Jaka Tarub looked down and asked for her forgiveness. "Because I've found my scarf, it's time for me to go back to where I belong," Nawang Wulan said. Jaka Tarub tried to stop her, but Nawang Wulan had made up her mind. "Please take good care of Kumalasari," she said. "If she wanted to see me, take seven grains of candlenut and put it into a basket. Shake it as you play the bamboo flute. I'll come to see her," she explained. Jaka Tarub promised to take good care of their daughter. He once again asked for forgiveness for all of his mistakes. "I've forgiven you, so you don't have to feel guilty. I must go now. Take care," said Nawang Wulan Wulan as she flew to the bright full moon.
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IV. Laos’ Sithon M anora Once upon a time, seven celestial maidens with wings come down from the sacred mountain KaiLard Mountain to the deep forest and take a bath in a beautiful pool of water of the river Anoma. Two serpents, living in the pool, guard it and keep it clean and beautiful all year round. Every year, year, the serpent's wife gives birth but they cannot raise their child because a big giant usually comes to that forest and eats the serpent's child. They don't know what to do because they both cannot fight him. Fortunately, one day, a brave hunter came to hunt wildlife. When he saw the giant taking the serpent’s child, he killed it. After the giant died, the hunter went back to hunting and took a rest near the river where seven maidens were taking a bath. When he saw them, he fell in love with the most beautiful maiden who is no other than Manora. Because of her beauty, he wanted her to be his wife so he decided to catch her. He asked himself how he could do it. Finally, he went back to the pool and asked for a prize from the serpents, s erpents, which he helped kill the giant. They gave him a powerful cord. He went back again to the river and catches Manora with the cord and
tightens it around Manora’s body. After catching Manora, he took her to his house. At first, he wanted her to be his wife. However, he noticed that she is so
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This story was provided by Ms. Palamy CHANGLEUXAI and Mr. Vilayuth PHETSENGTHONG, National University of Laos’ student-participants to UPCIS-SEASREP Asian Emporiums Program 2010 at UP Diliman.
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beautiful and unsuitable for him so he decided to pass Manora to the king of the state (Peng Jaan Palace) in exchange for treasure. But the son of the king named Sithon fell in love with her. They, then, got married.
Time passed by and Manora’s husband had to go to battle to fight with the enemies. He left her unde r the care of his parents. Sithon’s parents were so worried about his fate that they even asked the
help of the fortuneteller. He told them ―For the peacefulness of this palace, we have to kill Manora, because she is not a real human being. She will cause disaster to fall on us and even to Prince
Sithon‖. When Manora heard of it, she resented everyone who wanted to kill her. She waited for her husband every day and kept
on wondering why he wasn’t coming back to her. At last on the day that all the people in the palace were preparing for a ritual is the day they would kill her. She asked for her wings to enable her to dance to complete the ceremony before she dies, and if she dies, without wings, the ceremony would not be successful. After she got her wings back, she flew to the sky sk y quickly and cried. She very much regretted why they wanted to kill her. When Sithon, her husband, came back to the palace, he looked for her and asked everyone in his palace for his wife. After he learned of the truth, he decided to go after his wife Manora, even if he had to face many difficulties difficulties several times to prove his love.
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V. Malaysia’s The Handsome Young Man (Timugon 1 Murut, SABAH, MALAYSIA) This is yet another story2 from our elders of long ago. A king 3 of a certain village had a son. This son was very handsome; there was no one else as handsome as he. One night the son had a dream. In this dream an old man, like a grandfather, spoke to him. He said that there was a certain place where there lived an old woman, called Grandmother. The grandfather explained further that in this place there also lived seven beautiful sisters and that the youngest one was the most
beautiful of them all. ―Go and meet the grandmother, grandmother, and she will help you when you get ther e,‖ e,‖ the grandfather said. When the young man woke up, he looked around him in surprise, for he had thought that the grandfather was there right next to him. That was it. The young man could not get back to sleep, for until dawn he just kept on thinking a bout the grandfather’s grandfather’s words. He got up before dawn and felt very restless in his heart. He did not have any appetite and did not feel like bathing. At daybreak he went to see his father to tell him about the kind of dream he had had. But his father was quite shocked and doubtful at what his son was telling him. But after a while he believed him and allowed him to go and meet the grandmother, according to the
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Hazel J. Wrigglesworth, ed.The ed. The Maiden of Many Nations: The Sky Maiden Who Married a Man Man From From Earth. Earth. Lingusitic Society of the Philippines, Special Monograph Issue, Number 31. (Manila: Linguistic Society of the Philipines, 1991)
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son’s dream. On the way the young man met all kinds of difficulties, but his heart did not waver; for as we know, something held his heart.
After a while he reached the grandmother’s house. He had dressed himself in torn clothes for pretense, for he was afraid that the
grandmother would recognize him as the king’s son. When he reached the grandmother’ s place, she asked him whether he was the king’s son. ―No, I’m not,‖ he denied vehemently. But even though the young man did not admit to it, she had already
recognized recognized him as being the king’s son. The young man had only been in the grandmother’s place fo r a little while when they heard the sounds that were a sign that magic beings were descending to the earth. They saw altogether seven beautiful young girls descending to the earth. As they were descending, (the young man and the grandmother) saw that the leaves of the tress fluttered down, the trees stood still, and the birds began to chirp frantically. frantically. It is said that these are the signs by which we know that magic beings are coming down to the earth to bathe. As the beautiful young girls were bathing, the grandmother grandmother told the young man to go and fish on the bank of the river, nearby where the girls were bathing. He was wearing old, ragged rag ged clothes. The day wore on and it was already late afternoon. Usually it is at this time, late afternoon before it gets dark, that the magic beings Arira!4 Look, return back to their own place. One of them said: ― Arira!
it’s already late in the afternoon. Let’s get out of the water!‖ So they all go out of the water to where they had left their change of clothes. As they were all changing their clothes, the youngest one said to
her elder sisters that she could not find her flying clothes. ―Why are you looking around? There was no one else here with us just
now, only us!‖ the eldest one answered. She asked again from the other sisters, but they all gave the same answer. Soon the dusk turned into darkness and still the youngest 13
girl was looking around for her flying clothes. Her sisters said:
―keep on looking for your flying clothes. We have to leave you here, for no matter how much you want to come back with us, you
cannot, not without your flying clothes.‖ The poor girl started to sob. Soon after that the elder sisters flew off to their own place. Soon after the elder sisters had flown away, the old man who had entwined the yo ung man’s heart in the dream, came to the scene
and asked the girl: ―Why are you sobbing and what are are you looking for?‖ ―Stop pretending, you must be the one who stole my flying clothes!‖ But the old man answered that he was not aware of having taken them, he had not even seen them. By mutual agreement the two of them went to meet the grandmother. When
they got to the grandmother’s house, the young man took what he had wrongfully obtained obtained and hid it inside a rice bin. Early the next morning, as it was nearing dawn, the young man applied sweet smelling oil on his body. After he had applied the oil, he was even more handsome than before, so much so that the beautiful girl girl only took one look at at him and fell deeply in love love with him. From the moment their eyes met, they both felt pure love for one another in their hearts. After some time they were married in the
grandmother’s place. After they had been married for some months, the husband said one day, when it was nearing dusk: ―Wife. I feel we have been h ere long enough. It’s time we went to my parent’s place, for you have not met them yet and I myself too miss them a
lot.‖ ―All right, I’ll go along with whatever you say,‖ the wife answered. So, soon after that they went back to the husband’s place. When they got to the husband’s house, his parents were very happy to see their daughter-in-law was such a beauty. 14
Soon after their return the husband’s father died, for he had been seriously ill for a long time already. After the father died, his work was passed on to the son. But after his father’s death he felt very
unhappy. He kept on thinking about his father’s death, became very sad and did not do his work properly. At that time his wife was two months pregnant, but he did not go back to their house and only stayed in his place of work. Up till the time his wife gave birth, not once did he return home to her. All this time he went around drinking heavily and playing around with other women. His wife felt very upset at her husband’s behavior, all the more so as she remembered their mutual promise when they had been married, how they had vowed that no matter what kind of difficulties they came up against, they would never separate. As she remembered all this, she was not able to sleep at night, but stayed awake till daybreak. Every evening she sat on the steps and sobbed. Tears were her only company as she went to bed. She remembered all the things form her past life, for she was not of this earth. This made her feel even more dejected in her heart. One day, as it was nearing dark, she went into a room that she had never entered before, for her husband had sternly told her not to. She looked up and saw that her flying clothes were hanging from the rafters. As she saw her flying clothes there, she was certain now that it had been her husband who had hidden them from her in the first place. As she saw her flying clothes, she was very happy, for now she could return to her own place, all the more so because her husband did not care for her anymore. All this while, up till the time her child was already old enough to crawl, her husband had not come to back to their house.
Because of her husband’s behavior her heart was now torn between the two places, but she was ready to return to her own place. After that she took her flying clothes and dressed herself in them. She felt her child to be cared for by a certain woman and flew off. She would have loved to have taken her child with her, but the baby had no flying clothes. Not long after the wife had gone away, the husband was told about it. He was shocked to learn what had 15
happened. He had a change of heart. He lost his appetite and kept on crying till he fainted. After some time he went back to the grandmother again to ask for her help and find out how he could go and meet his wife again.
When he got to the grandmother’s place, she scolded him severely. She reminded him that before they were married the two of them had promised to love one another, but he had not kept his word. But although the grandmother was angry with him she still helped him and told him a way to meet his wife again. A little while later a fine canoe appeared from somewhere. The man got into it and it took off into the air. After a while he met with his wife. The wife was willing to come back to him, if he would not to return to his old ways. The husband once more gave a word of promise that he would not return to his old ways, but instead wanted to become a gentle husband. So, he set his wife into the fine canoe and the two of them returned to this earth. From the time of their return the husband did not more evil, but loved his 5 wife dearly. He also carried out his work as a headman very well and all the people put their trust in him.
So, this was a story that was called ―The handsome young man.‖ Actually the was a son of a headman of his people and very rich. His wife was not from this earth but was a magic being from another world, world, from the middle world, that is. ’
1 The story was narrated in Timugon Murut by Elizabeth Tiporbte Brahim. It was recorded and translated into English by Kielo Brewis of the Summer Institute of Linguistics. 2Tunungon ―story‖ is derived from the verb tunung ―to relate a story.‖ In correspondence from Mrs. Brewis she states that ―the people believe b elieve the story may have hap pened in one form or another a long time ago. th is narrative 3 Raja: ―king,‖ a borrowing from Malay which occurs interchangeably in this with tingganai ―headman.‖ Arira and its linguistic variant Ariru are interjections indicating ―surprise, shock, or 4 Arira and even pain .‖ 5Tingganai : ― a headman.‖
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VI. Myanmar’ Myanmar’s Dway Mal Naw
In the country of A-yote-da-ya, there was a king. His son, Prince Thu Da Na, travelled to the country of Ngwe Taung, and it is said that the princess there is one of the ancestors of the winged people. There, Prince Thu Da Na saw her playing / bathing in the water in the lakes called Dway Mal Naw and Htee Inn. They fell in love at first sight, because of the relationship they once had in their past lives. (We believe in past lives.) The prince brought her back to his country and married her. One day, while the prince was away awa y from his wife, those who were jealous of their love told the princess things in order to tear them apart – and the princess, made unhappy by what was said, went back to her country. When Prince Thu Da Na returned and found that his wife was not home, he immediately followed her to the country Ngwe Taung. Taung. Finally, they met again. Dway Mal Naw Lake and Htee Inn Lake are still in the east of Ngwe Taung village until now. They are located in Kayah State, in the eastern part of Myanmar M yanmar..
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This story was provided by Ms. Nandar Hein, a Myanmarese student of UP Diliman.
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VII. Philippines’ Taraw Siblaw
Of the Lumauig stories and other stories that were told and passed on from generation to generation, one of the stories of long ago in the days of hunting was the story of the celestial maidens of Taraw Siblaw. Siblaw. Taraw sometimes pronounced Talaw, refers to the ―star.‖ The story was about the ten maidens who were found by a male hunter in Mount Siniblawan as claimed by the Talubin and Barlig villagers (Mountain Province) and Mount Pinnagey by the Bayyo, Bontoc, Mountain Province and Cambolo Ifugao villagers. The story was told in different versions, but all stories point to the same spot at the foot of the mountain existing up to this time. The exact location, where the maidens had been spotted by b y the man long time ago, is uninhabitable today for it remains a soft spot that anyone who stands on it could be drowned in the mud. Another commonality in the different versions of the story is that the ten celestial maidens had detachable wings that they removed while they were swimming and dancing at the foot of Mount 7
Caridad B. Fiar-od, Ph.D. Understanding the Igorot Culture as Implied in the Celestial Maiden Story. In Amparo Adelina C. Umali, III, ed. Celestial Maiden of Japan and Southeast Asia (Quezon Asia (Quezon City: University of the Philippines Center for International Studies, 2009) 122-143.
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Siniblaw, which is sometimes called Mt. Pinnagey by others in Mountain Province. Now it is Filig ad Siniblaw or “mountain at Siniblaw.” The celestial maidens were dancing with passion that they did not notice the hunter who slipped and hid the wings of Kadmali, the youngest of the ten maidens. All the nine flew up to the sky except Kadmali whose wings were nowhere to be found. She stayed on earth and married the hunter and later had two daughters. After sometime, Kadmali found her rotting wings at the sugar cane field. She secretly did some mending of the wings until she was able to fly up the sky with her wings. Kadmali’s two children were left with their father. One day Kabunyan, who is referred to as the “Almighty” (Manakabalin) and the“Unseen” the“Unseen” (Adikaila) sent Lumauig down to earth to find a maiden to marry and teach the people how to make a living. Lumauig found the younger sister of the two daughters of Kadmali. Her name was Bangan, a descendant of the celestial maiden.
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Suthon – Manorah Manorah VIII. Thailand’s The Tale of Phra Suthon –
Once upon a time, there was a city called Panjalanakorn, it was ruled by King Arthitayawongsa and Queen Chantradhewi, they ruled the city well and everyone was content with the royal patronage patronage all around the land. One day, day, after the Queen bears a son, four bunches of gold appear out of nowhere on the four corner of the palace, it was the origin of the prince’s prince’s name, Phra Suthon (one who possess a great asset). From the day the prince was born, the city become even richer and more famous, and the Prince was universally loved. Boontrik a hunter of Panjalanakorn, went hunting in the deepest forest of the city called Suvarnabhumi that was very plentiful and abundant. There, in the midst of the wildwas a great lake of Suvarnabhumi, which was said to be the most beautiful in the
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This story was provided by Arthit Jiamrattanyoo. Chutima Tantakasem and Soleeheen Bilanglod, Thai participants to UPCIS-SEASREP Asian Emporiums Program 2010 at UP Diliman.
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continent. That day, the hunter Boontrik had a view of the most unexpected occurrence, Seven most charming creatures he had never seen before were flying down to the great lake with their seven fluttery pairs of wings, these creatures were known to the hunter as kinaree, a kind of mythical creature mixed of human and bird. These kinarees came from Mount Krailas, a place where Shiva resides. They are sisters, daughters of the king who looked after Mount Krailas at that time. While the kinarees have taken off their wings to enjoy the lake, the hunter had an idea of catching one of them to be his own. He took one pair of the wings and hid it. After the kinarees have finished their bathing, they looked for their wings and flew back to the sky, except the youngest sister, the most beautiful of all as her wings were hidden by the hunter. Her name was Manohra. This way, Manohra was left alone beside the lake, abandoned by her six sisters, until the hunter came to rescue her and take her to the city of Panjalanakorn. However, the more the hunter looked at Manohra, the more he realized he could not possess such a great creature which can only belong to the highest caste. He changed his path and proceeded to the grand palace, aiming to present Manohra as a homage to Price Phra Suthon. The Prince was overjoyed at the sight of the very beautiful Manohra. He loved her instantly. The hunter in return was given a rank, jewels, and money for his reward. King Arthitayawongsa and Queen Chantradhewi were also happy to see their son in love. They immediately announced the marriage between the couple. Manohra, knowing nothing about love and not being human in the first place, has later learned to love and developed a mutual feeling for the Prince who took great care of her. Not a year has passed, when there was a war between Panjalanakorn and a rival city. The Prince had to become the field marshal and lead the city’s troop. T hus Manohra was alone again. At this circumstance, the Brahman astrologist, a high ranking noble who has secretly despised Prince Phra Suthon. Took this opportunity to tell a false fortune to the King and Queen, informing 21
that Manohra was an omen of bad luck for the city. Consequently, she should be sacrificed in a sacred fire, to bring peace back to the city. The King and Queen did not agree. They knew well that this beautiful kinaree kinaree was the Prince’s Prince’s favourite and she had never done anyone any harm. Yet, the Brahman astrologist is a senior great noble and should not be ignored. They at last managed the ritual of sacrifice. Manohra agreed to sacrifice herself, but asked for a last wish to have her wings back, so that she could do a sacrifice dance as homage to the gods. Her dance was spectacular. It captivated everyone and at this chance, she flew away back to her home on Mount Krailas. On the way, she thought of Prince Phra Suthon, afraid that he might try to come find her when the path was so dangerous for ordinary human beings. With these thoughts, she made a stop at a hermit’s named Kassapa. She asked him to give Prince Phra Suthon a ring as her souvenir and pleaded him not to go find her again. Prince Phra Suthon, came back home and found Manohra gone. He became devastated and decided to leave immediately to find Manohra at all costs. On his way, he found the hermit Kassapa and asked for the way. The hermit, realizing this must be the prince, gave him Manohra’s ring and told him a safe way to pass the poisonous forest, the giant bird, the fighting elephant, the twin mountain, and the great giant, until he could reach at the Mount Krailas. Manohra, meanwhile, was being warmly welcomed by her family in Mount Krailas. But as she had been living with the humans for a long time, her father believed it made her dirty. So she had to stay in a separate palace for seven days, waiting for a ritual of a clarifying bath, cleansing the dirtiness of humans away. away. Seven years, seven months, and seven days were the length of
Prince Phra Suthon’s journey. Fortunately, this length of time equaled the seven days of Mount Krailas’s time that Manohra had 22
been waiting for her ritual. At this time, the kinarees were preparing seven seven golden pots of sacred water water to bathe Manorah. The Prince in hiding, placed the ring into the last pot. When this pot
was taken to bathe her, the ring fell magically on Manohra’s ring finger. Thus, s he knew of the Prince’s arrival. With much joy, she informed her father and mother. King Tummaraj, father of Manorah, welcomed Prince Phra Suthon to his palace. He greeted him with warm food and warm clothes. But he also reminded him of the tests he would have to take. The prince passed every test, not without difficulty, difficulty, but from his experiences of the last journey, he did well on fighting and archery. Yet, the last test awaiting him was the most difficult, the seven sisters were dressed exactly alike and looked exactly alike, and the Prince must be able to tell who is Manohra. The Prince could not distinguish her from the others. So he prayed to gods for him to give the right answer. He did. Prince Phra Suthon with the father’s permission, takes Manohra back with him to Earth. They went back to Panjalanakorn, Panjalanakorn, reigned the city after the King and Queen, and lived happily ever after.
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IX. Vietnam’s NGURU LANG-CHUC LANG-CHUC NU, 9 A VIETNAMESE VIETNAMESE STORY STORY Nguru Lang and Chuc Chuc Nu have worked in heaven. Nguru Lang is a carabao boy and Chuc Nu is a fabric maker. Nguru Lang has to watch the carabao everyday, and weaving fabric is Chuc Nu's daily job. One time Nguru Lang saw seven fairies happily bathing in a beautiful lake and he was incited by a male carabao. He decided to hide the fairies' clothes. The fairies agreed that the youngest one, which is the most beautiful had to go to find the clothes. The youngest fairy's name is Chuc Nu, who is a fabric maker. Because her nude body was seen by Nguru Lang, Chuc Nu had to accept Nguru Lang's proposal and became his wife. Chuc Nu was a wonderful wife and Nguru Lang was a good husband, they lived happily. Nguru Lang and Chuc Nu are in a very secure relationship. They 9
This narrative was provided by Nguyen Duc Trung and Doan Thi Thu Thuy National University of Vietnam’s student-participants to UPCIS-SEASREP Asian Emporiums Program 2010 at UP Diliman.
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are so deeply in love and they spent a lot of time together. One day, on a date, they were sunk in passion that they forgot their jobs which they are supposed to do everyday: Nguru Lang forgot to watch the carabao and it ate a lot of rice plants, Chuc Nu forgot to weave the fabric. The King of Heaven (Ngoc Hoang) was so angry and decided to punish them. They were separated separated by the Milky Way Way.. But after that, Ngoc Hoang felt sorry for them. He decided to build a bridge which can connect one side to the other side of the Milky Way so that Nguru Lang and Chuc Nu can meet each other once a year. He commanded commanded a lot of workers to build the bridge. But it didn't work. The workers fought against each other instead of building the bridge. Once again, Ngoc Hoang was angry and used his holy power to transform the workers into ravens. And the ravens have to gather into a bridge shape cross the Milky Way once a year. And since then, every year, in July 7th, Nguru Lang and Chuc Nu can meet each other on the raven bridge. When they meet each other, they are not able to hold their emotion; their tears shed and become what Vietnamese people call "Mua Ngau" (July rain). The interesting thing is in one version; it says that Ngoc Hoang separate Nguru Lang and Chuc Nu in order to keep them focus on their work instead of being in love.
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X. China’s T h e L egen gen d of the th e Cowher Cowher d and th t h e Weav Weave er 10
Girl
This tale, which is at least 6th century BC old, starts its story in the skies. The Weaver Girl Star ( 织女星 ; zhī nǚ xīng), referring to the Vega star and the Cowherd Star ( 牵牛星 ; qiān niú xīng), referring to the Altair Star, fell deeply in love with each other. However, in the Heavens of the Chinese mythological world, it is against the heavenly rules for these stars or deities to have romantic relationships. Moreover, the Weaver Girl Star is the granddaughter of the Heavenly Empress. When word of their forbidden love reached the ears of the powerful powerful Heavenly Empress, she became furious and sent the Cowherd Star down to Earth as a mortal. The Weaver Girl was punished to weave non-stop in the sky. In the legend, clouds in the skies were weaved by the Weaver Girl with magical silk and weaving machine. Different colours were weaved according to different different times of the day d ay and season.
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http://cultureofchinese http://cultureofchinese.com/traditions/ .com/traditions/folklore/fo folklore/folklore-cowhe lklore-cowherd-and-the-we rd-and-the-weaver-gi aver-girl/ rl/
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One day, a group of fairies requested the Heavenly Empress for permission to descend to the mortal world, to Bi Lian Lake ( 碧莲 beautify and whiten skin. The 池 ; bì lián chí), a lake which could beautify Empress was in a good mood and agreed. The fairy girls taking pity on the Weaver Girl for working so hard on her weaving, further requested for her to join them on the trip. Heavenly Empress thought thought for quite a while, and gave in eventually. On earth, when the Cowherd Star descended to the mortal world, he was reborn into a farming family and named as Cowherd / Cow Boy (牛郎 ; niú láng). After his parents passed away, he stayed with his brother and sister-in-law, who treated him very badly. Eventually he was chased out of their home with only an old Ox and a broken cart. The Cowherd and the old Ox depended on each other and lived through hardship together. They plowed and worked hard and in a couple of years, managed to build a small house and make ends meet. Unknown to the Cowherd, the old Ox was originally the Golden Ox Star (金牛星 ; Jīn niú xīng). One day, the Ox suddenly spoke,
to the Cowherd’s surprise. The Ox said to him, ―Go to Bi Lian Lake today. You will find the dresses of some fairies by the rocks, while they are bathing in the lake. Take the red dress and the fairy
will become your wife.‖ Shocked and thrilled, the cowherd took the advice, for he has been alone and yearns a companion. He hid near the lake and sure
enough, true to the Ox’s words, fairies flew down from the sky. The fairies placed their dresses by the rock and stepped into the Lake. Seeing his chance, the Cowherd ran out and grabbed the red dress. The fairies were frantic to find there was man around. Wearing their dresses in haste, they flew back to heaven. Only one fairy was 27
left in the lake, for the Cowherd was holding onto her dress. She was none other than the Weaver Girl Star. The Cowherd walked forward and asked the Weaver Girl to be his wife, in exchange for her dress. At this moment, the Weaver Girl recognized him as the Cowherd Star whom she was still deeply in love with. Shyly but happily, she accepted his marriage request and became his wife. wife. Life on earth for them was wonderful. They bore a son and a daughter and lived happily as a family. However, their joy and peace did not last forever. For when the Heavenly Empress knew of this matter, she stormed in rage! She immediately deployed heaven guards and soldiers to bring the Weaver Girl back for punishment. Back on earth, the Cowherd ran back home in the midst of his plowing day with sad news that the old Ox has passed away. He told the Weaving Girl that the Ox spoke before it died. It asked him to keep his ox hide well. One day, he will be able to cape the hide and fly into the sky. Upon hearing this, the Weaving Girl realized that the Ox was once the Golden Ox Star, who was also punished to the mortal world when he tried to speak in favour for the Cowherd Star. Sadly, they peeled the hide and gave the Ox a burial. Right at this moment, the heaven guards and soldiers came! In an instance, they grabbed the Weaving Girl and flew off. Sad as she may be, the Weaving Girl could do nothing about it. Helplessly, she flew in the skies with the guards to the heavens.
―Weaver Girl, wait for me!‖ The Weaver Girl heard the Cowherd’s voice. Looking back, she saw him flying behind them, wearing the magical Ox hide with each hand holding a basket and their two children in them.
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The gap between them became closer and closer. Soon, Weaver Girl could see the adoring faces of her children and hear their cries for her. Just when they were almost reunited, the Heavenly Empress appeared and with a wave of her hairpin, created a galaxy (the Milky Way) between them, forming an impenetrable barrier. The couple and their children gazed helplessly across the Milky Way at each other. Emotionally torn, they cried and cried. Fairies and gods who heard their cries all felt pity for them and pained that the loving family had to be separated. Soon, even the Empress soften her heart. She allowed the family (including the 2 children) to stay in the sky and remain as stars, permitting them to meet once every year on the 7th day of the 7th month. On that day of the year, countless magpies ( 喜鹊 ; xǐ què) would form a bridge to reunite the Cowherd, the Weaving Girl and their two children in the skies. This day is then commemorated by Chinese people as Qi Xi Festival.
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XI. India’s Th e M ahabhar habhara ata
"My father Kanwa, in answer to that Rishi's Rishi's enquiries, said, 'Viswamitra, of old, having been engaged in the austerest penances alarmed Indra, the chief of the celestials, who thought that the mighty ascetic of blazing energy would, by his penances, hurl him down from his high seat in heaven.' Indra, thus alarmed, summoned Menaka and told her, 'Thou, O Menaka, art the first of celestial Apsaras. Apsaras. Therefore, O amiable one, do me this service. Hear what I say. This great ascetic Viswamitra like unto the Sun in splendour, is engaged in the most severe of penances. My heart is trembling with fear. Indeed, O slender-waisted Menaka, this is thy business. Thou must see that Viswamitra of soul rapt in contemplation and engaged in the austerest penances, who might hurl me down from my seat. Go and tempt him and frustrating his continued austerities accomplish my good. Win him away from his penances, O beautiful beautiful one, by tempting him with thy beauty, youth, agreeableness, arts, smiles and speech.' Hearing all this, Menaka replied, 'The illustrious Viswamitra is endued with great energy and is a mighty ascetic. He is very short-tempered too, as is known
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The M ahabharata ahabharata , Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhi Parva: Section LXXI- LXXII
taken from http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01073.htm
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to thee. The energy, penances, and wrath of the high-souled one have made even thee anxious. Why should I not also be anxious? He it was who made even the illustrious Vasishtha bear the pangs of witnessing the premature death of his children. He it was who, though at first born as Kshatriya, subsequently became a Brahmana by virtue of his ascetic penances. He it was who, for purposes of his ablutions, created a deep river that can with difficulty be forded, and which sacred stream is known by the name of the Kausiki. It was Viswamitra whose wife, in a season of distress, was maintained by the royal sage Matanga (Trisanku) who was then living under a father's curse as a hunter. It was Viswamitra who, on returning after the famine was over, changed the name of the stream having his asylum from Kausik into Para. It was Viswamitra who in return for the services of Matanga, himself became the latter's latter's priest for purposes purposes of a sacrifice. The lord of the celestials himself went through fear to drink the Soma juice. Soma juice. It was Viswamitra who in anger created a second world and numerous stars beginning with Sravana. He it was who granted protection to Trisanku smarting under a superior's curse. I am frightened to approach him of such deeds. Tell me, O Indra, the means that should be adopted so that I may not be burnt by his wrath. He can burn the three worlds by his splendour, can, by a stamp (of his foot), cause the earth to quake. He can sever the great Meru from the earth and hurl it to any distance. He can go round the ten points of the earth in a moment. How can a woman like me even touch such a one full of ascetic virtues, like unto a blazing fire, and having his passions under complete control? His mouth is like unto a blazing fire; the pupils of his eyes are like the Sun and the Moon; his tongue is like unto Yama himself. How shall, O chief of the celestials, a woman like me even touch him? At the thought of his prowess Yama, Soma, the great Rishis great Rishis,, the Saddhyas, Saddhyas , the Viswas, Viswas, Valakhilyas, Valakhilyas, are terrified! How can a woman like me gaze at him without alarm? Commanded, however, by thee, O king of the celestials, I shall somehow approach that Rishi that Rishi.. But, O chief of the gods, devise thou some plan whereby protected by thee, I may safely move about that Rishi. Rishi. I think that when I begin to play before the Rishi, Marut (the god of wind) had better go there and rob me of my dress, and Manmatha (the god of love) had also, at 31
thy command, better help me then. Let also Marut on that occasion bear thither fragrance from the woods to tempt the Rishi.' Rishi.' Saying this and seeing that all she had spoken about had been duly provided, Menaka Menaka went to the retreat retreat of the great Kausika.'" Kanwa continued, 'And Sakra, thus addressed by her, then commanded him who could approach every place ( viz ., ., the god of the wind) to be present with Menaka at the time she would be before the Rishi the Rishi.. And the timid and beautiful Menaka then entered the retreat and saw there Viswamitra who had burnt, by his penances, all his sins, and was engaged still in ascetic penances. And saluting the Rishi, Rishi, she then began to sport before him. And just at that time Marut robbed her of her garments that were white as the Moon. And she thereupon ran, as if in great bashfulness, to catch hold of her attire, and as if she was exceedingly annoyed with Marut. And she did all this before the very eyes of Viswamitra who was endued with energy like that of fire. And Viswamitra saw her in that attitude. And beholding her divested of her robes, he saw that she was of faultless feature. And that best of Munis saw that she was exceedingly handsome, with no marks of age on her person. And beholding her beauty and an d accomplishments that bull amongst Rishis was Rishis was possessed with lust and made a sign that he desired her companionship. And he invited her accordingly, and she also of faultless features expressed her acceptance of the invitation. And they then passed a long time there in each other's company. And sporting with each other, just as they pleased, for a long time as if it were only a single day, the Rishi the Rishi begat begat on Menaka a daughter named Sakuntala. And Menaka (as her conception advanced) went to the banks of the river Malini coursing along a valley of the charming mountains of Himavat. And there she gave birth to that daughter. And she left the new-born infant on the bank of that river and went away. And beholding the new-born infant lying in that forest destitute of human beings but abounding with lions and tigers, a number of vultures sat around to protect it from harm. No Rakshasas Rakshasas or carnivorous animals took its life. Those vultures protected the daughter of Menaka. I went there to perform my ablution and beheld the infant lying in the solitude of the 32
wilderness surrounded by vultures. Bringing her hither I have made her my daughter. Indeed, the maker of the body, the protector of life, the giver of food, are all three, fathers in their order, according to the scriptures. And becauseshe was surrounded in the solitude of the wilderness, by Sakuntas (birds), therefore, hath she been named by me Sakuntala Sakuntala (bird-protected). O Brahman, learn that it is thus that Sakuntala hath become my daughter. And the faultless Sakuntala also regards me as her father.' "This is what my father had said unto the Rishi, Rishi, having been asked by him. O king of men, it is thus that thou must know I am the daughter of Kanwa. And not knowing my real father, I regard Kanwa as my father. Thus have I told thee, O king, all that hath been heard by me regarding regarding my birth!'"
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XII. Japan’s The Robe of Feathers
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Once there was a fisherman who lived all alone on a tiny island in Japan. He was very poor and very lonely. Early one morning, he started toward his boat; there had been a bad storm the night before, but now the sun was shining s hining brightly. As he walked along, he saw something hanging on a branch of one of the pine trees along the beach. It was beautiful and shining. He took it down from the branch and found that it was a wonderful wonderful robe made of feathers. The feathers were of all different colors, as lovely and soft as the rainbow, and they shined and sparkled in the sunlight like jewels. It was the most beautiful thing the fisherman had ever seen in all his life.
―Oh, what a beautiful robe!‖ he said. ―It’s certainly a priceless treasure. There’s no one else on my island so it can’t belong to anyone. I’ll take it home and keep it always. Then my poor home will be beautiful and I can look at t he robe whenever I’m lonely.‖ Holding the robe very carefully in his rough hands, he turned and started to carry it home.
Just then a beautiful woman came running after him. ―Mr. Fisherman, Mr. Fisherman,‖ she called, ―that’s my robe of feathers 12
Two (Singapore: Tuttle Florence Sakade, Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories Book Two Publishing, CD edition 2005) 21-24. 34
that you’re taking away. Please give it back to me.‖ She went on to explain that she was an angel from heaven and that the robe of feathers was actually her wings. While she was flying through the sky, the storm had come and wet her wings so that she could not fly. So she had waited on this island until the sun came out and then had hung her wings out to dry on a pine tree, where the fisherman had found them.
―So you see,‖ she finished, if you don’t give my wings back to me, I’ll never be able to fly back to my home in heaven again.‖ Then the woman began to weep.
The fisherman felt very sad for her. ―Please don’t cry,‖ he said. ―Of course I’ll give you your robe of feathers. If I’d known it belonged to anyone, I would never have touched it.‖ And he knelt down before her and handed her the robe. The angel began at last to smile and her face was shining with
happiness. ―oh, thank you very much, Mr. Fisherman.‖ she said. ―You’re such a good man that I’m going to dance the angel’s dance for you. Then the angel put on the robe of many-colored feathers and began to dance there before the fisherman. It was certainly the most beautiful dance dance the fisherman had ever ever seen, and probably the most most beautiful dance that she had ever danced anywhere on this earth, since angels usually dance their angel’s dance high up in the heavens. The air was filled with heavenly music, and the feathered robe sparkled in the sunlight until the entire island was wrapped in rainbows. As the angel danced, she rose slowly in the air, higher and higher, until finally she disappeared far up in the blue sky. The fisherman
stood watching the sky and remembering the beautiful dance he’d not with seen. He knew that he’d never be lonely or poor again— not such a beautiful memory to carry always in his heart.
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