"The Ch'i-lin Purse"
by Linda FangStudent Edition
Unit 2, pp. 190–203
Folk tales are stories or legends that are told over and over from one generation to the next. They usually started as stories that were memorized and told out loud.
Many years ago, a wealthy woman lived with her daughter, Hsiang-ling. When it was time for Hsiang-ling to marry, her mother wanted her to have the finest dowry in town. But Hsiang-ling was very spoiled. She never liked what was selected.
Finally, the dowry was finished. Only one thing remained. Hsiang-ling's mother wanted a ch'i-lin purse. The purse would be made of red satin, with a ch'i-lin, a legendary animal from ancient times, embroidered on it. In old traditions, the ch'i-lin stood for having a gifted son.
When the purse was ready, Hsiang-ling was not happy with it. She had a loyal servant take it back over and over, until he said he would quit if she sent him again. Hsiang-ling accepted the purse.
On the day of Hsiang-ling's wedding, her mother handed her the ch'i-lin purse, filled with gifts. Hsiang-ling was carried in a covered chair to the town where her husband lived. On the way, she heard a girl crying in another procession. Hsiang-ling asked what was wrong. The other bride-to-be said that she was poor and had nothing to take to her new home. Hsiang-ling gave the poor girl the ch'i-lin purse. Then she went on her way, never knowing what her mother's gifts were.
Hsiang-ling loved her husband and had a son. She was very happy. However, six years later, a flood swept away their home. Hsiang-ling became separated from her family. She could not find them anywhere. She found a food-distribution shack and waited with other people to receive food. Just as she was handed a bowl of food, the server said there was no more left. Hsiang-ling felt sorry for the older woman behind her. She gave her bowl to that woman. A man who saw Hsiang-ling's kindness told her he would recommend her to his master, a very wealthy man.
The master had a son who needed to be cared for. Hsiang-ling accepted the job and became his governess. Hsiang-ling had to follow one rule. She could never go into the sacred Pearl Hall. Hsiang-ling took care of the young boy well, but he was very spoiled. His behavior reminded her how spoiled she had been.
One day, the boy's ball bounced into the Pearl Hall. He cried and told her she had to get it for him. Hsiang-ling decided she must break the rule. In the hall, Hsiang-ling was astonished to see a ch'i-lin purse on an altar, with candles and incense beside it. The purse reminded her of her wedding day and of her lost family, and she began to cry.
A woman came in. She was Hsiang-ling's mistress, Mrs. Lu, and she was angry. She asked why the governess was crying. Hsiang-ling said that she had just seen the ch'i-lin purse that had once been hers. Mrs. Lu asked her questions, and as Hsiang-ling explained the day six years before, her mistress changed. She dropped to her knees and called Hsiang-ling her benefactor. She said that the valuable gifts inside had helped the poor bride and her new husband make a fortune. To show hergratitude, the woman wanted to split their fortune with Hsiang-ling.
Hsiang-ling was so happy! Her good deed had helped someone else, and now that person was able to help her. The woman's husband sent servants to find Hsiang-ling's family. The two families lived together and remained great friends. And whenever Hsiang-ling told the story of her purse, she added that happiness shared will always come back to the giver.
"The Ch'i-lin Purse" from The Ch'i-lin Purse by Linda Fang, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1995.
Copyright © Pearson Education.
by Linda FangStudent Edition
Unit 2, pp. 190–203
Folk tales are stories or legends that are told over and over from one generation to the next. They usually started as stories that were memorized and told out loud.
Many years ago, a wealthy woman lived with her daughter, Hsiang-ling. When it was time for Hsiang-ling to marry, her mother wanted her to have the finest dowry in town. But Hsiang-ling was very spoiled. She never liked what was selected.
Finally, the dowry was finished. Only one thing remained. Hsiang-ling's mother wanted a ch'i-lin purse. The purse would be made of red satin, with a ch'i-lin, a legendary animal from ancient times, embroidered on it. In old traditions, the ch'i-lin stood for having a gifted son.
When the purse was ready, Hsiang-ling was not happy with it. She had a loyal servant take it back over and over, until he said he would quit if she sent him again. Hsiang-ling accepted the purse.
On the day of Hsiang-ling's wedding, her mother handed her the ch'i-lin purse, filled with gifts. Hsiang-ling was carried in a covered chair to the town where her husband lived. On the way, she heard a girl crying in another procession. Hsiang-ling asked what was wrong. The other bride-to-be said that she was poor and had nothing to take to her new home. Hsiang-ling gave the poor girl the ch'i-lin purse. Then she went on her way, never knowing what her mother's gifts were.
Hsiang-ling loved her husband and had a son. She was very happy. However, six years later, a flood swept away their home. Hsiang-ling became separated from her family. She could not find them anywhere. She found a food-distribution shack and waited with other people to receive food. Just as she was handed a bowl of food, the server said there was no more left. Hsiang-ling felt sorry for the older woman behind her. She gave her bowl to that woman. A man who saw Hsiang-ling's kindness told her he would recommend her to his master, a very wealthy man.
The master had a son who needed to be cared for. Hsiang-ling accepted the job and became his governess. Hsiang-ling had to follow one rule. She could never go into the sacred Pearl Hall. Hsiang-ling took care of the young boy well, but he was very spoiled. His behavior reminded her how spoiled she had been.
One day, the boy's ball bounced into the Pearl Hall. He cried and told her she had to get it for him. Hsiang-ling decided she must break the rule. In the hall, Hsiang-ling was astonished to see a ch'i-lin purse on an altar, with candles and incense beside it. The purse reminded her of her wedding day and of her lost family, and she began to cry.
A woman came in. She was Hsiang-ling's mistress, Mrs. Lu, and she was angry. She asked why the governess was crying. Hsiang-ling said that she had just seen the ch'i-lin purse that had once been hers. Mrs. Lu asked her questions, and as Hsiang-ling explained the day six years before, her mistress changed. She dropped to her knees and called Hsiang-ling her benefactor. She said that the valuable gifts inside had helped the poor bride and her new husband make a fortune. To show hergratitude, the woman wanted to split their fortune with Hsiang-ling.
Hsiang-ling was so happy! Her good deed had helped someone else, and now that person was able to help her. The woman's husband sent servants to find Hsiang-ling's family. The two families lived together and remained great friends. And whenever Hsiang-ling told the story of her purse, she added that happiness shared will always come back to the giver.
"The Ch'i-lin Purse" from The Ch'i-lin Purse by Linda Fang, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1995.
Copyright © Pearson Education.
