Folklore Weaver

Once, in a quiet village tucked among the green paddy fields, a wild boar — the king of pigs — stormed into the fields and began tearing them apart. His tusks tore through the stalks, and the crops lay ruined in his wake. The villagers, enraged by the destruction, gathered together with sticks and bows and chased the beast. Among them was a young village boy with sharp eyes and steady hands. He loosed an arrow that struck the wild boar, wounding it. The boar, though bleeding, escaped into the hills. The boy, determined to finish what he had begun, followed the trail of blood into the mountains. At the end of the trail, he came upon a dark cave hidden among the rocks. Cautiously, he peered inside. To his surprise, he saw a divine figure seated in silence — it was the forest spirit “Who are you, boy?” asked the sppirit. “What brings you here? Are you the one who wounded the boar?” The boy trembled in fear. He dared not admit to chasing the wild creature. Thinking quickly, he bowed an...

 Long ago, in the gentle waters of a winding river, the prawn and the crab lived together as companions. Though they often teased one another and exchanged playful jests, their bond was deep. They laughed, they bickered, but they could not bear to be apart. One winter, when the river ran low and the chill crept into the stones, the crab crawled toward the riverbank to bask in the warmth of the sun. He settled there in silence, soaking in the light. Just then, the prawn leapt from the shallows, full of energy and mischief. She began darting about, calling out to the crab, “Oh, dear crab! What are you doing just lying there? Look how I jump! Look how I dance in the water! Can you move like this? Can you be as quick and clever as I am?” The crab, undisturbed, replied, “Indeed, you are swift, my friend, and full of spirit. But tell me, can you rest like this in the sun? Can you lie still and feel its warmth upon your shell? Come, join me, and enjoy the peace for a while.” But the p...

In the early days of the world, when the earth was still young and the ways of men and beasts were not yet divided, the rat and the chicken were close companions. They lived in harmony and often undertook tasks together, sharing their fortunes and misfortunes alike. One day, they agreed to go fishing. The chicken, through skill or perhaps fortune, caught many fish, while the rat caught none. As they prepared to return home, the rat, seeing the chicken’s abundant catch, pleaded for a share. Moved by friendship and goodwill, the chicken offered the rat a few fish. Yet the rat’s desire was not eased. He continued to ask for more, and the chicken, wishing not to quarrel, gave what he could. Eventually, only the largest and finest fish remained in the chicken’s basket. “This one,” said the chicken, “I have kept for my family. They will be waiting.” But the rat, overtaken by greed, demanded the final fish as well. The chicken, though gentle, refused. Enraged, the rat threatened him, say...