Top 10 Best Animal Legends

The story tells of a boy named Ða Ða, who after losing his mother, lived with his stepmother and was constantly mistreated. His father, unaware of the true situation, ended up killing him, only to later discover the truth about a bowl of rice mixed with sand. Ða Ða's spirit transformed into a bird, crying out in sorrow and cursing his father.

For many years, a couple of woodcutters, after two decades of marriage, had no children. They decided to visit a nearby temple to pray for a child. Shortly after returning from the temple, the wife became pregnant and gave birth to a boy, naming him Ða Ða. When Ða Ða was seven years old, his mother passed away, leaving him in the care of his father who worked long hours in the forest. The father, exhausted and unable to care for the boy, remarried.

The stepmother was cruel, forcing Ða Ða to herd ducks in the muddy fields. She only gave him leftovers to eat, ignoring his hunger. At night, Ða Ða would cry and tell his father about his suffering. The stepmother, enraged, fabricated lies about Ða Ða, claiming he was disobedient. One evening, she filled a bowl with sand, covered it with rice, and forced Ða Ða to eat it. Ða Ða, heartbroken and thinking of his mother, could not bring himself to eat. When his father returned, the stepmother accused Ða Ða of misbehaving.

The father, angry and misled, struck Ða Ða, fatally injuring him. The bowl of rice was scattered, revealing the sand inside. Only then did the father realize his mistake, but it was too late. He buried his son and sent the stepmother away. Three days later, while visiting the grave, the woodcutter saw a strange bird with grey feathers rise from the grave. The bird landed on a branch and cried out,

'Rice with sand, returned to my father, broken skull, a cruel fate.'

It was then that the woodcutter realized Ða Ða's spirit had become the bird, forever mourning his fate.

Source: Collected Fairy Tales

This is the story of a brother who deeply loved his younger sibling, but the younger sibling misunderstood and mistreated him. When the younger sibling finally realized the truth, it was too late, and the brother had died. The younger sibling, filled with sorrow, cried for months and transformed into a cicada...

In a village, there were two brothers whose parents had passed away early. The younger brother was still a child, so the older brother took on all the responsibilities, doing hard work in poverty. Despite the struggles, the older brother cared deeply for his sibling. When they couldn't get enough food from growing rice, they would survive by gathering wild vegetables, mushrooms, and roots, and fishing. The older brother always took on the hardest tasks, even sharing the best portions of food with his younger sibling. After catching fish, he would give the middle part to the younger brother, keeping only the head and tail for himself. However, over time, the younger brother grew suspicious, thinking his older sibling didn't love him because he had never been given the head or tail of the fish.

One day, while they were out gathering roots in the forest, the older brother was digging a deep hole when he lost his balance and fell headfirst into the hole, unable to move. He cried out to his younger brother,

'Please help me! Pull me up! I can't breathe, I'm suffocating.'

The younger brother, still harboring doubts, decided to take this opportunity to take revenge on him:

'Hua pia quất choòi ải, hua pia cá choòi ải' (Fish head for you, fish head for me).

Despite his plight, the older brother tried to speak:

'Hua pia quất nhắng vạy dú xa, hua pia cá nhắng vạy dú khỉnh'

(Fish head is still in the kitchen, fish head is still in the jar).

The younger brother, misunderstanding, ran home without caring about his sibling's cries. He rushed to the kitchen to eat the fish head, but it was dry and hard, like a stick. He then went to the jar to eat the other fish head, but it too was dry and inedible. It was then that the younger brother realized his older brother's true love for him, always giving him the best parts of everything.

Realizing his mistake, the younger brother rushed back to the forest to save his brother. But it was too late. The older brother had suffocated and died long ago. The younger brother, filled with regret and sorrow, wept by the hole for days without eating or drinking, his body wasting away. In the end, he died beside his brother's grave. The older brother's spirit turned into a large tree, while the younger brother became a cicada. Every year, during the harvest season when roots were being dug, the cicada would cling to the tree, calling out, 'Brother, brother, brother...' echoing the sorrow of its past mistake.

Source: Collected Tales

The penguin, once a close and beloved friend, was betrayed by the jealous duck who stole its wings. Heartbroken, the penguin journeyed north, but with the guidance of a spirit, it learned many valuable lessons. In the end, the penguin stayed where it was, loving other creatures, while the duck was left to face ridicule and isolation.

Long ago, penguin wings were long and powerful, allowing them to fly like swallows or eagles. One day, while enjoying the scenery by the river, the penguin befriended a duck.

The duck, unlike the penguin, had a number of flaws. Its wings were short, its feathers sparse like those of a fighting rooster, and it had a strong odor. The penguin, feeling sympathy for the duck, loved it deeply. However, the duck had its own intentions: it coveted the penguin's long, strong, and beautiful wings.

Over time, the duck faked sorrow and expressed a desire to fly alongside the penguin forever. One day, the duck asked the penguin to sleep deeply, and when the penguin woke up, it was horrified to find its wings were gone. The deceitful duck had stolen them while it slept and fled.

Devastated, the penguin lost all hope and wandered north, intending to die in the frozen wilderness. A spirit of ice appeared and asked, 'Why are you so sad?' The penguin recounted the betrayal. The spirit then asked, 'Apart from flying, do your wings serve any other purpose?'

The penguin was silent, thinking hard. The spirit then asked, 'But why, after losing your wings, are you still here?' 'Because I still have my legs,' the penguin answered. The spirit smiled, 'So wings are not the only way to move, is that right?'

The penguin nodded and suddenly realized the deeper meaning. The spirit then asked, 'There are many creatures without wings or even legs. How do they move?'

The penguin had an epiphany: 'They have their own ways. I too will find my own.' But it felt a sudden sadness: 'But I don’t want to go back, nor can I live here.'

The spirit laughed and said, 'My land is full of ice, but without places like this, the world would perish. There is life everywhere, as long as you rise up and keep trying.' The spirit vanished.

The penguin took the spirit’s advice to heart, living comfortably on land and swimming faster than many sea creatures. It came to love the kind-hearted animals around it and embraced the icy land forever.

And the deceitful duck? It never truly learned to fly. Occasionally, it would flap its wings and manage to lift off briefly, only to fall back down. Since stealing the penguin's wings, the duck had been ridiculed by the animals and was shunned by all.

Source: Collected Tales

A wealthy young man, longing for a wife as beautiful as a fairy, found himself unmarried even after his parents passed away. His story reached the Jade Emperor, who sent a fairy down to test whether the man would recognize true worth. The fairy disguised herself as an ordinary servant, plain in appearance but skilled in every task and kind-hearted. Though the young man noticed her, he dismissed her due to her lack of beauty. When he left to seek his ideal wife, the servant transformed into an enchanting beauty. Upon his return, he realized too late that the true 'perfect beauty' had been in his home all along. The fairy ascended back to the heavens, and the man was cursed to become a termite, forever clicking his tongue in regret for not appreciating the gift he had.

Once, there was a young, wealthy man who dreamed of marrying a woman as beautiful as a fairy. His parents tried to arrange marriages for him, but he rejected every suitor, saying, 'I only want a wife as beautiful as a fairy.' Years passed, and even after his parents died, he still remained unmarried.

His stubbornness reached the ears of the Jade Emperor. Sympathetic to the young man, the Jade Emperor sent a fairy to test him.

The Jade Emperor said, 'Go and see if he recognizes true value. If he fails, give him a lesson.'

One day, a woman appeared at the young man's home, asking to work as a servant. She was plain in appearance, but she was skilled and had a kind heart. She was so talented that the man couldn't enjoy a meal unless she cooked it. During a memorial ceremony, he sighed, wondering who could prepare an exquisite feast for his parents and the guests. The servant promised to try her best. When the meal was served, both the guests and the host were amazed by the delicious and unique dishes. Everyone praised the servant, and the young man began to notice her. But when he looked at her appearance, he quickly lost interest.

Not long after, the young man outfitted a boat to search for a beautiful wife. The servant, however, transformed into a stunning beauty. When the man returned home, his servants eagerly informed him of the beautiful woman now in his house. He entered and was immediately struck by her unparalleled beauty. He approached her, but she stepped back. He apologized, saying he had been blind all this time and didn't realize there was a 'perfect beauty' living in his home. He begged her to be his wife. She remained silent, and in desperation, he rushed to embrace her.

But he missed, as she ascended into the sky and revealed her true identity as a fairy. She told him her time on Earth had ended, and she had to return to the heavens. All he could grasp was a corner of her cloak. From that day on, the man regretted not appreciating her and was transformed into a termite, forever clicking his tongue in sorrow for the lost opportunity to enjoy the fairy's presence.

Source: Collected Tales

Văn Linh and Văn Lang were half-brothers with the same father but different mothers. Despite their different backgrounds, they were very close. Văn Lang's mother, who was also his stepmother, secretly plotted to kill Văn Linh to inherit the family fortune. One day, she instructed her son to kill his brother, but Văn Lang, unwilling to follow his mother's evil plan, warned Văn Linh and advised him to leave. Guided by the spirit of his deceased mother, who appeared as a phoenix, Văn Linh was taken to a distant place. There, he met and eventually married a woman named Ngọc Châu. After years of studying and achieving success, he returned home as a respected scholar. Văn Lang, happy for his brother, was unaware of the danger his stepmother posed. The stepmother, upon hearing the news of Văn Linh’s success, was so frightened that she died of shock and transformed into a cricket.

Long ago, a man had two wives. His first wife died young, leaving behind a young son named Văn Linh. His second wife also bore a son, Văn Lang. Though Văn Lang was older, the two brothers were closer than most siblings. Whenever Văn Linh was bullied by the other children, Văn Lang would step in to defend him. But unknown to him, his stepmother despised Văn Linh, seeing him as a threat to the inheritance.

As Văn Linh grew older, his father encouraged him to study, while Văn Lang followed their father’s footsteps, learning how to farm and care for the land. The family was quite wealthy, owning several fields and properties, including a large house and a garden with a variety of fruit trees.

One day, their father became seriously ill and passed away. The stepmother, who outwardly treated Văn Linh kindly, secretly plotted to kill him and claim his inheritance. As the legitimate son, Văn Linh would inherit most of the family fortune, while Văn Lang and his mother would receive only a small share. With the father gone, the stepmother’s plan grew stronger.

She secretly instructed Văn Lang to kill his brother. Before they went to buy wood for the family, she called him into her room and said, 'My son, you must find a way to get rid of Văn Linh. The forest is full of dangerous animals, and you are stronger than him. If you do this quietly, there will be no consequences.'

'If he survives, we will have nowhere to live. Only by removing him can we secure our happiness.'

Though Văn Lang did not want to harm his brother, he feared displeasing his mother, so he pretended to agree. When they reached the edge of the forest, he confessed to Văn Linh what had been planned. He told him, 'Mother wants to kill you. You must run away and never return. Take the money for the wood and use it however you wish. One day, we will meet again.'

After Văn Linh left, Văn Lang killed a dog and smeared its blood around, then went back to tell his mother he had killed Văn Linh and that a tiger had taken him. No one suspected a thing. The stepmother thought her plan had worked and relaxed, but Văn Linh was now alone in a strange place. Unsure of where to go, he wandered until one night he found himself at his mother’s grave. He cried and fell asleep there. Moved by his grief, his mother appeared in the form of a phoenix, spreading her wings to protect him. As dawn approached, the phoenix gently carried him away to a far-off mountain.

When they landed, the phoenix revealed itself as his mother and said, 'I am your mother. Stay here where it is safe. I will visit you every day.'

The phoenix turned into a house, providing food and shelter for Văn Linh. To ensure he did not neglect his studies, the phoenix brought him books and would return at night to watch over him. Every morning, the phoenix would sing to wake him up, reminding him to study hard.

At the foot of the mountain, in a nearby village, lived a young woman named Ngọc Châu, who was as beautiful as a flower but still unmarried. She lived with her servant, Hồng, and the two of them made a living by weaving fabric. Since Văn Linh’s arrival, they had noticed strange sounds coming from the mountain—each morning they heard the phoenix's cry and the sound of someone studying loudly. One day, Ngọc Châu decided to investigate. She sent Hồng to ask the scholar for a light. When Văn Linh opened the door, he was surprised to find a woman standing there. After giving her a light, he asked if he could borrow some oil since his own supply had run out. Hồng showed him where the oil was kept, and through this exchange, Văn Linh met Ngọc Châu.

They became close, and soon their friendship grew into love. One day, Ngọc Châu invited him to live with her so that he could continue his studies. The phoenix, hearing of this, provided them with clothes and money, but after this, it never returned. The two were married in a simple ceremony and lived happily, with Văn Linh focusing on his studies while Ngọc Châu took care of the household. After five years, Văn Linh was ready to take the imperial exams. He passed with flying colors, and when he returned to his hometown as a scholar, the entire town celebrated.

When Văn Lang heard the news of his brother’s success, he was overjoyed. But when the stepmother heard of it, she panicked and tried to hide. She crawled under a bed to escape, but the fear was too much for her, and she died of shock, turning into a cricket.

Source: Collected Tales

The Dragonfly was entrusted with the task of monitoring the weather. Despite being warned by the Grasshopper to build a shelter in case of storms, the Dragonfly ignored the advice, distracted by its playful nature. Soon, a violent storm hit, and the Dragonfly found itself in peril...

In a forest long ago, there was a large pond where each creature had a designated role. The Dragonfly’s job was to watch the skies and report any changes in the weather. Unfortunately, the Dragonfly was careless, often too lazy to fulfill its responsibilities. While other creatures worked diligently, such as the Grasshopper, who built sturdy homes, the Cicada, who found safe hollows, and the Silkworm, who spun thick, strong cocoons to withstand storms, the Dragonfly preferred to play rather than prepare.

The Grasshopper warned the Dragonfly several times:

– 'Dragonfly, you should focus on building a shelter. What will you do when the storm arrives?'

The Dragonfly responded confidently:

– 'You have tiny wings and poor flying skills, so you need a shelter. But look at me—my wings are strong, and I can fly anywhere. A storm? I’ll simply fly away!'

With that, the Dragonfly ignored the warnings and continued to play, unbothered by the potential dangers.

Despite repeated advice, the Dragonfly did not heed the concerns of the other creatures. They went about preparing for the storm, while the Dragonfly remained carefree. A few days later, as the Dragonfly was assigned to fly high and watch for changes in the weather, it dozed off under a lotus flower after a long day of play.

At that very moment, the storm arrived. Dark clouds gathered quickly, the wind howled fiercely, and torrential rain began to pour. Fortunately, the Grasshopper had built a solid shelter and remained safe inside. The Silkworm’s strong cocoon clung tightly to a tree branch, unshaken by the storm. The Cicada rested comfortably in a hollow tree. But the poor Dragonfly, still sleeping, remained unaware of the raging storm. It was only when the winds and rain intensified that the Dragonfly woke up in panic. In a frenzy, it flew in search of shelter, but all the best spots had already been claimed by others. The rain had torn at its wings, and the storm made it impossible to find safety. Desperate, the Dragonfly perched on a tree branch and cried out for help:

– 'Help! Somebody, please help me!'

Hearing the cries, the Grasshopper sprang into action, deciding to help the Dragonfly, regardless of the storm.

The Cicada, too, heard the distress and, inspired by the Grasshopper’s bravery, joined the rescue. Together, they carried the Dragonfly to safety and performed actions to help it recover. Grateful for the timely help, the Dragonfly thanked them sincerely:

– 'You risked your lives to save me, and I will never forget it.'

The Cicada spoke wisely:

– 'If only you had listened to us and built a proper shelter, you wouldn’t have faced this danger.'

The Grasshopper added with a sigh:

– 'If only you had paid attention to the weather and prepared in advance, this wouldn’t have happened.'

The Dragonfly, feeling regret, promised never to repeat its mistakes. From that day on, the Dragonfly became diligent about forecasting the weather and ensuring others knew what to expect. As a result, the Dragonfly is now known for its weather predictions, and people even created a saying:

When the Dragonfly flies low, expect rain.

When it flies high, expect sunshine. And when it flies at a medium height, expect cloudy weather.

As for the Dragonfly’s search for a place to build a nest, it still struggles. No good spots remain, and the Dragonfly constantly searches for a place to rest.

That’s why today, you’ll see the Dragonfly constantly moving, never staying in one place for long. It searches tirelessly for a place to call home.

Quac and Nhan were close friends, but a disagreement over food caused them to go their separate ways. Eventually, Nhan became wealthy and married, but he never forgot his friend. However, his wife’s harsh attitude forced Quac to flee. Nhan searched for his friend until his dying breath, and upon his death, he transformed into a bird that incessantly called out ‘Quac! Quac!’

Once upon a time, there were two inseparable friends, Quac and Nhan. They both came from poor families, orphans of their parents. Quac, who was more educated than Nhan, worked as a teacher. Despite his modest income, Quac often helped Nhan. Once, when Quac fell gravely ill, it was Nhan who cared for him day and night, saving his life. Eventually, circumstances forced the friends to part ways, with Quac continuing his work as a teacher, and Nhan traveling far and wide, taking odd jobs to survive.

After many years, Nhan ended up working for a wealthy merchant, who trusted him for his honesty and hard work. Soon, Nhan was married to the merchant’s daughter, and with her dowry, he became quite wealthy. Despite his newfound wealth, Nhan never forgot his old friend Quac. He set out to find Quac and, to his joy, discovered that Quac was still alive. Although Quac was in the middle of a school year, Nhan negotiated with the parents of Quac’s students and brought him home.

Nhan instructed his family to treat Quac like a member of their own family, ensuring that he had everything he needed. However, Nhan’s wife, who had never known hardship like Nhan had, was dismissive of Quac. She could not understand the deep bond between the two men. Initially, she held her tongue, but as time passed, she grew resentful of having Quac in their home. She would often complain, but Nhan, devoted to his friend, would always reassure her, saying, 'This man is the closest person to me. Without him, I might not have lived to see you.'

Over time, Nhan’s wife’s resentment grew more obvious. She scolded both Nhan and Quac, saying:

– 'What is this old man doing here? He’s just a guest who contributes nothing but eats and sleeps all day! It’s time to send him away.'

Despite his wife’s harsh behavior, Nhan tried his best to keep the peace, treating Quac even better than before and trying to calm his wife. However, Quac understood everything and, after enduring enough, decided to leave. Although Nhan tried to convince him to stay, Quac had overheard the insults and felt he could no longer bear the humiliation. He knew that if he stayed, his dignity would be further insulted, so he decided to leave quietly one morning before dawn.

As Quac slipped away, he left behind his cloak on a tree branch in a forest to let Nhan know where he had gone. Nhan, upon realizing that his friend had vanished, went searching for him. When he found the cloak in the forest, he immediately feared that something terrible had happened to Quac. He thought, 'My friend must have been killed by bandits.' However, after further thought, he realized that Quac had left with nothing and would have been fine even if he had encountered thieves. Nhan believed that Quac might have gotten lost in the forest, so he began calling out for him as he ventured deeper into the woods.

For days, Nhan searched tirelessly, calling out 'Quac! Quac!' as he journeyed deeper into the forest. He searched until his very last breath, still calling for his friend. Eventually, Nhan died, and his spirit was transformed into a bird known as the nightjar, forever calling out ‘Quac! Quac!’

Meanwhile, Nhan’s wife, having waited for him in vain, became filled with regret. She ventured into the forest, searching for her husband. Hearing the cries of 'Quac! Quac!', she called out, 'Is that you, Nhan?' But there was no response, only the echo of 'Quac! Quac!'. She followed the calls into the forest until she too became lost and perished beside a tree.

Source: Collected Stories

Long ago, there were two sisters who were as different as night and day. The elder sister was beautiful but lazy, while the younger sister was unattractive but hardworking. During a flood, the elder sister abandoned her younger sibling, floating away on a banana raft to find and marry a celestial being. The younger sister, helped by the heavens, worked hard on her farm and prospered. Filled with jealousy, the elder sister, with her husband, fell from the sky and was transformed into a frog. Meanwhile, the younger sister married a handsome man and invited her sister to live with her.

Once upon a time, there were two sisters, each with a vastly different nature. The elder sister was beautiful, greedy, and lazy, while the younger sister, though deformed with a crippled arm, was diligent and hardworking.

The elder sister, relying on her beauty, spent her days doing nothing but admiring herself in the mirror. She indulged in laziness, and before long, she had become as thin as a stick, her face withered and sickly. The younger sister, though she had a twisted arm from birth, worked tirelessly with her left hand. She wore the same worn-out clothes every day. One day, the village was flooded, and the waters inundated everything—fields, crops, and houses. The younger sister clung to the top of a rock, calling out to the heavens. Exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep for seven days and nights. When the elder sister saw this, she assumed the younger sister had died. Without hesitation, she took a banana raft and paddled away to find a celestial being, abandoning her sister on the rock.

When the younger sister awoke, the floodwaters had not receded. She called out to the heavens:

– 'Oh, Heaven!'

The sky stopped, and a voice responded:

– 'What do you wish for?'

The younger sister replied:

– 'Please save my sister, for the flood has drowned her. If you can save her, I wish for her to marry the Sun.'

The Sun chuckled and said:

– 'Your sister has already reached the house of the celestial sage. You should plant this seed on your rock, and whatever you desire, you will receive.'

With that, the Sun descended. Meanwhile, the elder sister arrived at the celestial sage’s home on the banana raft. When she stepped ashore, she called out:

– 'I wish to meet the most handsome celestial being.'

The sage saw her and, noticing her request, invited her inside. The elder sister continued:

– 'I won’t marry you. You’re too old and unattractive. I want the most beautiful celestial being to be my husband.'

The sage nodded and said:

– 'Very well.'

With a wave of his hand, a handsome young man appeared before her, took her hand, and introduced himself as the Frog Prince. From that day on, the elder sister and her husband lived happily in the celestial realm.

Back on Earth, the younger sister planted the seed given by the Sun. Using her left hand, she cleared the moss and leaves and covered the seed carefully. Soon, a giant gourd vine grew from the crack in the rock, its fruit as large as a basket. The vine spread across the mountain. As the floodwaters receded, the gourds filled the land. One day, the sage noticed the hills had become crowded with gourds. The Frog Prince and his wife looked down and saw the younger sister working hard, cutting open the gourds to distribute them to the people. The elder sister recognized her younger sibling working below and jealousy welled up inside her. She turned to her husband and said:

– 'That cripple is still alive and now has all those gourds.'

The Frog Prince, puzzled, had no time to ask further, as the elder sister urged him to leap down to the mountain. They both fell from the sky and transformed into frogs, sitting atop a gourd. The younger sister asked:

– 'What do you want?'

The frog replied:

– 'I want you to accept me as your sister.'

The younger sister shook her head:

– 'She’s already in the sky.'

The frog continued:

– 'I am your sister, and here is your brother-in-law.'

The younger sister listened to the Frog Prince recount the old story of the flood and how the elder sister had left. Eventually, the younger sister believed the frogs were truly her family. She welcomed them to live with her, and together they cared for the gourd vines. One day, the Sun passed by and stopped to speak to the younger sister:

– 'Your sister and brother-in-law have returned to you.'

The younger sister replied:

– 'Yes.'

The Sun said:

– 'Now I will give you a husband. Cut open the ugliest gourd and your husband will be revealed.'

The younger sister obeyed, slicing open a crooked, ugly gourd. From within emerged a handsome, young man who introduced himself as her husband. Together, they began to stack the gourds, arranging them in descending levels. As the gourds were stacked, the floodwaters receded, and the villages and fields returned to normal. The villagers resumed their peaceful lives.

From then on, the Frog Prince and his wife were welcomed by the younger sister into her home, and they lived alongside the villagers, working and living happily. The elder sister, now reconciled, no longer felt jealousy towards her younger sibling.

Source: Collected Folktales.

This is the story of a young monk renowned for his devotion. To test his resolve, the Goddess of Mercy, Quan Yin, sent a young woman to tempt him. Unable to resist her allure, the monk was transformed into a frog as punishment by Quan Yin.

Once upon a time, there was a young monk known for his piousness. He had renounced all worldly desires, dedicating himself entirely to the teachings of Zen. The emperor, having heard of his virtues, summoned the monk to the palace, honored him with the title of National Teacher, and tasked him with overseeing the restoration of a temple in the southern part of the capital. However, the monk respectfully declined the emperor's request and instead asked for permission to travel and visit temples across the land.

One day, the monk embarked on a journey to a distant temple in the northern region to visit a fellow monk he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Quan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, had heard much about the monk's piety. Deciding to test his purity, she transformed herself into a beautiful young woman and appeared at the river crossing. That day, the river seemed unusually quiet, with few travelers or boats. The monk entered a boat, and the young woman steered it out into the middle of the river. She then changed course, bringing the boat to a secluded sandy shore. The monk, curious, asked why she didn’t continue across to the other side.

The young woman smiled seductively and responded, 'I stopped here because you are so handsome. I desire your love.'

The monk, wary of such temptations, remained calm and said, 'Amitabha Buddha! Please show mercy to this humble monk.'

But the young woman did not relent. She moved closer and continued to tempt him. The monk, in response, silently opened his bag and began reciting the Diamond Sutra. His voice grew louder, drowning out her words, yet she persisted, laughing and speaking sweetly.

Growing frustrated, the monk warned her, 'I have an imperial decree from the emperor. Anyone who dares to harm or disturb me will face the death penalty. Please do not challenge the emperor’s authority.'

The young woman, unphased, replied, 'I wish to die. If you show me kindness, I would die happily.'

As time passed, the monk remained resolute, his chanting uninterrupted. Yet, the young woman began undressing, her seductive whispers filling the air. When her blouse fell to the ground, the monk closed his eyes and turned his head away. Still, he continued to chant, his hands counting the beads of his prayer rosary.

Despite the temptation, the monk stayed firm, unmoved by her beauty or her pleas. Quan Yin, observing from afar, was deeply moved. She had tested the monk thoroughly and saw that he was worthy of enlightenment. Yet, the final test was not complete. On the tenth attempt, as the young woman again approached him, the monk’s hand trembled, and in that brief moment of weakness, he allowed his touch to linger. All his years of training had been undone in an instant.

Angered by the monk's failure to resist temptation, Quan Yin decided that he no longer deserved the title of a true disciple. In her anger, she cast him into the river like refuse, and further punished him by transforming him into a frog, a lowly creature. From that day on, frogs were said to retain the habit of folding their forelimbs in prayer when their heads are chopped off, a gesture they inherited from their ancestor, the monk.

Source: Collected Folktales.

The legend of the monkey comes from a story about a wealthy family who saw their servant girl, helped by the Buddha, transform into a beautiful woman. They tried to mimic her, but instead, they were turned into creatures with wrinkled faces, fur-covered bodies, and tails, which are now called monkeys. These monkeys live deep in the forest and quickly run away when they see humans.

Once upon a time, a young girl worked as a servant for a wealthy family. She was overworked, poorly treated, and had little to eat or wear, often subjected to beatings and insults. This hardship caused her to grow weary and unattractive by her early twenties. One day, the family hosted a grand feast, inviting many guests to indulge in a lavish spread while the girl was burdened with fetching water, her work never stopping. On her tenth trip to the well, exhausted, she sat by the water and began to cry, feeling lonely and neglected. Suddenly, the Buddha appeared in the form of an old man, weary from travel, and asked for a drink of water. The girl, eager to help, quickly filled her jug and offered him a drink. Afterward, the old man asked for food. She remembered her own unappetizing meal and gave him some of her rice, saying:

'The food they gave me is burnt, please eat this to ease your hunger.'

After eating, the old man asked her, 'Why were you crying earlier?'

The girl lowered her gaze and remained silent.

'I am the Buddha,' the old man continued, 'and I see your kind heart. If there is anything you wish for, I will grant it.'

Surprised and overjoyed, the girl shared her wish: to become beautiful. The Buddha instructed her to go into the well and pick the white flowers, and whatever flowers she touched would make her wish come true. She followed his advice and when she emerged from the water, she was transformed into a beautiful, fair-skinned woman, and her clothes had also changed into fine garments.

When the girl returned, her family was astonished, unable to recognize her. Overcome by her beauty, they rushed to the well, hoping for the same miracle. They found the old man still sitting there, and they eagerly offered him food, hoping for a blessing.

The Buddha instructed them to do as the girl had, but when they entered the well, they chose the red flowers, thinking them to be more beautiful. However, when they emerged, they found themselves transformed not into youth and beauty but into grotesque creatures with wrinkled faces, fur-covered bodies, and tails.

Terrified, the villagers screamed, and the once-wealthy family fled to the forest in fear.

From then on, the girl and the poor servants of the family enjoyed the riches left behind by the wealthy family. The wealthy family, now reduced to living in the forest, struggled to survive, scavenging for food and living in tattered clothes. Occasionally, they would return at night, knocking on doors or sitting outside, calling out all night long. The girl and the others, frightened, would lock their doors tightly and eventually resorted to using fish sauce and heated plows to drive them away. From that day forward, the monkeys never returned.

When people went to gather firewood in the forest, they would sometimes see the monkeys, who would quickly scamper away at the sight of humans. People now call them monkeys, and some believe they are descendants of the wealthy family. The red bottoms of the monkeys are said to be a sign of the burns passed down from their ancestors.

Source: Collected Folktales.