Top 10 Myths and Legends about Trees and Their Meanings

The Legend of the Tangerine Tree during Tết is a Vietnamese folk tale that celebrates the courage and nobility of a mute and deaf young man and the origin of the Tangerine Tree during Tết.

Despite his disability, Quất Giỏi bravely fought to save the country, using his reward to melt the ice and bring peace to everyone. This is the nobility of a true hero.

1. Quất Giỏi Arrives in the Capital

Once upon a time, there were three close friends. Thư loved reading books and reciting poetry. Mộc enjoyed planting trees and gathering herbs. Quân, unlike his friends, was both mute and deaf. Yet, his hands and feet were quick and seemed to speak for him. He watched people practice martial arts and sword fighting and practiced the same moves at home.

Every day, while his parents went to the forest to gather firewood, Quân would take a whip to herd the cattle and drag the firewood back home. Without a knife, Quân practiced with the whip all day, never tiring of it. He grew taller and stronger than his friends, and no one could match his strength. He practiced with two, three, or even five bamboo sticks, perfecting his technique. The whip made a swishing sound as it cut through the air. When encountering a venomous snake, Quân would strike it in half, and when facing a fierce tiger, his whip would split its head. People around the village admired his skill with the whip and began calling him Quất Giỏi.

One year, news came that an enemy army was advancing. The enemy was numerous, with weapons resembling a forest of sugarcane and reeds. The enemy general possessed a magical power: when struck by a blade, his flesh would instantly heal. The king sent his officials to search for a hero who could defeat the enemy. Quất Giỏi asked his parents for permission to go to the capital. Thư gave him the finest pen, and Mộc gave him the best rice.

When Quất Giỏi arrived, the king asked him:

– Do you have the strength to kill the enemy general?

Thinking the king was asking what he held in his hand, Quất Giỏi raised the pen Thư had given him, though he had lost its head on the way. The official reported:

– He will surely strike off the enemy general's head.

The king asked again:

– How long will it take to defeat the enemy?

Thinking the king was asking what he carried in his bag, Quất Giỏi opened it to show the rice Mộc had given him. The official reported:

– He promises to eat all the rice, and the enemy will be defeated!

The king asked further:

– After defeating the enemy, what reward would you like?

Thinking the king was asking for his sword, Quất Giỏi raised his mighty whip. The official reported:

– Your Majesty, he must be asking for the golden fruit on your lemon tree.

The king nodded:

– Agreed! I will grant you whatever you desire.

2. The Legend of the Tangerine Tree during Tết

Quất Giỏi signaled for the king to have a three-pronged iron whip made for him, small like a bamboo rod but as long as a spear. Quất Giỏi took the whip and rode an elephant into battle. The enemy general, also on an elephant, advanced toward the capital. Upon seeing Quất Giỏi, the enemy general sneered and stroked his beard:

– Little brat! Do you think you can scare me with your whip?

Before he finished speaking, Quất Giỏi's whip sliced through the air with a chilling sound.

The enemy general's side was torn, but in an instant, his wound healed. The general swung his large sword, larger than a paddle, aiming at Quất Giỏi's head. Quất Giỏi dodged and, gritting his teeth, gathered all his strength to strike a second blow. The trees around them bent as if bowing to the force of the strike. The general ducked to avoid the second blow, but as he lifted his head, Quất Giỏi struck again, faster than lightning, cutting off the enemy general's head. It fell beside the elephant's feet and rolled away.

The king rejoiced at Quất Giỏi's victory.

The king asked:

– Is the enemy general's head truly gone?

To everyone's surprise, Quất Giỏi suddenly regained his hearing and speech:

– Your Majesty, the enemy’s flesh heals instantly, but the head does not.

The king rewarded Quất Giỏi with the precious lemon tree bearing golden fruits and said:

– If you want the gold, pick the fruit; if you wish to end the cold and call for sunlight, plant the branches deep into the earth.

Quất Giỏi thanked the king and took the tree back to his village.

That year, the winter was harsh, and when Quất Giỏi arrived home, he saw the crops were almost ruined. Thư was sick from the cold, and Mộc was saddened as the plants he nurtured were dying. Without hesitation, Quất Giỏi planted the golden lemon tree's branches deep into the soil. The cold suddenly vanished, the clouds disappeared, and the sun returned, bright and joyful. People regained their health, and the plants began to grow again, while birds sang happily.

The villagers rejoiced in wonder...

The three friends grew even closer. Thư excelled in his studies and became the highest-ranking scholar. Mộc cultivated a new breed of rice, which grew larger and more fragrant.

Quất Giỏi used his whip to protect the village from wild animals, ensuring everyone could work in peace. Everyone was happy. From then on, every winter, when the lemon tree bore golden fruit, the sun would return.

In spring, the tree was named after Quất Giỏi, and the Tangerine Tree began its legacy...

About the Tangerine Tree

The Tangerine Tree, scientifically known as Citrus japonica, belongs to the citrus genus. It is a woody plant that grows from 1 to 1.5 meters tall. The tree has a flexible trunk with gray bark and numerous branches growing outward. It has sharp thorns along its trunk. The fruit is round, initially dark green, and turns orange-yellow as it ripens.

The Tangerine Tree is often planted as an ornamental tree during the Lunar New Year, symbolizing good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. Its decoration varies and is unique to each region.

In traditional medicine, the fruit of the Tangerine Tree is used as a remedy for ailments caused by the cold, such as sore throats, stomachaches, and colds.

According to Vietnamese folklore, the origin of this tree is recounted in the story of The Legend of the Tangerine Tree during Tết.

The Legend of the Nhọ Nồi Tree is a Vietnamese folktale that tells the story of a kind-hearted girl who dedicates herself to helping and healing others, and the origin of the Nhọ Nồi tree.

1. The Talented and Kind-Hearted Girl

Long ago, in a village, there was a very beautiful girl. She had a slender figure and strikingly bright, long, pointed green eyes. She was also incredibly skilled with her hands, sewing simple brown clothes, but making them beautifully. She crafted small round buttons made of seashells, intricately carved. Each button on her clothes sparkled like a blooming flower.

People said she had the magic touch. Whatever she planted grew lush and green. Every hen she raised laid a lot of eggs… She also selflessly cared for and healed the sick. A drop of spring water would cool down an elderly person’s fever, while a handful of herbs would cure a child’s illness.

One day, an invading army from a neighboring country attacked. The small village near the border was overrun by the enemy. They chopped down trees, set fire to homes, and scattered embers into the sky like ominous dark clouds. The village men went off to fight, while the girl, along with a few others, led the elderly and children to safety.

After the invaders passed, she returned alone to clean up the village. She extinguished the remaining fires, gathered up any food and belongings left behind, and rounded up stray pigs and chickens. She worked non-stop through the day, her clothes and hair covered in soot…

2. The Brave General in the Legend of the Nhọ Nồi Tree

As evening approached, a troop of our soldiers arrived, following the retreating enemy. The enemy, defeated by our forces, had just fled after ravaging the village. The troops were led by a young general. He wore a black coat and rode a shiny horse that moved like it was gliding above the ground. Dust rose from the horse’s hooves, making it seem as if it were walking on clouds. The general wore a green scarf on his head, his eyebrows dark like two thick strokes of ink. His square face and strong jawline resembled a triangular rice cake made of palm leaves. His clenched teeth indicated he was enduring immense pain.

Indeed, his coat was torn on one side, and his left arm was exposed, with blood flowing down. Near his shoulder, an arrow had struck him, and the tail of the arrow had embedded itself deeply like the fin of a fish. The general had been shot while chasing the fleeing enemy and hadn’t had time to remove the arrow.

Upon arriving at the village, the general dismounted and called for the village healer. The healer, an elderly man with silver hair but remarkably bright eyes, had been on many battlefields and had saved many wounded soldiers. The old man studied the arrow lodged in the general’s muscle carefully. With each breath the general took, blood poured from the wound, staining the bamboo and turning half of the arrow red.

The healer looked straight into the general’s eyes and said:

– If I could, I would sever my own arm and graft it onto yours, or if I could transfer my blood to yours, I would not hesitate. However, if we remove the arrow, the steel tip will get stuck, and there will be no way to extract it.

3. Removing the Arrow for the General

The healer sent word throughout the village that anyone who could treat the general’s wound would be handsomely rewarded. The soldiers searched everywhere but found no one. Finally, they came across a slender girl, covered in soot, who was cleaning up among the ashes. Her face was darkened with soot, but her bright green eyes and the glimmering buttons on her chest stood out. She was the girl known for her healing touch.

The general, now very weak, had pale skin and his eyes were closing. But the sweet sound of the girl’s voice roused him. He opened his eyes slightly, and the sight of her bright green eyes felt like a gentle breeze on a hot day.

The elderly healer spoke to the girl:

– Do you know anyone nearby who is skilled in medicine? Please tell me if you do.

– All the villagers have fled, but I remain. Please allow me to examine the general’s wound.

The girl quickly washed her hands. Once clean, her hands appeared smooth and delicate. As soon as she placed her hand on the general’s shoulder, he shivered with a refreshing coolness. The burning pain and fever he had been feeling eased immediately, like the heat being swept away by a gentle breeze.

The general slowly opened his eyes and smiled. The girl’s fingers gently pressed on his shoulder, skillfully pulling the arrow out in tiny increments, and in a moment, the arrow was fully removed. The general gritted his teeth, stifling a groan, but then sighed in relief as his complexion returned to normal. The girl pressed her hand on the wound, and the bleeding gradually stopped.

The general felt much stronger. As night fell, his troops moved on to continue their pursuit of the enemy.

As the general left, he only remembered the girl with soot on her face, her long green eyes, and her shining shell buttons. No one had asked her name, and along the way, everyone referred to her as “The Girl with the Sooty Face.”

4. The Story of the Nhọ Nồi Tree

Years later, the enemy had been defeated, and the general finally returned to the small village. He asked about the girl, but no one knew her name. The villagers only spoke of a kind-hearted girl who had healed the sick and helped others in need. The village had been repeatedly attacked by the enemy, and the girl had saved many people amidst the chaos of battle. Sadly, it was said that she had fallen during one of these skirmishes.

The general thought of the girl who had once healed his wound. Suddenly, he saw a small tree by the fence at his feet, no taller than his waist. The tree had bright green, sharp leaves that looked like the kind, familiar eyes he remembered. Tiny white flowers, like delicate shell buttons, sparkled. The general stood there, deeply moved.

An elderly villager said to the general:

– That is the Nhọ Nồi herb. The leaves can stop bleeding instantly when applied to a wound. The girl with the green eyes fell here, General.

And so, the legend of the Nhọ Nồi tree has been told ever since.

The tale of the shy plant, also known as the legend of the Mimosa or the Sensitive Plant, narrates the purity of a beautiful young woman and the origin of the plant we call the 'shy plant' today.

Once upon a time, there lived a stunningly beautiful young girl named Trinh. The villagers often praised her for her delicate figure and graceful walk. She had striking, dark eyes that were often hidden behind her long, dark eyelashes.

Every day, Trinh carried vegetables to the market to support her elderly mother and younger siblings. Whenever a young man tried to flirt with her or glance her way, she would shyly lower her gaze, her long lashes casting a shadow over her beautiful eyes.

Her beauty was matched only by her virtuous nature, making it no surprise that many admired her.

In the village, there was a wealthy young scholar who had fallen in love with Trinh. Every day, he would find a reason to stand by the road and wait for her to pass after the market, hoping to exchange a few words with her. However, Trinh always politely declined:

– "This is a matter for my parents to decide at home."

Plagued by unrequited love, one day, the young scholar followed her secretly, and in a moment of carelessness, he reached out and grabbed her hand. Trinh quickly pulled away and sternly said:

– "Please, do not act inappropriately. I would rather die than have my reputation tarnished."

Despite his deep feelings, the young scholar could not shake his melancholy. His father, a local noble, believed it was time for his son to settle down and arranged for him to marry a suitable girl. However, the scholar was heartbroken, for Trinh’s family was too poor for such a union to be possible. In his despair, he wandered aimlessly, feeling lost and hopeless. Eventually, he left to study under a renowned teacher in a distant land.

Many years passed, and Trinh's image lingered in his heart and mind.

One day, after returning to his village, the scholar wandered to the back garden by the river, lost in thought. Suddenly, from the bushes, Trinh appeared before him. Surprised, the scholar stood frozen, watching as Trinh began to sing, her voice pure and hauntingly beautiful.

When Trinh noticed him, she trembled and turned to run. The scholar quickly chased after her, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his arms. As he looked into her dark eyes, which were now visible beneath her long lashes, he bent down to kiss her. But, to his horror, Trinh had passed away. He pulled back in shock, realizing that he had been kissing a delicate white-pink flower surrounded by fine leaves that folded up at the slightest touch or breath.

It was then that he learned Trinh had taken her own life two years earlier, after a corrupt official tried to force himself upon her. The legend of Trinh’s purity lived on even beyond death. Despite her tragic end, she preserved the purity of her spirit.

The flower that the scholar had kissed was from the Mimosa plant, often called the "Shy Plant" or "Sensitive Plant," which folds its leaves when touched or disturbed.

The Legend of the Dill Plant is a Vietnamese folktale that explains the origins of the names of various plants while also teaching a lesson about impatience and hasty decisions in life.

Long ago, the plants on Earth had no names. The gods decided to call upon the plants to give each one a name. When the plants heard this news, they were overjoyed and each sent a representative to the heavens to receive their name.

Upon arriving in the heavenly realm, the plants—big and small, tall and short—stood crowded together in a large open field. The gods sat upon a high mound and began to name the plants, starting with the large ones and working down to the smaller ones. The gods pointed at each plant and declared its name:

– "You shall be called the coconut tree;"

– "You shall be called the betel nut tree;"

– "You shall be called the jackfruit tree;"

– "You shall be called the longan tree;"

– "You shall be called the rose tree…"

The gods continued naming the plants for what seemed like an eternity, their mouths growing tired from the effort.

Eventually, the gods began to shorten their speeches, saying only:

– "You are the cabbage;"

– "You are the chili pepper;"

– "You are the garlic…"

When all the plants had received their names, the gods thought the task was complete, but suddenly, a tiny plant approached to ask for its name. The gods looked down and saw a tiny plant, resembling a thin stick of incense, with a fragile stem and delicate leaves. The gods asked:

– "You are so small, what purpose do you serve that you deserve a name?"

The tiny plant humbly replied:

– "O mighty gods, I am very useful. When making dishes like fish soup or preparing fish cakes and squid cakes, my presence adds the perfect flavor."

The gods thought for a moment and said:

– "Hmm, I will give you a name... You shall be called…"

Before the gods could finish their thought, the tiny plant had already scurried away, excitedly announcing to its fellow plants: "The gods have named me the Dill plant!"

The Legend of the Rice Plant is a Vietnamese myth that not only explains the origin of rice but also sheds light on the custom of honoring the Rice Goddess in various places.

1. The Rice Goddess

The Rice Goddess is a beautiful young woman with a slender figure and a tendency to sulk.

She is the daughter of the Jade Emperor. After a series of devastating floods wiped out all plant life, the gods instructed the surviving humans to reproduce and sent the Rice Goddess to Earth to provide nourishment to humanity.

The goddess cast a spell that allowed the seeds planted in the soil to grow into plants that bore full, grain-laden rice stalks. The rice ripened on its own and returned home without the need for harvesting or drying. When people needed food, they simply plucked the rice and cooked it into a meal.

2. The Sulking Goddess and the Legend of the Rice Plant

One day, a girl was busy with household chores. The yard was not yet swept, and the storage room had not been opened, but the rice was already piling up outside. The girl, flustered and upset, grabbed a broom and struck the rice heads while scolding them:

– "Why are you rushing back before everything is ready?"

The Rice Goddess, guiding the rice into the yard, was dismayed to see the yard dirty and littered with trash. When the broom struck the rice, her anger flared. The rice plants, all at once, exclaimed:

– "If you want us to be tired, we will make it so! From now on, you must use a sickle to cut us and carry us back!"

From that moment on, the Rice Goddess refused to let the rice return on its own. Humans had to go to the fields and pick the rice one by one. Realizing how difficult this was, they invented the sickle to speed up the process. Furthermore, the rice no longer transformed into cooked rice on its own; it had to be dried, ground, and processed into rice grains first.

The Rice Goddess’s anger sometimes became even more severe. She continued to harbor resentment towards humanity’s ingratitude, and on several occasions, she forbade the rice from growing properly. Even when it did grow, it bore only empty grains. As a result, after every harvest, people performed ceremonies to honor the Rice Spirit, also known as the Rice Goddess. In some places, this ritual was referred to as the “New Rice Offering,” and families held these ceremonies in their own homes.

Villages and communities also organized public festivals to honor the Rice Goddess. These festivals often began with rituals and entertainment, featuring a popular event called the “Rice Flower Procession.” Traditional performances like the Trám (Vĩnh Phú), Triêng (Thanh Hóa), and Hồng trumpet (Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh) all included the rice procession as part of the festivities.

A long time ago, before humans existed, the Earth was a desolate place. Seeing this, the Jade Emperor took a handful of earth and dropped a drop of divine water onto it to create a young man. The Jade Emperor taught the young man how to hunt and build a house, then sent him down to Earth.

However, the young man only knew hunting and had no knowledge of farming, so he couldn't bring life to the Earth. The Jade Emperor then sent a fairy, a daughter of the Rain God and the Wind God, who specialized in tending the fields, to help him. But, to the Emperor's dismay, the two became infatuated with each other when they arrived on Earth, making the Jade Emperor furious.

The Emperor took the fairy back to the heavens, but she refused to leave her beloved. In a fit of rage, the Jade Emperor waved his hand and turned the young man into countless tiny grains, now known as Sand. The fairy, now holding only the grains of sand, wept bitterly, despite the Rain Goddess’s heartfelt pleas and the Wind God’s deep anger.

She cried and cried… until one day, her physical form transformed into a spiky plant, as if resisting being taken back to the heavens. The roots of the plant dug deep into the scorching sands, just as the fairy’s arms once held the young man, unwilling to let go.

If you accidentally touch this plant, you will feel a white sap flowing, like the tears that have accumulated over millennia. This plant is called the Cactus.

Devastated by the fate of his daughter, the Rain God refused to allow any rain in the hot desert where only Sand and Cactus grew, leaving the land dry year-round. Meanwhile, the Wind God, still angry after many years, occasionally conjured massive storms that scattered the tiny grains of sand, yet he could never break the bond of love between the two. Because… true love conquers all!

That year, a drought swept through the land. Trees withered from the lack of water, and the villages were desolate from hunger and thirst. Many people had to leave their homes in search of new lands. In one household, there were only a mother and her 7-year-old son. The mother was constantly ill, and the boy, named Aưm, had dark skin and golden hair. Despite his young age, Aưm had become his mother's main source of support. Every day, he would rise early, head into the forest to gather bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and fruit to bring back to his mother.

But the drought only worsened. Some days, Aưm would return home after a whole day in the forest, empty-handed. One day, weak from hunger, he fell asleep by the stream. In his dream, he saw a bird carrying a fruit as big as his hand, with a bunch of golden whiskers resembling his hair. The bird placed the strange fruit into Aưm's hands and flew away. When he awoke, Aưm found the fruit still in his hand. Surprised, Aưm peeled the layers of the fruit and discovered golden seeds neatly arranged inside. He tasted one of the seeds and found it sweet and rich. Overjoyed, Aưm rushed home with the mysterious fruit.

His mother was still lying weak on the bed. Seeing how she had been starving for days, Aưm quickly crushed the seeds and cooked them to share with her. Gradually, the mother regained strength, her eyes filled with love for her devoted son. With the remaining seeds, Aưm planted them in the ground in front of their house. Each day, he cared for the plant, often walking for hours to find water but still managing to set aside some for the growing plant. The plant thrived quickly, growing long, green leaves. Soon, it bloomed and bore fruit.

When the drought ended, the villagers returned to their old homes. Aưm shared the strange golden fruits with the villagers, who used them as seeds for their own crops. Moved by Aưm’s kindness, the villagers named the plant after him, calling it Aưm’s plant or Corn. Thanks to this plant, the Pako people were never again plagued by hunger.

The Legend of Ginseng is a Vietnamese folk tale that criticizes those who are ungrateful, greedy, and fail to appreciate the value of nature's gifts.

Once upon a time, there was a poor couple of woodcutters who worked tirelessly all year round. They left home at dawn and returned late at night, yet never earned enough to put food on the table. The couple had a young son, and each day, they saved a small portion of their meager meal for him, just enough to fill his stomach.

In the midst of this hardship, the parents noticed that their son was growing unusually healthy, plump, and strong, as though he were being well-fed. The child, still too young to speak, couldn't explain the mysterious change in his condition to his parents.

After a few years, when the child had grown and could speak, his parents asked if the food they provided each day was enough. The boy replied that he didn’t know what rice tasted like because every time his parents left the house, a troop of monkeys from the forest came to eat the rice.

The woodcutters were stunned and asked their son how he had managed to stay so healthy without rice. The child innocently explained that, whenever his parents were away, a neighbor boy, also naked like him, came to play. This boy, as it turned out, was the one who had been sharing his strength with him.

Intrigued and suspicious, the parents wondered, since there were no other houses for miles around, who this mysterious boy could be. The father suspected that the boy was the Spirit of the Ginseng plant, the spirit of the ginseng growing nearby.

The next morning, the father went to the market and bought a roll of silk thread. He told his son that whenever the boy came to play, he should tie the thread around the boy’s wrist or ankle. The child promised to follow his father’s instructions. The following day, as usual, the parents left for work, but instead of going into the forest, they hid nearby. As expected, the Ginseng spirit arrived to play with the boy, and the child, following his father’s advice, tied the thread around the spirit’s wrist.

At noon, the parents emerged from their hiding place and rushed home. They caught both boys playing together. The Ginseng spirit, startled, fled and vanished into the trees. The woodcutter followed the thread tied to the spirit’s wrist, which led him to the ginseng plant. Greedy and impatient, the woodcutter dug recklessly, unintentionally killing the spirit of the Ginseng plant and only retrieving a few root pieces. As a result, ginseng no longer possessed the power to grant immortality but could only be used to enhance one’s health.

The legend of the thorny palm tree is a folktale of the Dao ethnic group, showing the strength of humans to conquer nature, and explaining why the palm tree has thorns.

Long ago, no one knew when it all began, but it was said that it was a long time ago, in the era when the gods created all living beings. At that time, all creatures on Earth could communicate with one another in a common language. Seven species formed a close friendship: the "Tao Mao" (leopard), "Tao Chiep" (bear), "Tao Goi" (civet), deer, antelope, and humans. Despite their bond, each considered themselves superior to the others, and none would bow to the others. The six animals always sought ways to show off their skills to make the "human friend" afraid. One day, Tao Mao, full of strength, believed it was far superior to the others. Proudly, it told the others:

– Everyone knows that I am the ruler of the entire forest region. Have you ever heard my roar? Surely, you must be terrified.

The others responded:

– What’s there to fear? You only roar, but what can you do? We are not scared!

Angrily, Tao Mao rushed into the forest and roared loudly. Afterward, it came back and asked:

– Did you hear that? My roar made the trees shudder and crack. Isn’t that scary?

But the others simply shook their heads without showing any fear.

Tao Chiep, dragging its heavy body, stepped forward:

– That was nothing compared to my roar. Everyone respects the bear, and I can break any tough plant, climb any tree, and if I raid a beehive, no swarm of bees, however large, can harm me. Are you afraid of me?

The group answered dismissively:

– Tao Mao’s roar was nothing, so what of yours?

– Alright, wait and see.

Tao Chiep thought to itself, then hurried into the forest. From within the trees, loud grumbling sounds echoed, but when Tao Chiep came back to ask, the others showed no fear. Tao Chiep stuck out its tongue and scratched the ground in embarrassment.

Tao Goi, seeing the others fail, quickly jumped in.

– I may be smaller, but my sound is sharp and piercing. Wait until you hear it. I’m sure you’ll be terrified.

The group laughed aloud:

– You, the small and quick one, smaller than Tao Mao and Tao Chiep, what’s the use of your yelping? No one is scared of you!

Tao Goi squeezed into the bushes and let out a sharp, high-pitched cry of "ét, ét!" Then, it quickly popped out and asked:

– Are you scared now? Are you scared?

The others laughed even harder. Tao Goi sat down, licking its foot to hide its embarrassment.

The deer stepped forward, declaring loudly:

– I’m tall with horns, and I can run as fast as the wind. Are you afraid of me?

The group answered:

– No!

The deer dashed down the mountain, calling "ắc ắc!" a few times, then asked the others. They replied:

– No fear! Your call is delightful, keep going.

The antelope wiggled its tail and stepped up to the group, saying:

– I’m light on my feet and quick like a squirrel. I can jump six or seven paces in one bound. Are you afraid?

The group scoffed:

– We’re so big, we’re not afraid. You’re so small, who would fear you?

The antelope ran down the mountain, calling "óng, óng!" and then asked the group. They replied:

– Your song is lovely, sing more!

Finally, the human spoke:

– Are you afraid of humans?

The group answered:

– Tao Mao is fierce, Tao Chiep is cruel, Tao Goi is sly, the deer runs fast, and the antelope is agile. No one is afraid of any of that! You’re just a human. How could we be afraid of you?

The human said nothing, calmly walking into the forest and striking a rock to create sparks. The fire blazed as bright as lightning, and the human asked loudly:

– Do you see it now? Do you see the power of a human?

The group shouted:

– That’s just something you see when it rains. What’s so special about it?

The human struck the rock again, lighting a pile of dry leaves. The flames spread rapidly, consuming the forest, while the sound of cracking branches filled the air, making the group panic and scatter in all directions.

Tao Mao, being fast, managed to escape the fire, but only got a bit of scorch marks, leaving it with dark stripes. Tao Chiep, heavy and slow, was burned badly before escaping. From then on, it remained blackened. The deer and the antelope managed to outrun the fire, but their fur was stained yellow from the smoke.

Tao Chiep, running desperately, turned to find the fire had surrounded it. It was about to be consumed by the flames when it stumbled upon the palm tree. The palm spoke first:

– Where are you running to in such a hurry?

– The fire is right behind me! Don’t you see? The fire will come here and burn you too, Palm!

The palm responded calmly:

– I have many layers of leaves. Even if the fire comes, I won’t be harmed. If you’re afraid, hide under my leaves, and I will shelter you from the flames.

Tao Chiep quickly took refuge under the palm’s leaves. Once the fire passed, Tao Chiep realized it had survived, but the palm’s leaves had wilted. Grateful for the palm’s kindness, Tao Chiep said:

– Thank you, Palm. You saved my life while sacrificing yourself. Let me repay you.

Tao Chiep broke off a tooth and inserted it into the palm’s trunk, saying:

– Since you’ve weakened yourself for me, I’ll give you this sharp tooth to help defend yourself from anyone who tries to harm you.

From then on, the palm tree grew long thorns, spreading out like an umbrella, shielding from the sun and rain. All creatures feared the sharp thorns and kept their distance, allowing the palm to spread across the hills. But humans, unlike the others, did not shy away. Instead, they used the palm’s leaves to cover their homes from the sun and rain.

The Legend of the Frangipani Tree is a Vietnamese folk tale that not only explains the origin of the frangipani tree but also celebrates the deep bond of friendship between a young boy and a fawn.

1. The Boy and the Fawn

Once upon a time, there was a poor boy who loved his mother dearly but had to live apart from her, working for a butcher who slaughtered pigs. The butcher sent him into the forest every day to gather wood for cooking and other tasks. At first, the boy followed older workers who showed him the way. But soon, he was able to go alone. Every few days, he took a detour to visit his mother, bringing her firewood and wild fruits like berries and guavas.

On the path to the mountain, the boy passed a small temple at the foot of the mountain. By the time he reached the spot where he gathered firewood, the sun was high in the sky. Looking down, he could never spot his mother's hut from afar, but he always tried, just to feel close to her.

One day, while cutting wood near a steep slope, the boy discovered a fawn trapped in a deep pit. The fawn was frightened and silent, looking around as if waiting for its mother. The boy searched for the fawn’s mother but saw only trees and heard only the wind whispering through the mountains. The boy carefully climbed down into the pit and gently lifted the fawn. Initially scared of the boy, the fawn quickly warmed up to him. The boy fed it a handful of fresh grass and offered it a tiny morsel of rice mixed with salt, which the fawn seemed to enjoy.

The boy wanted to take the fawn home to care for it, but he feared what the butcher would do if he found out. He knew the butcher often spoke about how he craved venison. Instead, the boy hoped that the fawn’s mother would return to reunite with her young. But as the day drew to a close, the boy could not wait any longer. He placed the fawn in a small cave and covered the entrance with rocks.

"Tomorrow, I'll come back to visit you, little fawn. Don't worry, sleep well," the boy whispered.

The next day, the boy returned to the forest, relieved to find the fawn still there. They greeted each other joyfully, with the fawn nuzzling his hand.

"Ah! You want more rice with salt, don't you?" the boy joked.

The boy continued to care for the fawn daily, cutting wood while the fawn stood by his side. With the fawn as his companion, the boy never felt tired.

From that day on, the boy and the fawn became inseparable, meeting every day but always parting ways at night. The boy dreamed of the fawn, worrying about its loneliness without its mother, and often played with it in his dreams.

2. The Evil Butcher in the Legend of the Frangipani Tree

One night, the butcher woke up early to prepare for slaughtering pigs. As he stepped outside, he overheard the boy mumbling in his sleep, words clear as if he were awake:

"Fawn, grow quickly, and may your antlers grow tall and beautiful!"

At first, the butcher thought nothing of it. But soon, he heard more reports from his servants about the boy's strange mutterings, particularly the phrase: "Fawn, grow quickly, and may your antlers grow tall and beautiful!"

The butcher, intrigued, suspected that the boy might actually have a fawn. He ordered one of his servants to follow the boy into the forest. The servant, cunning and observant, watched the boy and the fawn together every day. He reported back to the butcher, who immediately decided:

"Tomorrow, I will see for myself. We must capture the fawn at all costs!"

The next day, as the boy was joyfully meeting the fawn, the butcher and his two servants ambushed them. The boy, seeing them approach, shouted:

"Fawn, run!"

The fawn hesitated, but with a sharp push from the boy, it bolted into the forest. The butcher and his men gave chase, but the fawn blended into the trees and disappeared. Enraged, the butcher turned on the boy, beating him mercilessly before throwing a stone that struck the boy on the head. The boy fell to the ground, motionless, and the butcher, satisfied, left him there as he and his servants returned home.

The fawn, now far away, paused atop a hill and looked down. When it saw the butcher and his men returning, it hurried back to the boy. The fawn gently nuzzled the boy, breathing warmth into him. Slowly, the boy regained consciousness and, seeing the fawn, hugged it tightly, tears streaming down his face.

"Without you, I would have died!" he cried.

They wandered together deeper into the forest, avoiding the butcher. As they traveled, the boy's head wound throbbed, but he continued on, comforted by the fawn’s presence, which seemed to soothe his pain.

The next day, the butcher searched the forest but could find neither the fawn nor the boy. After a while, he grew worried and feared that the boy might have survived and escaped into the wilderness.

Days later, the boy and the fawn made their way to a distant part of the forest. They survived by eating wild fruits and grasses, but the boy began to long for his mother. He confided in the fawn:

"Fawn, I miss my mother so much. I need to visit her, but I’ll come back to you soon."

The fawn seemed to understand, gazing at the boy with eyes full of emotion. It nodded as if to say goodbye, and walked with him to the edge of the forest before turning back, standing on a rock and watching the boy leave.

3. The Boy's Heartfelt Farewell

The boy returned home to find his mother had heard nothing of his disappearance. She had no idea of the butcher’s cruelty. While visiting, the boy met his uncle, who had come to see the family. The boy told him everything, and the uncle, moved by the story, said:

"You must come with me. I’ll help you get an education and make something of yourself."

The boy was reluctant to leave the fawn behind but expressed his concern:

"But what about the fawn?"

"The fawn will be fine," reassured the uncle. "It will join a herd and live on."

"But will it remember me?" the boy asked, his heart heavy with love for the fawn.

"It will remember you. Don't worry. It's a smart fawn."

The boy, despite his sadness, agreed to go with his uncle. That night, as the boat drifted away, the boy stared back at the mountain, whispering:

"Fawn, wait for me. I’ll return to bring you home."

4. The Loyal Fawn

Years passed, and the boy, now grown, heard news of his mother’s passing. He thought of the fawn, believing it had found a herd and forgotten him. However, the fawn had not forgotten.

One day, the fawn, now older with antlers grown tall and strong, wandered to a village where a group of charcoal burners had left behind some salt. Upon tasting the salt, the fawn was reminded of the boy. It left its herd and returned to the place where it had once been cared for, to wait for the boy.

Days turned into years, and the fawn grew older, its antlers majestic but its body frail. The fawn waited by the old cave, where it had once hidden, until one day, it passed away there, under the shadow of the mountain.

5. The Frangipani Tree Legend

Many years later, the boy, now a man with a family, told his children the story of the fawn, recalling his parting words: "Fawn, grow tall and beautiful, with antlers as fine as can be."

The children urged their father to visit the old mountain and see if the fawn was still there. The father agreed, and together they journeyed to the forest, passing the temple. As they walked, they noticed a faint fragrance in the air, guiding them toward the cave. There, they found a strange plant growing, its branches resembling the antlers of a deer, and its leaves large like the ears of a fawn. It was the frangipani tree, which bloomed in the place where the fawn had passed away.

The villagers told them that many years ago, an old deer had died there, and soon after, a strange plant had appeared, its flowers sweet and fragrant. The father realized that this was the fawn, waiting for him all these years. Filled with sorrow, he prayed:

"Fawn, I wanted to come back sooner, but I couldn't. I’m sorry for not being there."

The man and his children planted a branch of the frangipani tree at the temple. As they left, they noticed the flowers blooming, a symbol of the fawn’s undying loyalty and waiting.

And so, the frangipani tree, with its flowers resembling the fawn’s antlers, became a symbol of enduring love and the bonds that transcend time.