Top 4 Most Meaningful Fairy Tales About the Origins of Humanity

One day, a vibrant tree named 'Si' stood atop a mountain when a powerful storm struck, causing it to fall. From the tree emerged two birds, who made their nest in the Hào cave – now known as 'Hang Ma Chung Dien' in Phù Nhiên village, Ngọc Hào commune, Gia Viễn district, Ninh Bình province.

The birds laid 100 eggs, three of which were notably large and transformed into humans. These humans, named 'Ay' and 'Ua,' were the first members of the indigenous tribe. After five months passed without any other eggs hatching, Ay and Ua ventured into the forest. They met 'Dam-Cu-Cha' and 'Gia-Cha-Giang' who expressed their concerns. The wise women advised them to place the first 50 eggs between sacred grass mats, arranging them atop the stones and turning them over. After 50 days, all 100 eggs would hatch.

Ay and Ua thanked the deities and followed the advice. Upon returning to their cave, they did as instructed. After 50 days, 97 eggs hatched into various tribes: 50 in the plains and 47 in the mountains, thus creating the Mường, Mán, Mèo, Tho-Dan, and Tho-Trang peoples.

This story is a creation of the minority ethnic group, reflecting their quest for origins and their affirmation of the unity of different tribes.

In ancient times, in the land of Lạc Việt, there was a deity named Lạc Long Quân, a dragon god. His mother, Lạc Long Nữ, was a goddess who resided in a magnificent underwater palace.

Lạc Long Quân possessed incredible strength and magical powers, which he used to protect the people by vanquishing dangerous creatures such as Hồ Tinh, Ngư Tinh, Mộc Tinh, and many other monsters. He also taught the people essential skills like farming, animal husbandry, hunting, fishing, and building homes.

At the same time, in the northern mountains, there lived a beautiful woman named Âu Cơ, descended from the divine Thần Nông lineage. Upon hearing about the land of Lạc Việt, a place rich with rare flowers and herbs, she decided to visit.

When Âu Cơ met Lạc Long Quân, they fell in love and married. After their union, Âu Cơ gave birth to a bag containing one hundred eggs, which hatched into one hundred handsome and strong sons. Life seemed perfect, but one day Lạc Long Quân told Âu Cơ that he was a dragon from the sea, while she was of a fairy lineage from the mountains, making it impossible for them to stay together for long. He proposed they each take fifty children: he would take his to the sea, and she would take hers to the mountains, guarding their territories and promising to reunite in times of need.

Âu Cơ then took fifty children to the mountains, where the eldest son was crowned as king, taking the title Hùng Vương and establishing the Phong Châu capital. The royal dynasty continued for many generations, spreading its influence far and wide. Over time, the population grew rapidly.

The Dragon and Fairy Tale is one of the most popular legends about the origins of the Vietnamese people, symbolizing national pride and unity. It conveys the message that all Vietnamese people share the same ancestry and must stand together to build a strong and prosperous nation.

Long ago, a couple went hunting in the forest and caught a mole. The mole begged for its life, promising to reveal a secret. Feeling compassion, the couple spared it. The mole warned them of an impending flood that would devastate the land, advising them to hollow out a large log, prepare enough food for seven days and nights, and seal themselves inside with beeswax. After seven days, they should emerge.

The couple followed the advice and urged their neighbors to do the same, but no one believed them. As they finished their preparations, thunder rumbled and dark clouds gathered. A torrential downpour and strong winds flooded the land, drowning all living creatures. The couple, sheltered in their log, survived the disaster. After seven days, they emerged to find a desolate world, with no sign of life.

Not long after, the wife gave birth to a gourd. Noticing her husband's sadness, she placed the gourd on the cooking shelf. One day, while returning from their fieldwork, they heard laughter from the kitchen. Curious, they retrieved the gourd and, upon listening closely, heard voices coming from inside. The wife gently pierced the gourd with a heated stick.

To their amazement, tiny people began to emerge from the gourd. First, came the Khơ Mú people, who were blackened with soot. Then followed the Thai, Mường, Dao, Hmông, Ê-đê, Ba Na, and Kinh peoples. These were the ancestors of the ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam today.

This story serves not only to explain the origins of the various ethnic groups in Vietnam but also offers a sincere message for future generations. Despite differences in skin color and language, all people are members of the same family, bound by love and mutual support.

Legend has it that after the death of the ancient god Bàn Cổ, the world remained desolate, void of any human presence. After many years, a new figure emerged, the matriarch of humankind, Nữ Oa. She was a solitary figure amidst the vast expanse of earth and sky, lonely and longing for companionship. To relieve her isolation, she decided to create life. One day, she mixed water with golden clay and began molding humans from the earth. First, she shaped a man, then a woman. Remarkably, after she completed each figure, she would blow life into it, and the clay person would come to life, capable of movement and speech. For every figure she shaped, a living being would emerge.

These newly created beings formed a community around Nữ Oa, enthusiastically calling her 'Mother'. She continued her work tirelessly, creating more and more humans. Eventually, tired, she paused her efforts. However, there was still much golden clay left. Discontent with the excess, she picked up a thick rope and swung it at the remaining clay. To her surprise, as she swung the rope, the clay scattered into countless living beings, varying in size. These new beings grew, worked together, and procreated, passing their legacy down through generations. The children laughed and played, and as they matured, they too became parents, continuing the cycle of life.

Nữ Oa is a revered deity in Chinese mythology, said to be the daughter of Bàn Cổ, the god of creation. This tale not only explains the origin of humankind but also reflects the deep gratitude of the Chinese people towards the goddess who gave birth to humanity.