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Manchurian Folk Tales, Part Two: Great Hunters and an Orphaned Heroine
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20330 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
6 / 1992 |
2,847 Words |
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Retold by Pack Carnes
Pack Carnes is professor of Japanese studies and folklore at
Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois. He is the author
of numerous books and articles on language studies and
folkfore. Part one, which appeared in last month's issue, told
stories of the origins of the Manchu people. |
The Manchu language, altogether different from and unrelated to Chinese, is an Altaic language that sadly is nearly (if not yet completely) extinct. With the loss of the language there is a concomitant loss in the oral transmission of these peoples' traditional tales. Fortunately, a significant number have been preserved by effective collecting among the Manchurian and the Mongolians. The collecting continues, although virtually all Manchurian folk tales are now to be found in Chinese, with very few in Mongolian. Still, much that is Manchu, even much of the individual Manchu clans and tribes, shows through, giving us a rare glimpse into what this fascinating society once was.
The inhabitants of modern Manchuria lead industrialized and urbanized lives. But traditionally they have been regarded as great hunters. Many Manchurian folktales and a number of other folk arts, especially dance, celebrate this subject. The region is also a source of expensive furs, especially sable, which, together with ginseng, are important regional exports.
In Manchurian folkfore, great heroes often are great hunters. Some are very famous, such as Hailibu and Havanchin. One of the best known tales, in which the hunter becomes the savior of his people, is the story of Ussuri-khan, the leader of the Ussuri-hala. He was loved by his people because he always shared the fruits of his hunting. Invariably, he was successful: If prey were to be found, Ussuri-khan would find it.
The noble Ussuri-Khan
One day, as Ussuri-khan entered the forest, he saw a small fish gasping out on the riverbank. Ussuri-khan returned the fish to the river, and it swam away. The next day, as Ussuri-khan traveled the same path, a young boy approached, introduced himself as that little fish, and asked the hunter what reward he would like for saving the fish's life. Ussuri-khan declined the offer, saying that the Ussuri-hala never accepted gifts from strangers. But he was finally persuaded to accept a present for each bowl that would never be empty. And the people prospered through the doings of Ussuri-khan.
One day, as Ussuri-khan was out hunting, the boy again appeared. Breathlessly, he told Ussuri-khan to flee as quickly as possible, as a great flood was about to destroy the land of the Ussuri-hala. The boy warned Ussuri-khan to say nothing of this, for if he did, he would be turned into the blue smoke of
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