I am currently looking for a traditional Japanese or Chinese story about loyalty. It could be a fairytale, a folktale, a famous historical novel, anything written or told before 1923.
The ideal story for my purposes would be about a young man, a prince, or someone like that, who is torn between two loyalties and has to make a decision about which one to support. (For those who know Avatar: the Last Airbender, someone like Prince Zuko would be ideal.)
Any ideas?
It’s not about a young man, but check out the plot of SONGS OF A NOMAD FLUTE. It’s the (mostly true) story of a Chinese princess, the lady Wen-Chi, abducted by the Mongols. Many years later, after she’s established a family, the Chinese send an embassy to rescue her. the crux of the story is the question of where her loyalties should lie.
Does that help?
Hugs and smiles,
Jean Marie
That does help. I will check it out. A princess is as good as a prince for my purposes. ;-)
I know of some historical parallels that fit, but unfortunately, nothing that works as a story for your purposes.
Historical characters would be fine!
The story of Prince Zuko — torn between regaining his honor in the eyes of his father and supporting his uncle whom he loves — is ideal and was what I used in the roleplaying version. But I don’t want to make up my own version of it because I want the stories to have some outside grounding…to give that bit of culture to children reading it.
But if there were a real situation that I could then adopt to resemble the Avatar situation. So…any Chinese or Japanese situation of a person put in a difficult positon regarding loyalty might work just fine. I could do my own version, but use the real names and a few facts about them as frosting.
Well, I was primarily thinking of the story of Lu Bei and Lu Bu in the Three Kingdoms period. It’s not exactly, but like some of the stories of the era, it fits, roughly, what you are looking for.
I’ll check it out.
It’s not about a young man, but check out the plot of SONGS OF A NOMAD FLUTE. It’s the (mostly true) story of a Chinese princess, the lady Wen-Chi, abducted by the Mongols. Many years later, after she’s established a family, the Chinese send an embassy to rescue her. the crux of the story is the question of where her loyalties should lie.
Does that help?
Hugs and smiles,
Jean Marie
I know of some historical parallels that fit, but unfortunately, nothing that works as a story for your purposes.
I have several books of Asian fairy tales. I’m guessing you want something child friendly. Will get back to you!
The story doesn’t have to start child friendly…I can make it child friendly later. ;-)
Some of these Japanese fairy tales, particularly the ones about the randy Buddhist monks or the snakes, are tough to make child friendly.
I’m not sure if it’s cultural what, but I’m not finding a lot. Will keep looking.
I’ve read quite a few good Japanese tales in the past, but not on the right subject.
Just for your amusement, here’s a link for Japanese tales sent by my Japanese sister-in-law:
http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Gaien/7211/
I have several books of Asian fairy tales. I’m guessing you want something child friendly. Will get back to you!
That does help. I will check it out. A princess is as good as a prince for my purposes. ;-)
Historical characters would be fine!
The story of Prince Zuko — torn between regaining his honor in the eyes of his father and supporting his uncle whom he loves — is ideal and was what I used in the roleplaying version. But I don’t want to make up my own version of it because I want the stories to have some outside grounding…to give that bit of culture to children reading it.
But if there were a real situation that I could then adopt to resemble the Avatar situation. So…any Chinese or Japanese situation of a person put in a difficult positon regarding loyalty might work just fine. I could do my own version, but use the real names and a few facts about them as frosting.
Well, I was primarily thinking of the story of Lu Bei and Lu Bu in the Three Kingdoms period. It’s not exactly, but like some of the stories of the era, it fits, roughly, what you are looking for.
I’ll check it out.
The story doesn’t have to start child friendly…I can make it child friendly later. ;-)
Some of these Japanese fairy tales, particularly the ones about the randy Buddhist monks or the snakes, are tough to make child friendly.
I’m not sure if it’s cultural what, but I’m not finding a lot. Will keep looking.
I’ve read quite a few good Japanese tales in the past, but not on the right subject.
Just for your amusement, here’s a link for Japanese tales sent by my Japanese sister-in-law:
http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Gaien/7211/