''How the Moon Became Beautiful''

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Many folktales tell the story of how something in nature developed. Below are some examples.

• "How the Tiger Got His Stripes"
• "Why the Dog Hates the Cat"
• "Why the Sun and Moon Live in the Sky"
• "How the Rabbit Lost His Tail"

The Chinese folktale in this lesson tells how a young lady helped the moon to become beautiful.

Read the first part of the folktale now. As you read, think about how you could present the story to your friends, family, or classmates. Consider what kind of images you would like to use.

"How the Moon Became Beautiful" Chinese Folktale

The Moon is very beautiful with his round, bright face which shines with soft and gentle light on all the world of man. But once there was a time when he was not so beautiful as he is now. Six thousand years ago the face of the Moon became changed in a single night. Before that time his face had been so dark and gloomy that no one liked to look at him, and for this reason he was always very sad.

One day he complained to the flowers and to the stars—for they were the only things that would ever look in his face. He said, "I do not like to be the Moon. I wish I were a star or a flower. If I were a star, even the smallest one, some great general would care for me; but alas! I am only the Moon and no one likes me. If I could only be a flower and grow in a garden where the beautiful earth women come, they would place me in their hair and praise my fragrance and beauty. Or, if I could even grow in the wilderness where no one could see, the birds would surely come and sing sweet songs for me. But I am only the Moon and no one honors me."

The stars answered and said, "We cannot help you. We were born here and we cannot leave our places. We never had anyone to help us. We do our duty, we work all the day and twinkle in the dark night to make the skies more beautiful.—But that is all we can do," they added, as they smiled coldly at the sorrowful Moon.

Then the flowers smiled sweetly and said, "We do not know how we can help you. We live always in one place—in a garden near the most beautiful maiden in all the world. As she is kind to everyone in trouble we will tell her about you. We love her very much and she loves us. Her name is Tseh-N'io (pronounced "Seh-Nyo") ." Still the Moon was sad. So one evening he went to see the beautiful maiden Tseh-N'io. And when he saw her he loved her at once.

• What do you think of this story so far?
• Do you think Tseh-N'io can help the moon become more beautiful? How can she do it?

Move to the Got It? section to see how much you remember about this story and to read the rest of it!