Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part B

The story in this section of the Chinese Fairy Tales unit that I've chosen to focus my reading notes on is "The Three Evils."

This story centers around a very strong man named Dschou Tschu, who was so strong no one could go up against him. With this strength came a lack of discipline, and he caused fights everywhere he went. He was entitled and enjoyed drinking, stealing, and causing conflict with those who offended him. He went on for years acting as a nuisance to the neighborhood he lived in. Then a new mandarin came to the district. 

The new mandarin made his way through the district, listening to the complaints of the district's residents, who told him that there were three great evils of the district. He went and wept on the doorstep of Dschou Tschu, who arrived after a bit of drinking at the tavern. Dschou asked who was weeping there, and the mandarin told him he was weeping due to the distress of the people. This caused Dschou to erupt into laughter. 

The reader is then given the perspective of Dschou Tschu, who seems to think that all is "quiet and peaceful" in their town. He backs this up by referencing abundant harvest, and how all are able to go on happily with their work. He then demands that the mandarin identify himself. 

The mandarin does as asked, identifying himself, describing the complaints of the residents. He references the three evils, which intrigues Dschou. He asks that the man speak freely, telling him all that he knows. 

The mandarin goes on to tell him of the evils. The first evil is a dragon that causes the water to rise, drowning all in the river. The second evil is a tiger that dwells in the hills. The third evil is Dschou Tschu himself. 

Dschou feels shameful at this revelation, asking the mandarin to go home and he will improve matters. 

To reconcile this, Dschou kills the tiger and cuts off the dragon's head. He goes to the mandarin reporting what he has done, telling him he will wander away so the town will be rid of the third evil as well. He asks the mandarin to watch over his country.

Dschou then enlisted as a soldier and regained his honor. When the time came for him to die, he acknowledged his sins, saying "The day has come at last when I can atone for my sin with my life!" He then offered his neck to the sword and died. 

I like this story because of the redemption arc given to Dschou. At first, he used his abnormal strength for evil, doing as he wished amongst the town. But in order to see the evil he had committed, he needed them to be pointed out for him, which the mandarin did. He atoned for these evils by first ridding the town of the other evils, then ridding the town of himself, the third evil. He reclaimed his honor and reputation by using his strengths for good, giving his life for his country.

 

("Portrait of Jiang Shunfu", Source: Wikimedia)

Bibliography:

"The Three Evils"

Story source:

The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921).