The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China
retold by Aaron Shepard
The Magic Brocade – A Tale of China
Short Essay
Introduction
The story “The Magic Brocade” retold by Aaron Shepard, is a Chinese folktale about love, art, and devotion. It tells how a widow and her son, Chen, face many struggles for a magical brocade that brings them happiness in the end.
The Widow’s Dream
An old widow was famous for weaving beautiful brocades. One day, she saw a painting of Sun Palace and wished to visit it. Her son Chen advised her to weave it instead. She worked day and night until the brocade was finished. But suddenly, a strong wind carried it away, leaving her heartbroken. She asked Chen to bring it back.
Chen’s Brave Journey
Chen travelled east, met an old woman, and rode her horse through Fiery Mountain and Icy Sea without complaint. He reached Sun Palace, where fairy ladies were copying his mother’s brocade. One fairy, Li-en, promised to return it after finishing their work.
The Magic Reward
When Chen returned home, the brocade rose into the air and became a real palace. The widow and Chen stepped inside, where the fairies welcomed them. The widow became their teacher, and Chen married Li-en.
Conclusion
The story teaches that love, courage, and patience can overcome every challenge, and true beauty comes from dedication and kindness.
The Magic Brocade – A Tale of China in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights 👇
The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China
retold by Aaron Shepard
Detailed Essay
Introduction
The story “The Magic Brocade” retold by Aaron Shepard, is a Chinese folktale about love, art, and devotion. It tells how a widow and her son, Chen, face many struggles for a magical brocade that brings them happiness in the end.
The Widow and Her Son Chen
The story began in China, where an old widow lived with her only son, Chen. The widow was famous everywhere for her beautiful brocades. She used silver, gold, and colored silk threads to weave pictures of flowers, birds, and animals that looked almost alive. Everyone admired her weaving and said that no one could make brocades finer than hers.
The Widow’s Visit to the Marketplace
One day, the widow went to the marketplace to sell her brocades. She sold them quickly because people loved her work. While buying household items, she suddenly noticed a painted scroll hanging in one of the stalls. The painting showed a grand palace in bright colors surrounded by lovely gardens and maidens. The shopkeeper told her it was the Sun Palace, home of many fairy ladies living far to the east. The widow was so enchanted that she felt as if she wanted to live there. Even though it cost her almost all her money, she bought the scroll and returned home.
The Idea of Weaving the Sun Palace
At home, the widow showed the scroll to her son Chen and told him how much she wished she could visit that beautiful place. Chen thought for a moment and then suggested that she could weave the palace as a brocade so that it would feel like being there. The widow found this idea wonderful and decided to start at once. She set up her loom and began to weave day and night without proper rest. Her eyes became red and her fingers sore, but she could not stop because she felt like she was truly at the Sun Palace while weaving.
The Brocade Disappears
Since the widow was too busy weaving, Chen earned money by selling firewood. After many months of hard work, the widow finally finished the brocade. It was so beautiful and realistic that Chen said it looked like one could walk right into it. Suddenly, a strong wind blew through their house, lifted the brocade, and carried it out the window toward the east. The widow fainted in shock, and Chen stayed beside her until she woke up. When she awoke, she weakly told him that she could not live without the brocade and begged him to bring it back. Chen promised to find it and left home immediately.
Chen’s Journey Begins
Chen walked eastward for many days and weeks, searching for the brocade but finding no sign of it. At last, he came to a lonely hut where an old woman sat outside smoking a pipe. When he told her his story, the woman said she knew about the brocade of Sun Palace. She explained that the fairy ladies had taken it to use as a pattern for their own weaving. She offered him her horse, saying it would guide him to the palace, but warned him about two dangerous places he must cross: the Fiery Mountain and the Icy Sea. She told him that if he made any sound of complaint in the fire, he would be burnt to ashes, and if he spoke while crossing the ice, he would freeze solid. Chen bravely said he must still go, for his mother’s life depended on it.
The Fiery Mountain and the Icy Sea
Chen climbed on the horse, which galloped straight toward the Fiery Mountain. Flames surrounded them, and the heat burned Chen’s skin, but he made no sound and continued silently. When they came down the other side, his burns were completely healed. Then they reached the Icy Sea, covered with floating ice. The horse leapt from one ice floe to another while icy waves soaked Chen. He was freezing but still kept silent. When they reached the other side, he suddenly felt warm and dry again. Chen had successfully passed both dangerous trials.
Arrival at Sun Palace
After crossing the sea, Chen finally reached the Sun Palace, which looked exactly like his mother’s brocade. He went inside a great hall where many fairy ladies sat at looms weaving copies of his mother’s design. The fairies were amazed to see a human in their palace. One of them, named Li-en, came forward to greet him politely. She was very beautiful, and Chen could hardly speak for a moment. When he told her that he had come for his mother’s brocade, she said they admired his mother’s work and had not been able to make one as fine. She requested to keep it for just one more day so they could try to finish their own copies. Chen agreed because he wanted to save his mother’s life.
Chen and Li-en’s Growing Friendship
As the fairies worked to finish their brocades, Chen sat near Li-en and talked with her. He told her about his life on earth, and she told him about her life in the Sun Palace. They exchanged many smiles and friendly glances, and a quiet bond grew between them. At night, the fairies continued to work under the light of a magic pearl. Chen fell asleep, and one by one the fairies left, except Li-en, who worked till dawn. When she finished, she realized that her own brocade was good, but the widow’s was still better. She wished that the widow could come to teach them. Then she had a clever idea—she embroidered a small picture of herself onto the widow’s brocade and said a soft magic spell before leaving.
Chen Returns Home
When Chen awoke the next morning, the palace was quiet. Li-en was gone, but the brocade was ready. He rolled it up and hurried to his horse. He crossed the Icy Sea and Fiery Mountain once again safely. When he reached the old woman’s hut, she told him to hurry because his mother was dying. She gave him magic shoes that could make him run faster than ever. Chen put them on and raced home with great speed.
The Brocade’s Magic and Reunion
When Chen reached home, he found his mother lying weak and pale in bed. He showed her the brocade, and immediately she grew stronger and full of color again. She asked for more light, so they took it outside. Suddenly, a strong wind came again and lifted the brocade into the air. It grew larger and larger until it became a real palace—the same Sun Palace from the picture. On its steps stood Li-en, smiling and calling them to step inside. Amazed, Chen and his mother held hands and stepped into the brocade. In an instant, they found themselves standing before the Sun Palace.
Life at Sun Palace
Li-en and the other fairies welcomed the widow warmly. Li-en asked the widow to stay and teach them the secrets of her weaving, and the widow happily agreed. Chen too was happy because he loved Li-en deeply. Eventually, the widow became the teacher of the fairies, and Chen married Li-en. It was said that no brocades in the world were more beautiful than the ones they made together at the Sun Palace.
Moral and Message
This story taught that hard work, love, and perseverance always bring rewards. Chen’s love for his mother made him brave and patient during his journey. The widow’s creativity and passion for weaving inspired even the fairies. The tale also showed that art and kindness have magical power—they can connect human and divine worlds and bring happiness to everyone.
The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China retold by Aaron Shepard in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights 👇
Thanks for Reading Friends
📚 LET'S LEARN TOGETHER 📚
Banumathi K's Literature Insights
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
No comments:
Post a Comment