Since ancient times, the Yellow River has brought great troubles to the Chinese people. Every year it overflowed and carried away the well-being of the population in its waters. Instead of building dams and dams, dark, deceived people performed various religious rituals to tame the wrath of the god of the Yellow River. There are many legends and fairy tales about this among the people. Here is one of them.
A long time ago, in the state of Wei, there lived a wise and fair man named Xi Men-bao. He was appointed ruler of Region E, which was located along the banks of the Yellow River.
The ruler was not pleased with the sight of his new possessions. Wherever you look, there is poverty and hunger.
“I want to know,” he said to himself, “why my people are so unhappy and poor.” And, dressed as a simple peasant, Xi Men-bao secretly went through the villages.
What did he learn? Here's what.
The ruler of the region had assistants: a tax collector and a chief of guard. These helpers did nothing but rob and ruin the peasants. Together with the shamans who taught the people to believe in the gods and make sacrifices to them, they came up with the idea of every year giving the most beautiful girl as a wife to the god of the Yellow River in order to appease him.
For the wedding ceremony of the god of the Yellow River, they collected a lot of money from the residents and divided it among themselves.
Every year, the shaman walked through the villages and looked for the most beautiful girl for the god of the Yellow River.
“If the god of the Yellow River does not receive a beautiful bride, he will become angry, send his waters to the crops and homes of the peasants and destroy them,” she said.
All the rich people gave the shaman rich gifts so that she would not choose their daughters as her bride. Therefore, every year a beautiful girl from a poor peasant family was thrown to the bottom of the Yellow River. On the wedding day, the unfortunate bride was dressed up and placed on a small raft decorated with flags and multi-colored lanterns. The raft was launched down the river to the sound of music. The raft floated until the waters of the Yellow River hid it in its abyss: this meant that the god of the Yellow River had accepted his bride.
And so, when the day of the new wedding of the god of the Yellow River arrived, Xi Men-bao himself came to see off the bride. He saw a small raft on which a girl was sitting, her head covered with a red scarf.
“Let me see if the bride of the Yellow River god is beautiful enough,” said Xi Men-bao.
He lifted the handkerchief, looked into the girl’s tear-stained face and stepped back: “What, do you want to deceive the god of the Yellow River?” Does he really need such an ugly bride? Yes, she’s still crying! - he said angrily to his assistants and sternly ordered the girl - Get out of here now, you are not worthy to be the wife of the god of the Yellow River!
The girl quickly stood up and disappeared into the crowd of delighted mourners.
Then Xi Men-bao turned to the shaman and said loudly: “We cannot now find a girl worthy of the god of the Yellow River, and therefore you will have to go to him yourself.” Tell God that as soon as we choose another bride, we will immediately send her to him.
Hearing the ruler’s order, the shaman trembled, her tongue stopped obeying her.
- Should I go t-to the river? she asked. - After all, I will drown! - The bride was not afraid of drowning, but you are afraid! - Xi Men-bao answered her angrily. - Well, hurry up, hurry up and come back now!
And he ordered his soldiers to put the shaman on a raft and push it into the river.
They waited a long time for the shaman to return, but she never returned.
- Why doesn’t the shaman return? Maybe she got lost? Then we'll send her assistant after her. — Xi Men-bao ordered the soldiers to push the shaman’s assistant into the river.
But she didn’t return either.
Xi Men-bao assumed even greater severity and shouted: “Oh, worthless ones!” Instead of fulfilling my instructions, they deliberately anger the god of the Yellow River! You, tax collector, will have to convey my instructions to God. Come on, hurry up, don't make him even more angry!
The pale and trembling tax collector did not move. The soldiers had to forcefully push him into the waves of the Yellow River. And then Xi Men-bao ordered the chief of the guard to be sent there as well.
After this, Xi Men-bao told the people the truth about these deceivers, took away the stolen wealth from the villains and distributed it to the poor. Since then, they stopped giving girls as sacrifices to the god of the Yellow River.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru