Shelley Fu, illustrated by Joseph F. Abboreno, Chinese calligraphy by Dr. Shewin Fu,
Ho Yi the Archer and Other Classic Chinese Tales.
Linnet Books, 2000.

The stories are about creation, love and morality. Ho Yi the Archer and Other Classic Chinese Tales string the reader through trials and tribulations. There are stories of the Monkey King, the beautiful creator Pan Gu, the brave yet heart-broken archer Ho Yi and the lovelorn tale of the White Snake.

I enspecially enjoyed the story “The Man in the Moon.” Set during floods and famine, a boy saves a wounded sparrow. The sparrow, which is a god, is set free, but returns with a seed. The boy plants the seed and nourishes the plant until one day a giant grourd sprouts. Treasures pour out of the gourd like water. Alas, a neighborhood boy is envious and soon figures out a way to wound the same sparrow and trick it. This boy also receives a seed and a plant, but instead of a treasure filled gourd he is visited by an old wise man who convinces him there are more treasures on the silvery moon for the taking. On the moon the boy only needs to chop down a tree filled with jewels to be wealthy. Unfortunately, the tree will never fall, but the boy does not hear the warnings of the wise man. Sometimes, if you look up at the right time, the boy is still there on the moon bathing in his own greed, unable to chop down the treasure-filled tree. He stays to remind us that good will eventually be rewarded, and evil punished; it is just a matter of time.

I would recommend this book to readers interested in learning more about Chinese mythology. Shelley Fu offers historical context for each story, and comparisons to Greek and Roman mythological creatures. She also provides a pronunciation guide and a detailed list of characters. There is a list of further suggested readings and a multimedia resource guide. If you have not yet indulged in Chinese Mythology, this is the perfect book to start with.

Pei Pei Sung