Daily in April will be posted a written story: 'How Dragons Shaped China'; the Hindu Ramayana from SITA's point of view; and from Korea, 'Taming of Tiger'; from my days of telling verbal stories at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. These tradi...
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The Miller is the second grandson of the Heavenly Prince Hwan-Ung, the son of the First Earthly Emperor Dan Gum. When he took the fork in the road to travel to his future, the Miller spent the night underneath a huge tree in the forest. That night, he heard shouting and arguing. Scared, the Miller climbed the tree. Looking down, he saw two men bent over grabbing into a chest. He heard the clanking and clinking of coins. Then the two men got into a fist fight.
The Miller frightened for his life shook the tree to make noise and clanked his millstones together shouting, "Punishment from the heavens shall fall square on your head, scoundrels." With that said, the Miller slammed the two stones vigorously together sounding like thunder and sparks flew. One stone he threw from the tree. The thieves screaming broke into a run leaving their treasure chest.
In the morning, the Miller climbed down the tree, no one there only the chest full of golden coins and jewels. Since the Miller had no idea from where the jewels and coins came, he carried the chest along with his millstones to the next village. He bought a nice big home and opened a milling shop. His stones ground the millet and rice for the farmers that lived in the valley. He married a beautiful name that lived in the Village.
Today he walks in the valley by the river with his millstones for grinding and with bags of ground millet and rice to sell at the next village's market
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Meanwhile, Tiger climbs from the pit, after resting a couple of days walks down the mountain into the belly of the valley. He follows a stream that connects to a river. Resting in the grasses meekly, humbly having lost much arrogance and vanity, Tiger is hungry.
He watches a man eating his lunch along the river. This man's face resembles the Heavenly Prince, except very stout and short, and when he speaks his voice is too deep.
Tiger notices a pheasant's nest holding eggs. He crawled close to eat the eggs. The pheasants squeal an uproar flying up and down squawking and flying at Tiger. The man notices, he yells then throws a millstone at Tiger. The stone hits his paw, and Tiger yells out, "You hurt me! I no longer can hunt."
The man on hearing Tiger shouts, "Please forgive me, honored Tiger, I protected the sacred pheasants that guard their eggs. I meant you no harm."
Licking his paw, Tiger watches the man. The pheasants fly around him and say, "Thank you, Miller, for saving our eggs from violent, cruel Tiger."
While Tiger can be good, now he is with his evilest shamanistic powers wanting revenge and plans while glaring at the Miller.
Eventually, the Miller packs his lunch, bags, and stones and continues along the river. Even though his paw aches, Tiger races ahead into a clearing. Night approaches; the man will need a place to stay.
The Guard of the West, the King of Beast honored by God Shiva, Tiger gives way his evil shamanistic side. Tiger is to capture the Miller and eat him. Tiger creates a hut with a garden and sweet herbs. He becomes an old woman with a hurt arm weeks in her garden. Tiger waits for the Miller who comes just as evening settles into the grasses in the valley.
The Miller walks into the clearing and sees the welcoming hut with the old woman working in her garden. He says to her, "What a beautiful evening. I miss judged how long I had to walk to the next village. May I spend the night here?"
Smiling the old woman says, "My honor and I have extra foods for dinner. Yes, I take you are a Miller."
"I have ground millet and rice to share with you."
During the delicious meal, the Miller begins to worry about the smile on the old woman's face, as if he were the meal. The Miller asks, "Why do you live up the valley from the village with your hurt arm?"
"I wait for my revenge."
Frighten but curious, the Miller asks, "You have an enemy?"
"Miller, you see my hurt arm, you did this!"
"Old woman, I have never seen you before."
The Tiger glares into the Miller's eyes, "The stone you throw hurt my paw. Before I die, I'm going to eat you." Tiger places his wounded paw on the Miller's arm and opens his mouth wide to show his sharp teeth.
"I did not intend to hurt your paw only to scare you from the royal, sacred birds of Buddha."
Tiger, the hunter and wrestles his victim to the floor.
The Miller begs, "Tiger, you are an honored beast of our land, in fact, King of the Beast and Guard of the West. I implore you: please have pity on me, one who admires you."
Tiger draws back and peers at the Miller who weeps, "I have a family and three children."
Tiger laughs and lets the Miller go, who gets on his knees and begs, "Please, great Tiger, your are free and courageous, while careful, you can be kind. You are royalty from the Heavens. I admire your strength, powers, and abilities."
"Okay Miller, if you ring the huge bells before dawn that hangs in the temple in the forest of the mountain we see from here, you may go free."
"Impossible, I am your prisoner. How can I ring a bell so far away? Just eat me, now."
"No, I want to see you suffer as I will when I die."
"Tiger, this is cruel, I meant you no harm only to protect the pheasant's eggs."
Silently for hours, Tiger patrols the Miller while swinging his tail.
Just before dawn in the far distance, a bell rings, "Bong!" The air vibrates and echoes the note. Tiger growls, "The Gods guarded you."
The Miller finds himself sitting on the ground with his stones and bags of ground millet and rice, which he leaves. He hikes up the mountain until he finds a deserted temple; no one is in sight. Then on the bell is blood and underneath a pheasant sprawls with a broken wing. He gently picks up the royal, sacred bird, "You saved my life."
The Miller walks from the temple with the pheasant safely cuddled in his arms and down the path along the river to his village. The Miller shows the injured pleasant to his wife and children and tells his story. They are to tend the pheasant until he comes back. The Miller goes for his millstones and bags of grain. He wonders if the Tiger will die full of revenge.
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Check SOURCES on the Bibliography for 'Taming of Tiger'
There are only 2,000 Tigers left in our world and causes great sadness for this mightiest of earthly beasts! ~~~~~~~~~~ from millions.
😋 I Hoped you enjoy the segue of the stories about Tiger as a character in Korean History more than 4,500 years ago. Please leave a ⭐️ vote and a comment to make telling better.
