The Three Evils
(A Chinese
Folktale re-written by BoSt)
Eventually a
new Official was posted to that district; before the new magistrate formally
took up office however, surreptitiously (covertly and under disguise) he first
went about the countryside and listened to the citizen’s complaints. They in
unison told him that there were three great evils in that district.
The
magistrate still under disguise, decided to in person call on Dschou Tschu.
Late that
night when most decent folks were fast asleep, the inebriated Dschou Tschu
returned from the tavern, along the way slapping his sword and singing in a
loud voice.
When he
reached his house he noted the man with his head down seated by the door and
asked: “Who are you; why are you weeping here so pitifully?”
The
magistrate raised his head and glaring at Dschou, replied: “I am weeping
because of the people’s distress.”
Dschou Tschu
grimaced then threw his head back and guffawed.
“You are
mistaken, my friend,” said he. “Revolt is seething round about us like boiling
water in a kettle. But here, in our little corner of the land, all is quiet and
peaceful. The harvest has been abundant, corn is plentiful, and all go happily
about their work. When you talk to me about distress I have to think of the man
who groans without being sick. And who are you, tell me that, which instead of
grieving for yourself, are grieving for others? And what are you doing
loitering at my door in this ungodly hour?”
“I am the
new Magistrate,” replied the other. “Since I left my litter I have been looking
about in the neighborhood. I find the people are honest and simple in their way
of life, and everyone has sufficient to wear and to eat. This is all just as
you state. Yet, strange to say, when the elders come together, they always sigh
and complain. And if they are asked why, they answer: ‘There are three great
evils in our district!’ I have come to ask you to do away with two of them, as
to the third… perhaps I had better remain silent. And this is the reason I weep
before your door.”
“Well, what
are these evils?” enquired Dschou Tschu. “Speak freely, and tell me openly all
that you know!”
“The first
evil,” said the Magistrate “is the evil dragon at the long bridge, which causes
the water to rise so that man and beast are drowned in the river. The second
evil is the tiger with the white forehead, which dwells in the hills. And the
third evil, Dschou Tschu—is you!”
The crimson
hue, the blush of shame swiftly infused the young man’s cheeks, and he bowed
and said: “You have come here from afar to be the Magistrate of this district,
and yet you feel such sympathy for the people? I was born in this place and yet
I have only made our elders grieve. What sort of a creature must I be? I beg
that you return to your residence; fear not, I will see to it that matters
improve!”
Dschou Tschu
at once took off and ran all the way without stopping till he reached the
hills. There he hunted the tiger out of his cave. The latter leaped into the
air so that the whole forest was shaken as though by a storm. Next he came
rushing up, roaring, and stretching out his claws savagely to seize his pray.
Dschou nimbly stepped back a pace, and the tiger landed on the ground
directly in front of him. Then he thrust the tiger’s neck to the ground with
his left hand, and beat him without stopping with his right, until he lay dead
on the earth. Dschou loaded the tiger on his back and went straight home.
Dschou Tschu subsequently went to the long bridge. He undressed, took his sword in his hand, and thus dived into the icy water. No sooner had he disappeared, than there was a boiling and hissing, and the waves began to foam and billow. It sounded like the mad beating of thousands of hoofs.
After a time a stream of blood shot up from the depths, and the water of the river turned red. Eventually triumphant Dschou, holding the dragon’s decapitated head in his hand, rose out of the waves.
He went to
the Magistrate and reported, with a bow: “I have cut off the dragon’s head, and
have also done away with the tiger. Thus I have happily accomplished your two
commands. And now I shall wander away so that you may be rid of the third evil
as well. My Lord, please keep watch over my countrymen and, relay to the elders
that they need sorrow no more!”
When he had
said this he enlisted as a soldier. In combat against the robbers he gained a
great reputation and once, when the latter were pressing him hard, and he saw
that he could not save himself, he bowed to the East and said: “The day has
come at last when I can atone for my sin with my life!” Then he offered his
neck to the sword and died.
Fin
