Week 6 Storytelling: Notscha vs. Sun Wu Kung

Notscha could not just stand and watch the heavenly warrior sent by the Lord of the Heavens get beat down so quickly by Sun Wu Kung. He would not let this childish ape win and get away with this! How could Sun so easily dodge and maneuver his way around this so-called elite warrior? It was incredible but at the same infuriating for Notscha, who had spent his whole life training to become one of the best warriors of the Heavens. Notscha snapped out of it as the warrior fell next to him and took his last breaths as warden of the Heavens. It was now time for the prince to take charge.

Notscha stepped up and cried out in a loud voice, "You wretched ape! I am Prince Notscha and I have been commanded by the Lord of the Heavens himself to take you as prisoner! You will stand no chance against me."

Sun Wu Kung couldn't help but giggle a little bit as he looked the prince up and down. He couldn't have been more than sixteen years old, but he showed resolve that not many people could muster in the face of battle. He could see the fierceness in the young warrior's eyes; they were unrelenting.

"Time to get serious," Sun Wu Kung thought to himself.

Before he could even ready himself, Notscha was upon him, swinging his sword with a force that would've taken off Sun's head had he not ducked in the nick of time. Sun Wu countered with his own sword, swinging it up and to the left. Blow after blow after blow, both fighters could not get the best of each other. The whole world could sense the fight going on. Each time their swords clashed, the ground trembled and quaked. Every time that Notscha thought he was gaining an upper hand, Sun Wu would lash back with even more finesse and power than expected.

Sun Wu was slightly impressed. He had a feeling this kid could put up a fight, but he wasn't expecting this.

"I need to end this soon before I get tired and sloppy," thought Sun Wu as he danced around Notscha trying to buy a little more time so he could figure out his next move.

Sun Wu glanced around, looking for anything that would give him an edge against this kid. A few feet away, he saw something glistening in the light. It was a sharp rock! One that could easily end this fight. All he had to do was get to it without alerting Notscha.

At the same time, Notscha was getting overwhelmed. He could not keep this up much longer even if he wanted to. He could feel his legs burning from darting around trying to avoid Sun Wu's quick moves. Ever so slowly, momentum was shifting towards Sun Wu.

"What do I do now? Do I give up? Do I surrender? I can't keep up no matter what I do," thought Notscha.

Doubt was clouding Notscha's mind, so much so that he was beginning to lose focus. Fatigue and inattention was a recipe for death, and Notscha knew it. He took a quick moment to shake his head to rid the negative thoughts from his head. In that split moment, Sun Wu took his chance. He dived to the ground and scooped up the stone with his free hand, all in one motion. He turned towards Notscha, and with all his might, drove the stone clean through his shoulder. Blood spattered everywhere!

Sun Wu Kung spoke fiercely, "Take this as a warning and never come back again to find me. I shall let you live this once. Next time you feel the urge to come after me, think of this pain and you will no longer desire to cross paths with me. I am the Great Saint Who Is Heaven's Equal and I will not be defeated".

And with that, Sun Wu Kung was free to live peacefully and reign over his mountain.

Sun Wu Kung at a Beijing opera; Wikimedia

Author's Note

I chose to take the story of the immortal Monkey King, Sun Wu Kung, and elaborate on the epic fight between Notscha and Sun Wu Kung. In the original story, Sun Wu feels disrespected after he is given a job as stable master in heaven. After hearing that it is a worthless job, Sun Wu becomes infuriated and flees heaven to go back to the mountain over which he reigns. The Lord of the Heavens sends warriors to catch him as prisoner, but Sun Wu has other ideas. An intense battle between Prince Notscha, the prince of heaven, and Sun Wu ensues. I didn't stray from the original plot of the story, but I did add my own twist to the fight between the two characters. I added dialogue in order to capture the words exchanged during the fight and I also tried to highlight each character's thoughts as the fight was occurring. I also wanted to depict Notscha as inferior to Sun Wu when it came to battle. However, I also wanted to portray him as an up and coming warrior who never backed down from a fight. My intention was to glorify the battle in order to highlight its importance because I thought it was brief and rushed in the original story.

Bibliography

The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung taken from Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book.

Reading Notes (B): The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung

The Lord of the Heavens

Due to his unruly conduct, Sun Wu Kung is almost taken prisoner by the Lord of the Heavens. However, the Evening Star comes to his defense and explains that Sun Wu Kung is an immortal made from the purest powers. So instead, Sun Wu Kung is offered a position as stable master in heaven! For my story, I could tweak this story and describe the journey to heaven from the stone ape's point of view. I could also elaborate on his new position as stable master as part of my story this week.

The Great Saint

At dinner one day, Sun Wu Kung asks about his title of stable master. He is expecting it to be a very official title, one of the highest ranks. But alas, that is not true. His friends tell him it's not an important title at all. Sun Wu Kung then gets very angry and feels he has been mistreated. He leaves heaven is a flurry and returns home to his mountain where he is a respected King. His new title becomes the "Great Saint who is Heaven's Equal",

Notscha, Son of Li Dsing
Upon hearing of the escape of Sun Wu Kung, the Lord of the Heavens orders Li Dsing, his son, Notscha, and a heavenly warrior to find Sun and take him prisoner.  Sun Wu Kung easily defeats the heavenly warrior and laughs at him for even trying to fight him. Then an epic fight between Notscha and Sun Wu occurs and it is one for the ages. Ultimately, Sun Wu Kung wins and Li Dsing return to heaven to tell the Lord of the Heavens of their defeat. Once again, they are speechless. The Evening Star once again returns and suggests giving the title of the Great Saint who is Heaven's equal to Sun Wu Kung. It was an empty title, after all. The Lord of the Heavens agrees and summons Sun Wu Kung once again. I think retelling the story of Sun and Notscha's would be an entertaining story to write for this week. It's a good idea to work with!

Sun Wu Kung; Wikipedia 

Bibliography

The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung taken from Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book.

Reading Notes (A): The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung

Handsome King of the Apes

The King of the Apes was born on a mountain out of a special rock. This rock was filled hidden power from the heavens and earth and sun and moon since it originated from the beginning of time. One day, the rock bursts and out comes an egg. From this egg hatches a stone ape who eventually becomes the King. There was a waterfall that was basically the entrance to a cave. He told his ape friends what he found and then led them inside the cave. There they found  pots and pans and other utensils that were only made of stone. From then, the stone ape was named the Handsome King of Apes. I like the idea of there being a waterfall covering an entrance to something grand. I can potentially use this in my story for this week.

The stone ape and the waterfall; Wikimedia

The Great Sea

In this story, the King of the Apes breaks down at the thought of death. A wise, old ape speaks of three different kinds of living creatures who are exempt from Death's powers: the Buddhas, the blessed spirits, and the gods. Only these three categories can skip death and live as long as the heavens.

Sun Wu Kung Gets His Name

At the Mountain of Heart, the King of the Apes comes across a workman who tells him of a saint named "The Discerner". This saint gives the ape who came out of stone a name: Sun Wu Kung.

The Master

The master offers many different things that Sun Wu Kung can learn but he desired to only know how to attain eternal life. The master became irritated at his negligence and hit him across the head three times. However, the master was not irritated. Instead, the three blows to his face was an indication to meet him during the third watch of the night in his chambers. At the proper time, Sun Wu Kung excitedly made his way to the chambers and exclaims that he is ready to learn.

Bibliography

The Monkey King Sun Wu Kung taken from Wilhelm's Chinese Fairy Book.

Reading Notes (A): Tutinameh - Tales of a Parrot

Miemun and Khojisteh 

The parrot that Miemun buys for a large sum of money apparently has the ability to see the future. He is very pleased with his purchase. Miemun also purchases another bird as a companion for the parrot. This is a good idea that I could possibly build my story around this week.

Khojisteh and the Parrot

Miemun leaves for business, which leaves Khojisteh aching for his return. She neither slept of ate while he was away. In order to make her feel better, the parrot would tell pleasant stories throughout the day. While he is away, a prince comes by, and instantly, there are sparks between him and Khojisteh. He sends her a proposal in which if she gives his four hours of the night, he will give her a ring. Khojisteh is flattered by this prince, and in a daze, she sends back an answer to come at midnight. Wearing all her finest apparel that night, Khojisteh asks the sharuk (the other bird) for her advice. The sharuk replies that she should not commit such a lowly deed and stay faithful to her husband. Engulfed in love, Khojisteh begins to rage and kills the sharuk. Next, she asks the parrot for his advice and he basically says he has her back. He begins to tell a story to elaborate on his advice.

 The Parrot of Ferukh Beg 

This story is about another parrot who decided not to tell his master of his wife's cheating. However, his master finds out from another neighbor what his wife is doing and he kicks her out. Naturally, the wife blames the parrot and almost kills him while throwing him outside. The parrot nurses himself back to health and threatens to curse his master's wife unless she shaved her head and fasts for forty days. He tells the wife that he will make amends and proceeds to do so. In the end, all three characters end up together in the same house and live happily ever after. Khojisteh, happy at hearing this story, feels relieved. However, now she is too tired to meet the prince and decides to sleep.

Khojisteh and the parrot; Wikipedia

Bibliography

Tutinameh, or Tales of a Parrot by unknown.

Reading Notes (A) - Jataka Tales (Shedlock)

The Spirit that Lived in a Tree 

A king wanted to tear down a Sal tree to use it as the sole column for his palace. The tree spirit living in this tree was afraid that if he was cut down, the little children would also perish. He's not worried about himself, but his children. The king is awed by his sacrifice and decides not to cut down the tree.

The Hare that Was Not Afraid to Die

This time, Buddha is reborn as a hare, and again, he is willing to sacrifice himself to help others. The hare and his three friends, Otter, Jackal, and Monkey, believed that the moral law should be observed and that holy days should be kept. This moral law was to give alms to the poor.  In this story, all four friends offer their own food to a Brahmin that asks, who was actually Sakka, the King of the Gods. The hare has no food to offer other than himself, and proceeds to do so when asked. I like the idea of this story, and the fact that Sakka disguised himself to prove something. It's an idea I can use for my story.

The Parrot that Fed His Parents

Buddha is born a parrot and once again shows his willingness to help others. This time he is the leader of a flock of parrots. He takes them to get food, and after they have all eaten, he brings extra food back to his parents so they can eat. He says he is repaying a debt and doing only what is right.

The Man Who Worked to Give Alms

Buddha is reborn a merchant to works to give alms to the less fortunate. Sakka becomes jealous of him and suspects Buddha of plotting to take his spot. Sakka takes all his alms and fortunes so Buddha cannot give anymore. Buddha does not let this stop him, and mows grass in order to sell to get alms. Sakka is amazed by this and restores his fortunes and allows him to distribute alms.

The King Who Saw the Truth 

Buddha is born as a king who gives away his eyes to a blind man, which is actually Sakka.

Buddha; Pixabay

Bibliography

Jataka Tales by Marie L. Shedlock

Week 3 Storytelling: The Blizzard

Noah looked at the almost-finished cabin shelter that God had instructed him to create before the blizzard came. God gave Noah explicit instructions on the size and shape of the shelter, and how to build it in order to keep the cold snow out. Now that it was almost done, Noah couldn't help but admire how nicely it had turned out. Large clouds loomed overhead, threatening to shovel tons of snow until everything was buried underneath its cold weight. The wind had begun to pick up, showing signs of how frosty it was to become in the near future. In fact, the first flakes of snow calmly began to fall, warning Noah that time was sparse and immediacy was critical.

Noah rushed off to see how the finishing touches to the cabin were coming along. Along the way, he ran into his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who were ushering the last of the eligible animals inside. How did they know who to let inside? Well, God had given them explicit instructions for that as well. They were to round up two of each animal, male and female, in order to preserve the species. The animals who came up to the entrance and took a bow were allowed to enter, as they were deemed respectful, while the rest were denied entry for not living up to God's expectations. At this time, the wind picked up and became incredibly sharp. The snow began to sting as it pounded against Noah's face. Noah told his sons to speed this process up as they were beginning to run out of time. In a short amount of time, it would be impossible to see due to the wind and snow flying around. Anyone left outside would inevitably freeze to death, a miserable death if you ask me.

As Noah began to walk around to the back of the shelter, his wife ran up to him yelling that shelter was finally finished and everything was ready to go. Noah breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried this whole time that they would not finish in time. Could you blame him though? All their lives depended on him finishing the shelter on time, and God had trusted him with this monumental task. Just in time as well, because the snow was now falling in sheets and it was becoming hard to walk and see. The snow was piling up quickly and the temperatures dropping just as fast. It wouldn't be long till everything was a barren and desolate world of snow. Noah and his wife met up with their sons and the rest of the family and ushered the final stragglers inside. All the animals had made it safely. Noah took a deep breath and one last look at the world as he knew it. In seven days, God said the snow would stop. However, it would take 150 days for all the snow to melt and for the trees and plants to begin growing back. They had a long "winter" ahead of them. Noah closed his eyes and prayed that they had enough food and that all of them made it through this "cleaning" of the world. Even though he had followed God's instructions exactly, he couldn't help but worry. Noah opened his eyes and closed the large shelter doors as gusts of wind pelted them with snow. The snow raged on throughout the night as the Noah and his family and the animals could do nothing but wait.

Barren aftermath of the blizzard; Pixabay

Author's Note

I chose to write a different, more modern version of the story of Noah and the Ark. In the original story, God is fed up with man and his wicked ways so he decides to flood the world to flush out the bad. He instructs Noah, a good man, to build an ark that will fit his family and two of each of all the animals in the world. This ark must be strong enough to withstand violent waves and lots of water for over a hundred days. In my story, I changed the flooding to a blizzard that freezes everything and leaves a barren wasteland. I thought the idea of another ice age would be an extremely harsh way to punish man, which is what led to me write this story. Instead of an ark, Noah is instructed to build a cabin shelter that keeps out the cold snow. I didn't go into much detail on the blizzard, but mainly focused on Noah and his thoughts and actions immediately before it begins. All the characters were similar, as well as the rules that God had given Noah. The only difference was the method in which God decides to end all life. 

Bibliography

Noah and the Ark (Genesis) by Louis Ginzberg

Tech Tip: Twitter Follow

For this assignment, I decided to follow OU President, David Boren, Professor Gibbs, and OU Global Brigades. I chose to follow David Boren because I think he's a class act, and a good way to keep up with what he's doing is to stay up to date with his personal social media accounts! I know he tweets quite a bit, especially when it's regarding important matters that affects us students. I also chose to follow Professor Gibbs because I found a lot of interesting articles posted on her timeline and it would be a cool way to communicate ideas for this class. Finally, I chose to follow OU Global Brigades because it is an awesome organization! I was able to go on a couple of trips with them the past two summers and help out in developing countries and it was definitely a humbling experience. Although the account is a little outdated, there's lots of good information on it.

Tech Tip: First Tweet

Hey everyone, I've been using Twitter for quite a while now so I'm fairly familiar with how to use it. I mainly use it to keep up with current friends and family, but I've also found that it's a good source for trending news across the globe! Now it's one of my go to social media outlets when I want to know what's going on currently; everything is just a Twitter search away. It's also easy to share links and videos with people instantly, another nice feature that comes in handy A LOT. I used Twitter when I took Epics of India and it worked well for me, so using it again for this class should work just fine.

Reading Notes (B): Noah and the Ark

The Holy Book

Samael asks Eve to watch his son, which he happily agrees to do. However, Adam is fed up with the screaming and kicking kid and accidentally ends up killing him. The corpse still continues to kick and scream however, so Adam and Eve cut up the child, cook him, and eat him...pretty disturbing, but I think I could use this for my story this week! Samael returns, but Adam and Eve deny the whole incident. Adam fasts in order to speak to God and when he does so, God gives him the Torah. Jealous of all the knowledge he gains, the angels steal the book and throw it in the sea. Adam once again seeks God, who calmly tells him not to worry and recovers it from the sea. Noah was given the book in order to build the ark before the flood appeared and from then onwards, the book was passed down to many people so they could gain great wisdom.

The Inmates of the Ark

The ark was completed according to the instructions given in the Book of Raziel. God ordered the animals to repair the ark, while Noah was instructed to filter who was allowed into the ark and who wasn't. The animals which laid down at the entrance were granted entrance, while the others were not. The animals that were denied chaotically try to get in, but the rain begins to pour down, scalding hot. These animals throw their kids into the flood water in order to save themselves, a selfish move if you ask me. The rest of this story then goes on to describe some of the animals aboard the ark.

The animals working/waiting on the ark; Wikimedia

The Flood

Noah's biggest task was to provide food and shelter for the animals for however long the floods persisted. This story details the struggles Noah, his family, and the animals went through aboard the ark during the flood.

Bibliography 

Noah and the Ark from Legends of the Jews, by Louis Ginzberg.