Tonight the family watched the movie The Secret World of Arrietty, followed by a bedtime story of little people in a Chinese folktale. The possible co-existence of borrowers in Arrietty or Little hunting soldiers is just so amazingly beautiful. The little people in both stories are about the size within grasp of a teenager's palm. The Chinese legend took place in a rundown temple in the remote mountain, where a scholar-in-training was studying for the big exam. While he was attacked by bugs every day and night, one night a group of little hunters all ride little horses appeared one night. With the aid of little hawks and beagles they hunted and disappeared with most of the bugs in the place. One little beagle, black and shiny, was somehow left and from then on he never had to worry about bugs any more.
After I read the bedtime story to the kids in mandarin, the younger one told the story to his dad in English. They are so quick to translate, to retell.
It is a cross-cultural fascination with little people that is heartwarming. The never-ending battle between development and conservation makes the threatened existence of little people very real and precious.
After I read the bedtime story to the kids in mandarin, the younger one told the story to his dad in English. They are so quick to translate, to retell.
It is a cross-cultural fascination with little people that is heartwarming. The never-ending battle between development and conservation makes the threatened existence of little people very real and precious.
