Vietnam

(map)

In the reign of Hung Vuong XVIII, gods still lived on earth. Two of these gods were Son Tinh, God of the Mountains, and Thuy Tinh, God of the Water.

While Son Tinh was walking on the beach one day, he came across some fishermen who had caught a large and beautiful fish. Thinking of the price it would bring, the fishermen were eager to sell it at the market, but when Son Tinh saw its unusual colors and pleading eyes, he said to them, "This is no ordinary fish. You must not kill it." He bought it from the fisherman and released it back into the ocean.

That night, Thuy Tinh, God of the Water, came to Son Tinh. "Earlier today," he said, "I took the form of a fish to go swimming. Carelessly, I let myself be caught. If it were not for you, I would be dead. Please visit me at my home at the bottom of the sea, and let me show my gratitude."

Son Tinh accepted the invitation, and when he arrived, he was amazed at the wealth of Thuy Tinh's kingdom. Thuy Tinh told him to take whatever he liked.

"Thank you, but I have all I want and do not covet more," Son Tinh answered.

"Then at least accept this book as a gift."

Out of politeness, Son Tinh took it. When he got home, he looked more closely at it and marveled at its value, for it was a true wishing book. He could use to book to obtain whatever he desired. But as Son Tinh had all he wanted, he put the book away and thought no more of it.

Some time later, King Hung Vuong announced a contest for the hand of his daughter, My Nuong, in marriage. The princess was so beautiful that Son Tinh joined the hundreds of other suitors. Only two of the suitors passed the contest -- Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh.

The king determined on another test to choose between them. He told them to bring him several rare and precious items, half of them from Son Tinh's realm and half from Thuy Tinh's. Whoever brought the gifts first would win the princess.

Son Tinh, remembering the book of wishes, used it to obtain all the items and delivered them the following morning. It took Thuy Tinh two days to gather them all. So upset was he at losing, he forgot his earlier gratitude for Son Tinh and used all his powers to attack him. He gathered up all the water from the sky and ocean and sent them against Son Tinh. Son Tinh, however, was able to keep his mountain home above the reach of the waters.

Thuy Tinh repeated the attack again the next year, bringing months of rain and floods. And he has continued to do so every year. The monsoons which hit the country are part of the continuing feud of the Sea God against the Mountain God.

Alice M. Terada, Under the Starfruit Tree: Folktales from Vietnam (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1989), 49-53.