Reading Notes: Tibetan Folk Tales, Part B

I'm going to write my notes as I go this time - I normally will make small notes as I go, but write the post after I finish. This time, I'm going to add my thoughts on stories as I read them right in the post.

What I'm really noticing with these stories is that, when there's a moral, it doesn't really match what you'd expect to be. Lying, for example, is a apparently a highly rewarding activity if you ask the Tibetans. The fortune teller from Part A lies, he gets half a kingdom. The rabbit in the first story of Part B is lazy and lies, and he never has to kowtow to the lion again.

Okay, story two: killing is bad (when it's for no reason), but polygamy is good. This makes a bit more sense at least. I'm trying to figure out if these stories functioned as entertainment more than teaching tools. That would explain it, maybe.

Third story makes sense, because you shouldn't be too hasty to make decisions or assume you know what's going on if someone tells you otherwise.

Oh, so The Golden Squash takes any confusing morality and tosses it out the window, making it very clear that envy is sinful. I think it's interesting that these stories are occasionally framed with vaguely Christian ideas. I wonder if that's something added by the translator or if Tibet has a history with Christianity at all. I may also just be taking things that have their own holy meaning in Tibetan religion and assuming they hold Christian associations. Either way, looking up some of the religious elements mentioned might make for an interesting Wikitrails post.

As I'm getting through these I am more and more certain that I want to stick with my Snow White idea, so I'm going to push pause on the notes and just read now.

Bibliography: Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton with illustrations by Mildred Bryant (1925). Source.

Image: Tibetan Snow Lion. Source.