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Long, long ago at the dawn of time, the jade emperor, creator of the universe, looked down from heaven and was saddened by what he saw. Hife on earth was very difficult and harsh conditions prevailed everywhere. humans were simple hunter-gatherers, wandering aimlessly from place to place, living no better than the animals they relied on for food. He decided to do something about it and sent them a messenger. Among the many gods at his disposal, the emperor chose a young minor god named kim quang, who, despite his power, had yet to prove himself.
When Kim Quang heard of his appointment, he very nervous, but happy to do his master’s bidding.
“I want humans to live a different life than the animals!” said the Emperor. “It is time they learned new skills, so they can settle down in one place and live in peace and harmony. Before that can happen though, they must have enough food to sustain them through good times and bad.”
Kim Quang was excited and listened intently as the Jade Emperor explained the task he was to carry out.
“I want you to teach them how to grow rice!” he ordered. With that he produced two bags of seeds, one of rice, the other grass, and handed them to the young God.
“Call the people together and tell them what to do. First they must find a flat piece of ground. After it has been cleared they should sow the rice seeds, making sure to water and fertilize the area until the new plants emerge. When the crop is a foot tall, they should then sow the grass seeds.”
After receiving the Jade Emperor’s full instructions, Kim Quang quickly descended to Earth to begin his mission, taking with him the two important bags of seeds.
Calling the people together, as instructed, he delivered the message, ending the meeting with prayers to the Emperor for rain to dampen the soil in preparation for the sowing.
However, in his haste, Kim Quang had forgotten to note which bag was which. Despite being unsure, he didn’t let on, hoping he would guess right. Unfortunately, the bag of seeds he gave the people to sow contained the grass seed. Assuming it was the wonderful rice plant the Creator had chosen for them to grow, the people happily went to work.
Soon the crop emerged from the soil in a carpet of lush green vegetation and everyone gave thanks to the Jade Emperor for his gift and concern. When the plants had grown sufficiently tall and strong, the second bag of seeds was sown, as instructed. They too grew vigorously, but were quickly uprooted, under Kim Quang’s watchful eye, so as to allow the older plants more nutrients.
Teaching them the secrets of farming, he was very proud of his efforts.
Months passed and eventually the crops were ready to harvest. The people reaped the field, threshing the husks to separate the seeds which were soon cooked for a much anticipated meal. To the surprise of everyone, the food was inedible, with only the cattle enjoying the fruits of the people’s long labour. When the humans realized Kim Quang’s plan had failed they were angry and chased the young God from the village with great fury.
Panic-stricken, Kim Quang hurriedly fled back to the heaven and reported to his master. The Jade Emperor was bitterly disappointed and scolded him angrily, “Because of your carelessness, the people have lost faith in me,” he said. “You will return to the earth and live in exile until you have made up for your mistake.”
With a loud clap of his hands, he turned Kim Quang into a buffalo and banished him from Heaven.
When the buffalo suddenly appeared, the people quickly realized what had happened, and in his buffalo form, Kim Quang was not only forgiven, but loved by the people as he worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk in the field. Before long, the people’s faith in the Jade Emperor was restored.
In the beginning the buffalo could speak and soon became the family pet. Young boys would take him to the field to graze, flying kites or playing flutes as they sat on his back wiling away the hours. However, one day, a herdsboy was so absorbed in playing he to feed the buffalo. Afraid of being scolded by his master, he stuck a piece of spathe to the belly of the buffalo and covered it with mud so the animal looked as though it had eaten. The next morning, the buffalo could not follow its master to the fields.
“What an idle buffalo! Be quick!” the master ordered.
“I’m too hungry to move,” said the buffalo.
“What are you talking about, you were well-fed yesterday, weren’t you?” the master asked, surprised.
When the buffalo explained what had happened the previous day, the master immediately gave the boy a good thrashing. As he sat sobbing in the field, an old man appeared and asked why he cried. When the boy explained his tears, the old man gave him an incense stick. Lighting it, he told the boy to hold the burning end of the stick to the buffalo’s neck as punishment for causing trouble. So painful was it, the poor animal shouted itself hoarse, never to speak again, save for the grunting sound “nghe ngo,” and the scar on its neck which can be seen to this day.
But, for his loyalty and devotion, the buffalo is still revered throughout the country. Recognized by many people as the reincarnation of the Kim Quang deity, buffalo meat is never eaten and, after death, the animal is often buried with all the dignity of its farmer friends.
This traditional folk song is evidence of that bond.
“Buffalo, listen to me
Go to the fields and plough with me.
Farming is naturally farmers’ work
Of which both you and me are not afraid.
As long as the rice plants bloom
There will be grass in the field for you.”
The buffalo still plays an important part in rural life. While its main duties remain pulling a plough in the fields and grazing, it plays a major part in many ceremonies, such as choi trau (buffalo fighting), dam trau (buffalo slaughtering) and dua trau (buffalo racing) festivals.
To the more devout, it is also a symbol of the human mind guidance in the teachings of Buddha.
Although fewer children take joy in riding on his back, and much of his work is slowly being taken over by modern machinery, the buffalo will always play an important part in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.
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