Mythology
Why do people create myths?
To explain phenomena that they don't have other explanations for
What job did Niulang, the main character, have?
farmer
What job did the boy, Urashima Taro have?
fisherman
What was the girl in the story doing when she went missing?
Gathering herbs in the mountain wilderness
What problem were the boy and his mother experiencing?
drought
What are common character types in mythology?
Monsters, gods and goddesses, heroes and tricksters
When the Heavenly Empress discovered her daughter, the weaver, was missing, what did she do?
She captured her and took her to the sky
What animal did Urashima Taro capture when he was fishing?
A turtle
What problem started happening when the girl returned home?
people and horses started dying
What did the boy find under the lush patch of grass far from his home?
A pearl
Name three countries we have read myths from.
Japan, China and Korea.
What did the Ox ask Niulang to do?
Go to the pond and find 9 heavenly maidens and steal one of their robes
The emperor of the sea
When the father asked his son to watch over the stable at night and report what he saw, what did the son see?
He saw his sister grab a horse, place her lips close to its mouth and steal its breath
Where did the boy and his mother put the pearl when they returned to their house, and what did they notice the next day?
In a rice jar. The rice had multiplied and was overflowing from the jar.
Give an example of a book, show or movie that references ancient myths
answers vary
Who did Niulang steal a robe from?
Where did the sea princess take Urashima Taro?
To the sea palace
A kumiho - nine-tailed fox
When the landlord tried to take the pearl, where did the boy put it? How did it make him feel?
in his mouth. Thirsty.
Name 3 common phenomena that myths try to explain
creation, natural disasters, other aspects of nature, morality, power, etc
When Niulang and Zhinu could not cross the celestial river of stars to be together, the Heavenly Empress felt sorry for them. What did she allow to happen once each year?
Unite on a bridge of magpies when the "river of stars" is bright in the night sky.
When Urashima Taro returned to land, what had happened?
400 years had passed and he had become legend.
What happened to the kumiho in the end?
The boy used a potion that made a giant lake form and the kumiho drowned
What did the boy become at the end? How did his mother feel about that?
The river dragon. She was sad, but proud of the good he would do.