Tale of the Moonchild

In the myth of the moon flower, a married couple desperately want to have a child but they cannot reproduce. Instead, they want to adopt and orphan as to fulfilling their desire to have a child. Also, the couple believed that having children will grant their ancestors happiness in which eventually grant the couple good luck and fortune. However, due to their financial instability, the mayor of their town will not grant their wishes to adopt an orphan. Then one night, on a full moon, a horse descends and tells the couple that there will be a child that with be born from the seeds of the cherry blossom tree. The horse had one condition before leaving, and it was that the child must not marry an earthling and has to be returned on her 18^th birthday. After acquiring the moonchild, the farm that the couple owned became very prosperous and successful. With this newly acquired wealth, the couple were allowed to adopt multiple orphans as their children. Despite the couple having adopted numerous orphans, they were still saddened when the moon child’s 18^th birthday came along. The horse that left the moon child in the couple’s arms returned, except this time with a man riding on top. This man caught the moonchild’s eye, and the couple knew that this young man would be a perfect fit for their daughter. So even though they had to give up their daughter, they knew that she would be happy and will be safe in that man’s arms.

            Though this story would not be ideal to tell as modern day folktale because no one in this day and age would entrust their daughter into the arms of a man who they had just met. This tale seems to stress on the importance of children because apparently they bring wealth and good luck to the family. However I feel that there is another concept that is more deeply in play here. That is, that a parent’s utmost desire is for their children to find someone that will give them happiness and security. What I take away from this tale is that parents truly do want what is best for their children.

The Woman Warrior

In The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston, Kingston talks about the struggles that she has living in America. Kingston also uses the tale of Fa Mulan to explain to her readers what type of life she would rather live. The tale of Fa Mulan tells the story of a young woman who eventually leads her own army and takes down corrupt barons and emperors in ancient China. Having the power to overrule emperors and barons is exactly what Kingston wants to do but cannot in her American life. She has racist bosses that she cannot do anything about because she is a woman during the time period of male superiority. Kingston also goes on about how much responsibility she has and how she basically has to take care of her family and her extended family. In addition, I feel that Kingston tried to adopt the identity of Fa Mulan by writing The Woman Warrior. Similar to how Mulan had to dress as a man because a woman leader would be unacceptable at the time. Kingston writes The Woman Warrior as a means of expressing her ideas and how seriously people should take the female gender.