The Four Dragons
A Chinese Folktale
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Long ago, when the world was still young, there were no rivers or lakes on the earth, only the vast Eastern Sea. In this sea lived four mighty dragons: the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Black Dragon, and the Pearl Dragon. They were strong and wise, and they often soared high into the sky, playing among the clouds.
One bright day, as they raced across the heavens, the Pearl Dragon suddenly called out, “Come quickly! Look below!”
The other dragons gathered near and peered down at the land. What they saw filled their hearts with sorrow. The people were setting out fruit and cakes, burning incense, and praying desperately. A frail old woman, carrying a small child on her back, knelt on the ground and whispered, “Please, God of Heaven, send rain so that our children may eat.”
The land had been dry for a long time. The crops were withering, the grass had turned yellow, and cracks ran deep across the parched fields. “The people are suffering,” said the Yellow Dragon, his voice heavy with concern. “If the rain doesn’t come soon, they will starve.”
“We must help them,” said the Long Dragon. “Let’s go to the Jade Emperor and ask him to send rain.”
The four dragons flew swiftly to the Heavenly Palace, where the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, earth, and sea, lived in splendor. When they arrived, they found him lounging in his grand hall, listening to the music of fairies. He frowned as the dragons entered.
“Why have you left the sea?” he asked sternly. “Why are you disturbing my peace?”
The Long Dragon bravely stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the people on earth are suffering from a terrible drought. Their crops are dying, and they have no food. Please, we beg you, send rain to save them.”
The Jade Emperor sighed, waving a lazy hand. “Very well. I will send rain tomorrow. Now go back to your sea.”
The dragons, feeling hopeful, bowed in gratitude and returned to the ocean.
But the promised rain never came.
Days passed, then weeks, yet the sky remained empty. The people grew weaker. Some were so desperate that they ate tree bark and grass, and when that ran out, they had nothing left but white clay. The dragons watched in anguish, realizing that the Jade Emperor had no intention of helping the people.
“We must act,” said the Long Dragon. “We cannot let them suffer.”
“But how?” asked the Pearl Dragon. “The Jade Emperor controls the rain.
“The sea is full of water,” said the Long Dragon. “If we carry it in our mouths and spray it into the sky, it will fall like rain.”
“That’s a great idea!” said the Black Dragon. But then the Long Dragon hesitated. “If the Jade Emperor finds out, we may be punished.”
“I don’t care,” said the Yellow Dragon firmly. “The people need us.”
“Then let’s do it,” agreed the Long Dragon, and the four dragons set to work.
Together, they soared over the Eastern Sea, scooping up huge mouthfuls of water. Then, flying high into the sky, they sprayed it across the dry land. The sky darkened, and soon, the water began to fall as rain.
“It’s raining! It’s raining!” the people cheered, dancing with joy. The crops lifted their heads, and the earth drank in the precious water. The dragons watched with satisfaction, knowing they had done the right thing. But their joy was short-lived.
The Sea God, guardian of the ocean, had seen everything and hurried to the Jade Emperor. “Your Majesty!” he cried. “The four dragons have stolen water from the sea and made rain without your permission!”
The Jade Emperor was furious. “How dare they defy me?” he roared. “Summon my generals! Capture the dragons at once!”
The Jade Emperor’s army was vast, and the four dragons stood no chance against it. They were quickly captured and dragged before the throne.
“You have disobeyed my command,” the Jade Emperor thundered. “For this, you will be punished! Mountain God, bring four great mountains and trap them forever!”
The Mountain God obeyed. With a wave of his hand, four massive mountains flew through the air and came crashing down upon the dragons, pinning them beneath their weight.
The people wept when they heard what had happened. They knew that the dragons had only tried to help them, and now they had been imprisoned for their kindness.
But even as they lay trapped, the dragons had no regrets. “We will not let this stop us,” said the Long Dragon. “We will continue to help the people.”
With all of their remaining strength, the four dragons transformed their bodies into mighty rivers. Water flowed from beneath the mountains, winding across the land, bringing life wherever it touched.
And so, China’s four great rivers were formed:
The Heilong Jiang, Amur River (Black Dragon) in the north
The Huang He, Yellow River (Yellow Dragon) in the center
The Chang Jiang, Yangtze River (Long Dragon) in the south
The Zhu Jiang, Pearl River (Pearl Dragon) in the far south
The people never forgot the sacrifice of the four dragons. Their rivers continued to flow, giving life to the land as a symbol of courage, kindness, and the belief that true strength comes from helping others.
Source: “The Four Dragons” is in the public domain.https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1584287028/brockton/yckwfrl40uzcjfm2g9hj/commonlit_the-four-dragons_student.pdf