Legend of Son Tinh (Mountain Spirit) and Thuy Tinh (Sea Spirit)
Once upon a time,
Emperor Hung Vuong the Eighteenth had a beautiful daughter, Princess Mi Nuong.
Her beauty was so renowned that many suitors from foreign lands came to ask the
Emperor for her hand. However, the Emperor did not believe that any one of them
was good enough for his beautiful daughter. He wanted Mi Nuong to marry someone
really distinguished and powerful. Her mother, the Empress was very much
concerned for Mi Nuong's future. The Empress looked at her daughter saying:
"It is time you should get married, my darling. I hope your father will
find a suitable man for you".
The Princess could not
hide her emotion and happiness, her beautiful eyes were blurred with tear. She
said "Mother, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. It is up to you
and Father to decide for me. I understand that I have to get married and bear
children like other women. I believe Father will choose a suitable
person".
One day, at the court
there appeared two young men. One of them was Son Tinh, the Mountain Spirit,
and the other one was Thuy Tinh, the Sea Spirit. Both of them were equally
handsome, distinguished, and powerful. The difference in character between the
two men was that while Son Tinh was gentle and quiet, Thuy Tinh had a fiery
temper.
Son Tinh bowed his head
and respectfully said to the Emperor: "My name is Son Tinh. My kingdom
includes all mountains. I reign over all creatures living on the mountains. I
own all the riches of the mountains including all the beautiful trees, plants,
and flowers. I can summon lions and birds, I can make the mountains grow high
to the sky. I want to marry the Princess and promise to bring her happiness and
an eternal life".
Thuy Tinh stepped
forward, bowed his head and said: "My name is Thuy Tinh. I am the Spirit
of the Seas. I reign over all creatures living in the water. I own all coral,
pearls, and treasures under the sea. I can raise the level of the sea as high
as the mountain top. I can make rain and gather storms. If the Princess marries
me, she will become the Queen of the Sea. The most wonderful undersea world and
the most magnificent undersea palace will be hers".
The Emperor listened
attentively to the suitors. He was reluctant in his choice because both suitors
arrived at the same time and were equally handsome and powerful. Then he said
to the suitors: "Tomorrow whoever brings the wedding gifts first, will
have the hand of the Princess." The suitors left the court and hurried
back to their kingdoms in the hope of getting married with the Princess.
Thuy Tinh had all his
men collect the best pearls and jewelry, and the most exquisite sea food and
delicious seaweed. Son Tinh rushed back to the mountain. He ordered his men to
collect the best diamonds and the most precious stones they could find. He also
selected the most delicious fruit and most fragrant flowers on earth for the
Emperor and the Empress.
The next morning, Son
Tinh and a hundred attendants were the first who came to the court. He brought
trays full of jewels and baskets full of mango, grapes, strawberries, roses,
orchids, etc. The Emperor was delighted with all the gifts. He agreed to let
Son Tinh marry his daughter. Mi Nuong bid farewell to the Emperor and the
Empress. Then she stepped into the palaquin and followed Son Tinh to his
Kingdom on the mountain.
Alter Son Tinh and Mi
Nuong had just left the court, Thuy Tinh came with his men carrying trays of
jewels, pearls, and baskets full of sea food. Thuy Tinh was so angry when he
heard Mi Nuong had gone with Son Tinh just minutes before. He immediately
ordered his men to pursue Son Tinh and to take Mi Nuong away.
Thuy Tinh yelled at his
men and flourished his magic sword. Then the creatures in the sea turned into
thousands of soldiers. Heavy rains began to fall. Gusty winds began to blow.
The water level rose higher and higher. The high waves and the flood washed
down thousands of trees and houses.
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