Vietnamese folktales are rich with cultural lessons and fascinating stories about animals and human wisdom. One such tale explains why tigers have stripes and why water buffalo lack upper front teeth. This traditional story offers a clever and entertaining explanation that has been passed down through generations.
The Curious Tiger and the Wise Farmer
One day, a tiger wandered out of the forest and saw a farmer plowing his field with a water buffalo. The buffalo trudged along, occasionally receiving a whip on its back. The tiger was puzzled by this sight.
At noon, when the buffalo was resting alone, the tiger approached and asked:
"Hey, Buffalo! You are big and strong, much stronger than that human. Why do you let him hit you like that?"
The buffalo replied: "Humans may be small, but they have wisdom."
The Tiger's Quest for Wisdom
The tiger, not understanding what "wisdom" was, decided to ask the farmer directly.
"Farmer, I heard that humans have wisdom. Can you show me what wisdom looks like?"
The farmer thought for a moment and then calmly replied:
"I left my wisdom at home. If you wait here, I will go get it for you."
Excited, the tiger agreed. As the farmer was about to leave, he turned back and said:
"But wait! If I go home, you might eat my buffalo. How about I tie you to this tree so I can go without worry?"
Without thinking much, the tiger agreed and let the farmer tie him to the tree. Once secured, the farmer grabbed his whip and began lashing the tiger furiously, shouting:
"Here is my wisdom! Do you understand now?"
The Consequences of Ignorance
After a while, the farmer piled straw around the tiger and set it on fire, laughing:
"Do you see my wisdom now? Do you get it?"
The flames burned the tiger's skin, leaving him writhing and roaring in pain. The buffalo found this so hilarious that it laughed and rolled on the ground.
Eventually, the fire burned through the ropes, and the tiger bolted back into the forest, too terrified to look back.
The Legacy of the Folktale
Since that day, tigers have had black stripes as reminders of their burns. And from laughing so hard, the water buffalo broke its upper teeth, which is why buffaloes today have no upper front teeth.
This classic Vietnamese folktale not only entertains but also highlights the value of wisdom over mere strength. It serves as a reminder that cleverness can triumph over brute force. Such stories continue to be an essential part of Vietnam's cultural heritage.
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