Join us at the campfire for tales from around the world, told by storytellers of all backgrounds and creeds. From the heros and heroines of old, let us relearn and rediscover the wisdom of our ancestors. Shhh..the story begins..

An old Chinese fable recounts a tale about the beginning of time when the Heavenly Emperor sat upon his throne in the stars and his people labored day and night in the fields below, planting, plowing, tilling and harvesting the earth. The Heavenly Emperor was a kind and compassionate ruler and it troubled him greatly to see how hard his people were forced to work, so he devised a plan which would provide them with enough food for all.

He pondered on his plan for a while and decided that food, given once every three days, should be sufficient. Happy with his decision, he called upon one of his assistants, the Star Ox, to descend to the earth and announce his carefully thought-out scheme.

The Star Ox, despite his celestial appearance of superiority, was not the brightest of the Heavenly Emperor's aides and was unable to remember the message as it was given to him. Determined, however, to make the best of the situation and in order not to incur the disappointment of his master, the Star Ox resolved that he would report the announcement as he best recalled the words. He delivered to the Heavenly Emperor's subjects what was, at best, a very garbled missive--promising them three meals a day instead of one meal every three days. When the Emperor discovered this blunder, he was furious but whether presented by himself or by an underlying, his proclamations were, nonetheless, unable to be changed--as though the words were set in stone.

Although there was no way that the people could produce enough food for each of them to enjoy the promised three meals a day, the Emperor had given his commitment and could not now go back on his word. He called to him the one who had made the mistake--the unfortunate Star Ox--and decreed from that day forth the animal would be obliged to correct his error throughout eternity by nevermore inhabiting the starry heavens, but by living on the earth as an aide to man, under the yoke and plowing the soil.

Novareinna