Nkauj Mim See

Nothing beats the old storytellers.  They put so much enthusiasm and passion into storytelling that one needs not motion picture, but the imagination, to see the content of a Hmong folktale unfold into life before the very eyes.  I just wanted to share an old audio clip of yet, another Hmong folktale by Ntxhoo Xub Vaaj.  I must note that it is in the Hmong Ntsuab/Hmong Lees dialect so it may be a bit difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with the dialect (even I have a hard time too).  Also, the audio quality isn't the best (it's old) so bear with it.  Perhaps in the near future, I will provide the text so that it be easier for some of you to follow along and to understand the storyline.

(Interesting Fact: What is called "dab neeg" in Hmoob Dawb is known as "lug nruag" in Hmong Ntsuab/Hmoob Lees.)



 

 

Actually, I found a written version by Kou Yang, and so provided it below.  The details may be a bit different, but it is the same storyline.  All credits go to Lus Nruag at http://lugnruag.webs.com/.  I'm only reposting the writing for the purpose of providing another option for those who preferred to read rather than listen.

Thoob Yej & Ntxawm Qaum Ntuj

As a kid, I enjoyed listening to the elders weave Hmong folklore into life.  My grandmothers used to tell me stories at night to help me fall asleep, and it's a pity I always fall asleep before the ending.  But, one of my favorites is the story about the girl being a heavenly bird who was caught by a talented mortal so she eventually wed him.  But fate had it that she was forced to leave him, and the remaining story talks about his journey to the land beyond the sky to retrieve her back (it's similar to the one below, but not 100% accurate because every storyteller adds their own flavor to the original story).

Some of you may recall that this story is very similar to the Tai/Dai story, "The Peacock Princess."  However, I can assure you that it's not a copy.  Hmong ancestors lived in China as well and I believed that our ancestors observed nature like other Chinese ethnic groups too (or they may have influenced one another) to come up with such similar legend.  China does possess mountains carved like angry elephants, boiling hot springs and lush forests, and Lake Poyang (the Hmong/Miao ancestors used to live there) is a refuge for birds that fly to it for the winter from as far away as Northern Siberia (that's why in the folktale the protagonist is always told that if he takes the heavenly road--meaning he fly, he'll get to the girl's kingdom quickly but if he takes the earth road--or walk, it'll be on the year scale).   Watch BBC's Wild China, and you'll know.

*Disclaimer* This blog takes no credit for the content of the story.  The story belongs to Patrimoine Culturel Hmong, and the original storyteller is Yaj Vam Tuam.

(Note: Again, the story is in Hmong.  There may be grammatical errors.  I will slowly fix them as time affords me so.)

 

Puag thaum ub ov, muaj ib pab niag qaib qus coob coob xij tuaj da dej hauv lub niag pas hawv lauj!

Thoob Yej mus plob pom.  Nws los txog tsev ov.  Nws los xav xav.  Ab!  Sim mus cuab hlua kais rau saib.  Thoob Yej txawm los ua tau rau rooj hlua kais, nws coj mus cuab tas nrho ncig lub niag pas hawv ntawd.

Ces Thoob Yej los tau ib hnub.  Hnub tom qab, Thoob Yej txawm mus xyuas.  Ciav mag tau ib tug qaib qus zoo zoo nkauj li lauj!

Ces Thoob Yej txawm mus daws tau tus qaib qus los.  Ua ciav, tsis yog qaib qus lawm las.  yog ib tug hluas nkauj zoo zoo nkauj li lauj!  Tus hluas nkauj muab tis tw hle tas, ces yog ib tug hluas nkauj zoo zoo nkauj lawm tiag.  Thoob Yej txawm hais rau tus hluas nkauj tias, "Ab!  Leej muad, koj yuav txia ua ib tug hluas nkauj zoo ua luaj tuaj da lub niag pas hawv no ua tus dab tsi?"

Niam Tij & Tij Laug Tsis Hlub Ntsuag

Sorry for the long hiatus; been extremely busy.  But here is an original Hmong folktale to share with everyone.  I apologize to those who cannot read romanized Hmong.  It takes a lot of hardwork and effort to properly translate a story written in Hmong into English, and I'm at a point where time doesn't permit me to do so.  I might attempt it in the future, unless someone else volunteers to do so.  Enjoy! 

*Disclaimer* This blog takes no credit for the content of the story.  The story belongs to Patrimoine Culturel Hmong, and the original storyteller is Yaj Xov Txiab.



Puag thaum ub ov, tub ntsuag niam thiab txiv tuag tas lawm. Tshuav tub ntsuag nrog niam tij thiab tij laug nyob xwb. Niam tij thiab tij laug tsis hlub tub ntsuag. Tub ntsuag niaj hnub nqa nws txiv rab phom thiab rab hneev ncig txhua me qab roob hauv roob.

Ces muaj ib zaug tub ntsuag mus taug taug kwj deg, txawm mus pom muaj ib lub nyuag qhov tsua. Nyob hauv lub qhov tsua txawm muaj ib tug kab laum kib tshooj loj loj kwv ib lub pov tawm tuaj ntawm rooj qho. Xob tua ib teg, niag kab laum kib tshooj nkaum zog lawm. Xob tua tua tsis raug li lauj! Tub ntsuag txawm mus ntsia ntsia, nws txawm hais tias, "Ab! Xob niam tua tua tsis raug, cia kuv sim pab xob tua saib." 

Niag kab laum kib tshooj tawm plaws tuaj, xob tua ib teg tsis raug li thiab lauj!

Tub ntsuag thiaj li nta hlo nws rab hneev cuam loo ib xib xub vos rau ntag. Ces niag kab laum kib tshooj tawm plaws tuaj tub ntsuag tib hnee rau, chob nkaus lawm lauj!

Niag kab laum kib tshooj tib plhaw tuaj tom tub ntsuag no, xob cia li tua tib teg txais nkaus kab laum kib tshooj tuag kiag. Xob muab tub ntsuag nqa loo pov rhees saum ntug dej. Tub ntsuag tuag lawm lauj ib ntsis tub ntsuag tsim los xav xav ib ntsis, nws ntsia ntawm nws txhais tes na has ua ciav nws tuav rawv ib lub pov haum. Tub ntsuag thiaj li xav tau tias yog nws tua ib tug kab laum kib tshooj, ciav yog nws tua kab laum kib tshooj lub pov ntag.

Tub ntsuag thiaj li nqes rov los taug taug kwj ha mus ntxiv. Mus zoj ib ntsis txawm mus txog ntua ib lub hav, muaj ib tug nyuag dej los tshuam, txawm ntsib ib tug yawg laus laus plaub hau dawb paug. Tus yawg laus laus ntawd txawm hu tias, "Koj tuaj los me tub. Koj yuav tuaj mus lawm qhov twg na?"

Tub ntsuag teb tias, "Kuv tsis muaj niam tsis muaj txiv. Kho kho kuv siab es kuv lam taug kwj ha xwb."

Tus yawg laus hais tias, "Aub! Yog li ces koj puas yuav pab tau kuv? Yog tias koj pab tau kuv mas kuv muaj ob tug ntxhais. Yog tias koj pab tau kuv mas koj nyiam tus twg los kuv muab rau koj. Yog koj tsis nyiam es koj yuav yuav nyiaj los kuv muab rau koj. Yog koj yuav kub los kuv muab, yuav nyuj yuav nees los kuv muab."