The Shepherd’s Lute: A Chinese Folktale
Natalie Stewart

1Long ago in a medieval village, a wealthy but bitter farmer named Chao employed an affable shepherd named Jiang, who truly enjoyed playing the lute. Jiang’s instrument was simple and plain, crafted from the wood of a native bamboo tree. Despite its modest appearance, the lute brought Jiang much joy. He created appealing music that lured the other villagers out to listen to him. Having an audience made Jiang feel accepted, and he quickly formed an important bond with the poor villagers.

2Chao, however, didn’t like Jiang. He hated Jiang’s lute playing and the way the villagers admired Jiang. Although Jiang was an excellent person and a hard worker, Chao fired Jiang from his job and smashed the lute into pieces.

3Miserable and brokenhearted, Jiang hung his head as he walked through the forest. Good fortune soon came to him, however, when he bumped into a compassionate old man who felt sorry for Jiang’s loss.

4The elderly man carved a new lute for Jiang and taught him to refine his playing technique. Soon, Jiang played better than ever before. Villagers and woodland creatures from all over came to hear him perform.

Chao heard gossip of the woodland animals and decided that he wanted to capture a flaxen white rabbit with a spotted head. He promised his farm and his fortune to the son who could capture the specific rabbit for him.

The sons had never laid eyes on such a rabbit before, and they didn’t know where to find one, but because they knew the rabbit would bring them riches, they decided to search for it.

Into the forest went the first son. He approached Jiang and described the mystical rabbit. Jiang said that if the son paid him, he would help him find the rabbit. At first, the son didn’t want to pay. Then he realized that locating the rabbit would earn him his father’s fortune, so he paid Jiang the money.

8Jiang began performing a song on his lute and, upon hearing him, the forest creatures gathered, including the flaxen rabbit! The farmer’s son seized the rabbit, but the creature struggled. Eventually, the rabbit darted back to the woods to hear Jiang play the lute, and the son couldn’t recapture it. The unsuccessful son returned home, upset that he had lost his money.

The other sons remained determined to catch the rabbit, so they too ventured into the woods and paid Jiang to help them attract the creature. As before, however, when Jiang played his lute, the rabbit scampered away.

Chao boiled with anger and scolded his sons for losing their money and failing to catch the rabbit. He finally set out with intentions of unearthing the rabbit by himself.

11As Chao entered the forest, flocks of birds and packs of creatures approached him. He trembled like a leaf in the wind.

“Farmer, beware!” called Jiang. “If I strum my lute, the creatures will attack!”

Chao begged Jiang to save him from this misfortune and promised to do anything.

“You must promise to treat people better and donate half of your possessions to the less fortunate villagers,” Jiang directed.

Chao quickly agreed because he was so terrified, and he followed through on his promise. Satisfied, Jiang continued to work as a shepherd and play his lute.

Read the passage on the left to answer the following questions:

1)
How do the animals' actions in the tale help to characterize Jiang for the reader?
A) They make him scarier.
B) They make him more lovable.
C) They make his power clearer.
D) They make his lute-playing seem better.
2)
Tavaris read this folktale in class and exclaimed that Chao was a jealous and mean-spirited man. Which section provides support for this interpretation?
A) Section 1
B) Section 2
C) Section 3
D) Section 4
3)
Which of these BEST expresses the theme of this story?
A) experiencing new cultures
B) defending unfortunate people
C) learning to be a good leader
D) wanting to live amongst nature
4)
Which statement is the BEST description of a theme of this story?
A) Lute players do not make good farm workers.
B) Lute players can be very powerful and dangerous.
C) Woodland animals can be tamed by the power of music.
D) Bosses need to be more appreciative of the talents of their workers.
5)
Based on the details in this passage, which word DOES NOT characterize Jiang?
A) creative
B) likable
C) mean-spirited
D) talented