Summary Of The Soul Of The Great Bell – Summary Of A Chinese Folktale

Summary Of The Soul Of The Great Bell – Summary Of A Chinese Folktale

THE SOUL OF THE GREAT BELL – In this topic, we are going to read the full summary of a Chinese folktale named The Soul of the Great Bell.

THE SOUL OF THE GREAT BELL
Image from: Story of the Week – Library of America

This tale was retold by an American journalist named Lafcadio Hearn, who has a keen interest in the oriental culture which made him write English versions of Chinese and Japanese folktales.

This summary is uplifted from Charlotte12 on Brainly. Here is the full summary:

About 500 years ago, the Celestial August and Yung-Lo ordered his bellsmiths and mouders to make a bell that makes a sound that reaches 100 Li.

This was spearheaded by Kouan-Yu. They attempted to cast a bell twice, however, gold, silver, brass, iron wouldn’t meld together.

When Celestial August knew about it, he was furious yet he spoke nothing. The second time he heard of the issue, he warned Kouan-Yu that if they wouldn’t successfully cast the bell, he would be condemned to death.

Kouan-Yu has a daughter named Ko-Ngal. She is exquisite but her heart is much more beautiful than her face.

She found the letter, read it, and kept it a secret. She sold her jewelries and gold to pay an astrologer she needs to consult for an advice. 

The astrologer told her that gold and brass will never meet in wedlock, silver and iron never will embrace until the flesh of a maiden is melted in the crucible and the blood of a virgin is mixed in the metal fusion.

In the third attempt, Ko-Ngal leapt in the crucible. Kouan-Yu was in sorrow and could not do anything about it. They finished the bell with success.

As they rang the bell, it made a sound that is deeper, mellower and mightier than any other bell.

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