The Wind and the Little Boat – A Chinese Fairy Tale about Friendship and Caution
A Chinese fairy tale about a paper boat that taught the wind to be gentle and caring. A story about friendship, patience, and respect for others.
Short Description: This fairy tale tells the story of a paper boat that taught the wind to be gentle and caring. The story shows how important it is to respect others and learn to play carefully.
On the bank of the Lijiang River, among green shores and calm waters, children often set their paper boats afloat. They happily watched as a light breeze pushed them forward, and the river carried them far away. One such boat was a small, but beautiful boat made of white paper, built by a boy named Li.
"You will sail farther than all!" said Li, carefully placing it on the water. The boat rocked as if nodding in response and floated downstream.
But the wind, who was blowing along the river that day, was strong and restless. "Oh, what a beautiful toy!" he thought, seeing the paper boat. "I want to play with it too!"
With these words, the wind blew harder, hoping to drive the boat away faster. But his gust was so strong that the boat capsized. Its bow got caught in the grass, and the edges became wet.
"What are you doing?" the boat asked angrily, trembling from the waves. "You completely destroyed me!"
The wind was surprised: "I only wanted to help you sail faster. Why are you angry?"
"You are too rough," replied the boat. "I am made of paper, not wood. If you play so harshly, I will fall apart. You need to be gentler and more careful."
The wind thought about it. He had never considered how he affected others. "What should I do to avoid causing harm?" he asked.
"Try blowing more gently," suggested the boat. "That way you can help without destroying."
The wind tried to blow gently. The boat straightened up, its bow glided smoothly over the water, and it sailed onward. "That's how," it said. "Now your breezes are as gentle as a friend's touch."
From then on, the wind learned to be careful. He no longer played roughly with children's toys and helped the boats sail calmly down the river instead of capsizing them. And the boat, sailing onward, told other toys about how important it is to explain rather than get angry.
The children on the bank watched their boats happily. "The wind has become so kind," they said. "Now our boats sail far and peacefully."
Moral of the Story: Strength must be controlled to be beneficial. Patience and respect for others make the game joyful for everyone.
Discussion Questions for Children:
- Why was the boat unhappy with the wind?
- How did the wind change to help the boat?
- What does this fairy tale teach us?
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