The ogre of RashomonLong ago in Kyoto, the city's residents were deeply concerned by reports of a fearsome ogre said to haunt the Rashomon Gate at dusk and abduct anyone who passed by. The missing individuals were never found, leading to rumors that the ogre was a gruesome cannibal who not only killed the unfortunat…
The GuestAn old hag lived in a house with her grandson. She was a very bad woman who thought of nothing but playing mischief. She was a witch and tried to harm everyone with witchcraft.One time, a stranger came to visit some friends who lived in a house near the old woman. The visitor was a fine hunter and …
The Spirit of the Singing HouseThe singing house of an Eskimo village is used also for feasting and dancing, and always has a spirit owner who is supposed to remain in it at all times. Once, a woman was curious about this spirit and wanted to see it. For a long time, she had wanted to know more about the spirit of the singing ho…
The Bird WifeItajung, an Inuit, was vexed because a young woman would not marry him, so he left his home and traveled far away into the land of the birds. He came to a small lake where many geese were swimming. On the shore, he saw many boots. He cautiously crept near and stole a pair, hiding them.Presently, th…
The Woman MagicianLong ago, in Aggo, a country where nobody lives nowadays, there were two large houses standing far apart. In each of these houses many families lived together. In the summer the people in the two houses went in company to hunt deer and had a good time together. When fall came they returned to their…
the Giant In days of old an enormous man lived with other members of the Inuit tribe in a village beside a large inlet. He was so tall that he could straddle the inlet, and he used to stand that way every morning and wait for the whales to pass beneath him. As soon as one came along he used to scoop it up ju…
The magical turtleApart from Sentosa Island, Singapore comprises over 60 other islands, several of which are accessible by boat. Hop on a southern island cruise to explore Kusu Island (Kusu means ‘turtle’ in Hokkien dialect), which remains tied to several legends. In one, a giant turtle saved a group of sailors from…
Sandy: The Giant Fish-Turned MonkThis is the story of how a warrior turned man-eating fish-ogre becomes a Buddhist friar. His name is Sand Monk, or Sandy or short. Shortly after Pigsy joins Tang Monk and Monkey King on their pilgrimage, the band arrives at the banks of an impassable river 300 miles wide. What’s worse, it’s inhabit…
Sisters’ IslandsLying south of Sentosa, Sisters’ Islands refer to Pulau Subar Darat and Pulau Subar Laut. Many years ago, there was a pair of sisters Minah and Linah living by the southern coast of Singapore. Being very attached to each other, the sisters vowed to marry two brothers so that they could live togethe…
SingapuraSang Nila Utama, or Sri Tri Buana, was once the ruler of the Srivijaya Empire at Sumatra. According to legends, he went on an expedition in the late 13th century, and discovered an island with white sandy shore. After learning that the place was called Temasik (Temasek), Sang Nila Utama decided to …
Meet the great Jade EmperorThe Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝 yù huáng dà dì) is famously known as the leader of the Heavens in traditional Chinese folklore, especially in Taoism, and also in Journey to the West, the classic novel about Monkey King and Tang Monk on a dangerous quest for Buddhist scriptures. According to the Records of t…
Singapore’s HerculesAnother well-known Singapore folk tale? Enter Badang, a Malay hero in ancient Singapore who may have been the country’s only answer to Hercules, if at all. As a poor fisherman who lived on the banks of the Singapore River, he would set a trap to catch fish every evening. When he discovered a water …
Dschang LiangDschang Liang was a native of one of those states which had been destroyed by the Emperor Tsin Schi Huang. And Dschang Liang determined to do a deed for his dead king’s sake, and to that end gathered followers with whom to slay Tsin Schi Huang. Once Tsin Schi Huang was making a progress through the…
SelegieThe legend about Selegie Road is that it was the location of many great battles that took place in ancient Singapore. When Temasek fell in 1377, the last ruler of the kingdom was believed to have fled via this road, still a dirt track then, to Seletar. He escaped by the waters at the coast of Selet…
Why the Sun and the Moon live in the Sky.Many years ago, the sun and water were great friends, and they both lived on the earth togther. The sun very often used to visit the water, but the water never returned the visits. At last the sun asked the water why he never visited. The water replied that the sun's house was not big enough, and t…
Redhill and Tanjong PagarA long time ago, the southern coast of Singapore was infested by numerous fierce swordfish. The villagers and fishermen could not ply their trades at the sea, as they would be attacked by these fearsome creatures if they ever ventured near the waters. The people requested help from the Sultan, but …
Dragons Myths and legends of Western cultures frequently depict dragons as brutish monsters that are usually slain by heroes; however, Chinese myths paint the dragon as a more elegant and mystical figure. In Daoism, dragons are benevolent spirits who are kind to humans and associated with prosperity. Drago…
The Necklace and The CombIn the early days, the sky hung low and people could easily reach the clouds. Inday, a beautiful girl who was given family heirlooms for her sixteenth birthday, loved to wear her precious necklace and comb even while she worked. One day, as she was husking rice with a mortar and a pestle, she put h…
Chinese DragonMyths and legends of Western cultures frequently depict dragons as brutish monsters that are usually slain by heroes; however, Chinese myths paint the dragon as a more elegant and mystical figure. In Daoism, dragons are benevolent spirits who are kind to humans and associated with prosperity. Drago…
Pulau UbinHow did the island of Pulau Ubin form in the first place? A legendary tale explains that in the early days, an elephant, a pig and a frog challenged one another to reach the Johor shores from mainland Singapore. The stakes were high, as those who did not succeed would be turned into rock. The frog,…
The Monkey and the TurtleThe Monkey and the Turtle A monkey and a turtle were once friends. One day, they saw a banana-plant floating on the water. They decided to split it and planted each half. Monkey thought the top part was better, so he planted it and watched in dismay as it died. Turtle planted the roots and was rewa…
Pulau Blakang Mati The former name of Sentosa was Pulau Blakang Mati, where Blakang Mati means “behind the dead” in Malay. No one knows exactly how the name of the island came about, but there were many legends about its origin. According to one version, the island was once a place of piracy and bloodshed in the past…
Black artsThe dwell in the South-West are masters of many black arts. They often lure men of the Middle Kingdom to their country by promising them their daughters in marriage, but their promises are not to be trusted. Once there was the son of a poor family, who agreed to labor for three years for one of the…
The carabao and the shellOne very hot day, when a carabao went into the river to bathe, he met a shell and they began talking together. "You are very slow," said the carabao to the shell. "Oh, no," replied the shell. "I can beat you in a race." "Then let us try and see," said the carabao. So they went out on the bank and s…
MerlionOne night, the villagers living by the southern coast of Temasek were awakened by the howling winds and the crashing waves. The dark clouds blocked out the lights of the moon and the stars, turning the world in complete darkness. It was as though the island of Temasek would be engulfed by the ragin…
