ONCE I received the module from my learning centre, I went through the content and found out that there are many different genres of literature works. I start to like this module as I love to read stories. ‘The Son of the Turtle Spirit’ was the first text that I read. This is an old Chinese folktale with the beliefs of spirits in human and animal. In Chinese’s belief, when people die, they turn into spirit and turn into animal. So animal can talk, walk, and change to human form. Anyway, only superior power can turn them into human form. Also, some Chinese believe that the people who stay on top of the cloud (somewhere like heaven) when come down, they will change into animal.
I have read articles and listened from my grandparents that some spirits are said to commit adultery with human men or women. This normally takes place during the seventh month of the Chinese calendar, the Ghost Month. This is the time when the gates of hell are opened in which spirits and ghosts, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out of the hell. The background knowledge of spirit reinforces my understanding of this story.
Anyway, despite the cultural and religion believes, there are some values to be learned. The first is work for your own success. The son of the turtle spirit is determined to dive into the river. He believes he can do the job and wants to be rewarded gold and silver. He needs the reward to make him and his mother to live better. From this we also learnt that the boy is brave to accept challenges. He is not fear of the words from the crowd who looks down at him. He has the courage to accept the challenge as he is sure of himself. All he needs is the permission and support from his mother. We learnt from this point that the boy is a very obedient child. Whatever he does, he will first acknowledge his mother, his only family member. Besides, he also follows his mother’s instructions when he dives into the bottom of the river.
At the end of the story, the kind-hearted, determine and brave boy becomes an extraordinary person. Because of his own strengths and remarkable behaviour, he became the Emperor. This interesting story can be used as a teaching material to teach students.
