tricks are for...
Jan. 21st, 2005 01:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chelidonSo, thanks to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
contentlove who got me thinking about tricksters this morning, I'll pass on this tale of Balgansang, who is a Mongolian trickster figure. It suffers a bit in translation, but you get the idea.
I like to study trickster stories so I know what to watch out for in case I ever run into one someday. *blink*
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One day Balgansang said to his good friend, "I want that official to bark like a dog." His friend replied worriedly, "Oh, that's not a joke and it's dangerous." "No, it's not and, if you don't believe me, just watch," said Balgansang. They went up to the official and Balgansang asked, "How does a lap-dog bark, sir? Some say the bark sounds like 'wing-wing,' while others say 'wang-wang.' I don't know which is correct." The official responded, "Its bark always sounds like 'wong-wong,'" with the attitude of a teacher.
Later Balgansang said to his friend, "I want to get the official to eat dog feces. Do you believe I can?" His friend advised, "My good friend, don't try. You are playing with your head." "No I'm not. Just watch," Balgansang said. Then they both went to the official, bringing some dried dog feces. Balgansang said, "Respectible official, please examine this medicine to see whether or not it's musk." The official tasted the feces and said with assurance, "It's surely musk, but not high quality!"
On the third occasion, Balgansang asked his friend, "Do you believe I can squeeze the official's penis?" His friend was aghast and said, "Please don't even think about such a joke." "It's very safe, just watch me!" Balgansang assured. A short time later, when the official was urinating, Balgansang suddenly ran up and squeezed his penis. The official angrily demanded, "Why did you do such a crazy thing?" Balgansang explained, "My good official, I had an illness that was incurable. I asked a high lama to treat me, but he said I could not be cured unless I grasped the penis of a god of heaven. I think that you must be my god of heaven, so I did this!" The official's expression turned to pleasure and he said, "Yes, it may be that I am a god of heaven to you!"
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contentlove who got me thinking about tricksters this morning, I'll pass on this tale of Balgansang, who is a Mongolian trickster figure. It suffers a bit in translation, but you get the idea.I like to study trickster stories so I know what to watch out for in case I ever run into one someday. *blink*
-------
One day Balgansang said to his good friend, "I want that official to bark like a dog." His friend replied worriedly, "Oh, that's not a joke and it's dangerous." "No, it's not and, if you don't believe me, just watch," said Balgansang. They went up to the official and Balgansang asked, "How does a lap-dog bark, sir? Some say the bark sounds like 'wing-wing,' while others say 'wang-wang.' I don't know which is correct." The official responded, "Its bark always sounds like 'wong-wong,'" with the attitude of a teacher.
Later Balgansang said to his friend, "I want to get the official to eat dog feces. Do you believe I can?" His friend advised, "My good friend, don't try. You are playing with your head." "No I'm not. Just watch," Balgansang said. Then they both went to the official, bringing some dried dog feces. Balgansang said, "Respectible official, please examine this medicine to see whether or not it's musk." The official tasted the feces and said with assurance, "It's surely musk, but not high quality!"
On the third occasion, Balgansang asked his friend, "Do you believe I can squeeze the official's penis?" His friend was aghast and said, "Please don't even think about such a joke." "It's very safe, just watch me!" Balgansang assured. A short time later, when the official was urinating, Balgansang suddenly ran up and squeezed his penis. The official angrily demanded, "Why did you do such a crazy thing?" Balgansang explained, "My good official, I had an illness that was incurable. I asked a high lama to treat me, but he said I could not be cured unless I grasped the penis of a god of heaven. I think that you must be my god of heaven, so I did this!" The official's expression turned to pleasure and he said, "Yes, it may be that I am a god of heaven to you!"
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