The Stonecutter
Encyclopedia
The Stonecutter is a Chinese folklore
of unknown authorship. It is closely related to the themes of The Fisherman and His Wife
, a well known fairy tale
collected by the Brothers Grimm
. In the legend
, a poor stonecutter takes notice of the lifestyles of those from higher in the social hierarchy and wishes to become them. Despite having his wishes granted, the stonecutter is still unsatisfied and later desires to become more powerful by embodying forces within nature. Eventually, after a chain of events, he ultimately realizes satisfaction with his place in society and nature as a lowly stonecutter.
and Japan
before it was first translated by David Brauns in Japanische Märchen und Sagen (1885). Andrew Lang
drew upon this source to publish his translation of the tale in The Crimson Fairy Book
(1903). However, in Japanese sources the legend is said to be European, and the stonecutter's name is given as Hans. Variants appear across cultures and continents, including The Fisherman and His Wife by the Brothers Grimm
.
of fairy tales, The Stonecutter is a tale of type 555, folktales about dissatisfaction and greed. The morals of such stories recommend against trying to be anything but yourself and to be careful what you wish for while embodying the spirit of the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side."
The story of the Stonecutter is a prime example of cyclical thinking in Eastern philosophy
. While the similar cumulative tale
The Fisherman and His Wife is explicitly moralist in tone, The Stonecutters lesson proceeds from a more philosophical viewpoint. At the end, the stonecutter simply realises that his greedy longings are futile because power is relative
(compare: food chain
). The fisherman's wife however has no end to her ambition, and keeps asking for more influence; first nobleman, then king, then emperor
, then pope
until at last she wants to become God
himself. The magic fish then punishes her (blasphemous) greed by sending her back to her poor hut (compare "hubris
" in Greek mythology
.)
The Stonecutters central theme is reflected in the popular hand game paper, rock, scissors, which (unsurprisingly) also has its origins in East Asia
.
Chinese folklore
Chinese folklore includes songs, dances, puppetry, and tales. It often tells stories of human nature, historical or legendary events, love, and the supernatural, or stories explaining natural phenomena and distinctive landmarks.-Folktales:...
of unknown authorship. It is closely related to the themes of The Fisherman and His Wife
The Fisherman and His Wife
The Fisherman and His Wife is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale no. 19. It is Aarne-Thompson type 555, the fisherman and his wife. Its theme was used in The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish, a 1835 poem by Aleksandr Pushkin. Mrs Ramsey reads the story to James, her son in...
, a well known fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
collected by the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
. In the legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
, a poor stonecutter takes notice of the lifestyles of those from higher in the social hierarchy and wishes to become them. Despite having his wishes granted, the stonecutter is still unsatisfied and later desires to become more powerful by embodying forces within nature. Eventually, after a chain of events, he ultimately realizes satisfaction with his place in society and nature as a lowly stonecutter.
Origins
The exact author of The Stonecutter is unknown but the tale was already widespread in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
before it was first translated by David Brauns in Japanische Märchen und Sagen (1885). Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang was a Scots poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him.- Biography :Lang was born in Selkirk...
drew upon this source to publish his translation of the tale in The Crimson Fairy Book
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books — also known as Andrew Lang's "Coloured" Fairy Books or Andrew Lang's Fairy Books of Many Colors — are a series of twelve collections of fairy tales, published between 1889 and 1910...
(1903). However, in Japanese sources the legend is said to be European, and the stonecutter's name is given as Hans. Variants appear across cultures and continents, including The Fisherman and His Wife by the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
.
Analysis
According to the Aarne-Thompson classification systemAarne-Thompson classification system
The Aarne–Thompson classification system is a system for classifying folktales. First developed by Antti Aarne and published in 1910, it was translated and enlarged by Stith Thompson...
of fairy tales, The Stonecutter is a tale of type 555, folktales about dissatisfaction and greed. The morals of such stories recommend against trying to be anything but yourself and to be careful what you wish for while embodying the spirit of the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side."
The story of the Stonecutter is a prime example of cyclical thinking in Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy includes the various philosophies of Asia, including Chinese philosophy, Iranian philosophy, Japanese philosophy, Indian philosophy and Korean philosophy...
. While the similar cumulative tale
Cumulative tale
In a cumulative tale, sometimes also called a chain tale, action or dialogue repeats and builds up in some way as the tale progresses. With only the sparest of plots, these tales often depend upon repetition and rhythm for their effect, and can require a skilled storyteller to negotiate their...
The Fisherman and His Wife is explicitly moralist in tone, The Stonecutters lesson proceeds from a more philosophical viewpoint. At the end, the stonecutter simply realises that his greedy longings are futile because power is relative
Relative
-General use:*Kinship, the principle binding the most basic social units society. If two people are connected by circumstances of birth, they are said to be relatives-Philosophy:...
(compare: food chain
Food chain
A food web depicts feeding connections in an ecological community. Ecologists can broadly lump all life forms into one of two categories called trophic levels: 1) the autotrophs, and 2) the heterotrophs...
). The fisherman's wife however has no end to her ambition, and keeps asking for more influence; first nobleman, then king, then emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
, then pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
until at last she wants to become God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
himself. The magic fish then punishes her (blasphemous) greed by sending her back to her poor hut (compare "hubris
Hubris
Hubris , also hybris, means extreme haughtiness, pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power....
" in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.)
The Stonecutters central theme is reflected in the popular hand game paper, rock, scissors, which (unsurprisingly) also has its origins in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
.
External links and references
- The Stonecutter - original translation by Andrew Lang from The Crimson Fairy Tale Book.
- Hofus the Stonecutter' - from the Riverside Third Reader (adapted)