Weaving Maiden Chinese Fairy Book COLOR IMAGE

Weaving Maiden Chinese Fairy Book FREE COLOR IMAGE - "This is the Seventh day, The Herd Boy his court to the Weaver doth pay!" and the Weaving Maiden was satisfied with the verdict. The Herd Boy laid down her clothes, and went on ahead. The Weaving Maiden drew them on and followed him. And thus they became man and wife. But after seven days she took leave of him.

"The Buler of Heaven has ordered me to look after my weaving," said she. "If I delay too long I fear that he will punish me. Yet, although we have to part now, we will meet again in spite of it."

When she had said these words she really went away. The Herd Boy ran after her. But when he was quite near she took one of the long needles from her hair and drew a line with it right across the sky, and this line turned into the Silver River. And thus they now stand, separated by the River, and watch for one another.

And since that time they meet once every year, on the eve of the Seventh Day. When that time comes, then all the crows in the world of men come flying and form a bridge over which the Weaving Maiden crosses the Silver River. And on that day you will not see a single crow in the trees, from morning to night, no doubt because of the reason I have mentioned. And besides, a fine rain often falls on the evening of the Seventh Day. Then the women and old grandmothers say to one another: "Those are the tears which the Herd Boy and the Weaving Maiden shed at parting!'' And for this reason the Seventh Day is a rain festival.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1921, are now in the public domain.

This image may however not be in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris), in this case George Washington Hood,, 1869-1949 and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year. This image may not be in the public domain in these countries, which moreover do not implement the rule of the shorter term to US works, If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

TEXT and IMAGE CREDIT: The Chinese Fairy Book, Editor: Richard Wilhelm. Illustrated by: George Washington Hood,, 1869-1949 Translated by: Frederick Herman Martens. Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1921. Original from: the University of California. Digitized: Sep 28, 2007. Length: 329 pages. Subjects: Fiction › Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, Fairy tales, Fiction / Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology, Legends, Social Science / Folklore & Mythology.