Songs from India
Story one: From Greece
An Ass once found a Lion’s skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day. In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said: “Ah, I knew you by your voice.” Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.(Aesop)
Story two: From China
In ancient China, the donkey was only produced in the north. Very few people from the south had ever seen it, not to mention other animals. One year, a officious man bought a donkey and shipped it to Guizhou (a province in south China), but when it arrived, he could not find the use for it. So he put it at the foot of the mountain and let it be. When the donkey was eating grass, a tiger ran out of the mountain and saw it. Scared by its big size, the tiger thought that it must be a divine monster. He was so afraid that he dared not show himself to the donkey. He hid himself in the forest and spied it from under cover. Sometimes the tiger carefully walk a little nearer, but still kept a respectful distance. One day, when the tiger was peeking, the donkey suddenly gave a loud bray which nearly frightened the tiger to death and made him quickly ran away with the fear of being eaten. After a while, seeing the donkey did not chase him, the tiger sneaked back and walked closer. He realized that though it had a huge body, the donkey seemed to have no special ability. Gradually, the tiger became used to the donkey's braying and was no longer so afraid. Sometimes he came near and circled around the donkey. But he did not yet have the courage to fight him. Later the tiger became bolder. He even walked by the donkey's side and jostled it on purpose. The donkey was irritated and struck out his hind legs, kicking wildly. This made the tiger laughed. He thought to himself, "That is all it can do? Such a big thing can do so little!' With a roar he rushed at the donkey and ate it up. (chinesestoryonline)
Story Three: From India
The Donkey in the Tiger-Skin
There was once a laundryman named Clean-Cloth in a certain town. He had a single donkey who had grown very feeble from lack of fodder. [410}
As the laundryman wandered in the forest, he saw a dead tiger, and he thought: "Ah, this is lucky. I will put this tiger-skin on the donkey and let him loose in the barley fields at night. For the farmers will think him a tiger and will not drive him out."
When this was done, the donkey ate barley to his heart's content. And at dawn the laundryman took him back to the barn. So as time passed, he grew plump. He could hardly squeeze into the stall.
But one day the donkey heard the bray of a she-donkey in the distance. At the mere sound he himself began to bray. Then the farmers perceived that he was a donkey in disguise, and killed him with blows from clubs and stones and arrows.
"And that is why I say:
However skilful in disguise, . . .(oaks)
The Silk Road: More than just a "sales" route
These three stories originated from three different parts of the world, and yet they all show certain similarities. All three stories involved a donkey and a case of mistaken identity, caused either by an actual disguise (the lion/tiger skin) or by unfamiliarity. All three stories ended badly for the donkey when his true nature was revealed. These stories are but one example of the transfer of information allowed by travelers on the Silk Road.
Merchants traveling the road brought more with them than just merchandise. They also brought their stories and beliefs. It was not just folktales that traveled the road- religions did as well. This was one way that Buddhism came to China, and the first Christians too.
References
Aesop. "Aesop's Fables". Seoul, Korea. Sam Joong Dang Publications Co. Ltd, 1987
http://chinesestoryonline.com/fable-story/96-the-donkey-of-guizhou.html , accessed April 18, 2012
http://oaks.nvg.org/pt66.html#donkeyinskin ,accessed April 18, 2012