A young man named Yee-Lee goes on a journey to the Wise Man of Kun-lun Mountain to discover the reason for his poverty.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In this Chinese folktale, Yee-Lee undertakes a long journey to ask the Wise Man of Kun-lin Mountain the reason for his continual poverty. Along the way, several people whom he encounters request that Yee-Lee make inquiries on their behalf. The wise man allows him only three questions, however, and Yee-Lee selflessly foregoes his own concerns--and finds that helping others brings both spiritual and material rewards. Wang's smooth, straightforward retelling and Chen's muted illustrations are low-key and appealing, but not in any way distinctive--the result is a pleasing but not especially memorable tale. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- Long ago in China there lived a man named Yee-Lee, a poor farmer who never had enough to eat in spite of his hard work. He decides to travel to the Wise Man of Kun-lun Mountain to seek advice. Along his journey he encounters three people who implore him to ask questions for them as well. When Yee-Lee reaches his destination, the Wise Man will only allow him to ask an odd number of questions. Yee-Lee then sets aside his own request to obtain answers for his new friends. As he returns home, the three answers each benefit him in turn; in the end Yee-Lee has learned that helping others can bring its own rewards. The story is an interesting variation on an old folklore motif, and the illustrations have a luminous quality with strong line and muted colors. There is plenty of action in the drawings for use with a group reading and much detail to please children reading alone. A well-designed book with a solid story, this is certain to become an old favorite. --Connie C. Rockman, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Modern Chinese Tale?,
This review is from: The Fourth Question: A Chinese Tale (Hardcover)
This may be a modern adaptation of an old tale? Another possibility is a rewrite for very young western audience. There are at least 3 dozen versions of the "Cowherd & The Weaving Maiden" Each one is quite different, meaning that my not getting the feeling of a Chinese Tale, may be wrong. Besides, who says it should have that feel? The writing and illustrations are very good and probably should be enjoyed strictly on what you will appreciate.
One version is in Dover's "Chinese Fairy Tales" Frederick H. Martens. illustrated by Yuko Green. There are 15 other tales. The story is very different than others. Who is to say one is better? "The Fourth Question" is not in the Dover Publication cited.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some questions can't be answered with words,
By
This review is from: The Fourth Question: A Chinese Tale (Hardcover)
The young man in this story is a good son who does his best to provide for his mother, but despite his hard work is always short on food and clothing. In desperation, he takes a long journey to see the Wise Man and ask why this is the case. Along the way, he meets with an old woman who wants to know why her beautiful daughter has never spoken, an old man who wants to know why his tree has never borne fruit, and a dragon who wants to know why he hasn't ascended to heaven despite his millenium of good behavior. When he gets to the Wise Man, he is instructed that he can't ask all four of his questions and will have to leave one out. After considering the way the other three helped him, he decides to leave his question off.
When he returns, he tells the dragon he must remove the pearl on his forehead, whereupon the dragon sprouts antlers and flies to Heaven. When he meets the old man, he tells him to drain his pond and take out the buckets of gold, then water the tree with the new clear water. After doing so, the tree sprouts fruit, and the man is rewarded with a bucket of gold. When he meets up with the old woman, he tells her that her daughter will speak when she sees the man she loves. When the daughter utters her first words after seeing the young man, her mother offers her daughter in marriage, and the young man happily accepts. When the young man returns with his pearl, gold and bride to his aged mother, he is saddened to find that she has gone blind in his absence. When he wishes that she could see and the wish is granted, he realizes that the pearl has the power to grant wishes. With his wife and mother by his side, the man and his family never go hungry again. Good deeds are their own reward, as the cover liner states, but also some questions cannot be answered with words except the vaguest kind, such as, "Because sometimes life in unfair," or the "place you live in doesn't have good growing conditions." All of the young man's friends' problems had straight forward solutions, but poverty- especially one you've been born into- is especially complicated. The journey itself, which brought him into contact with people who could help, was part of his answer. Young children will enjoy the beautiful illustrations and sweet story, while older children and their parents will have deeper issues to discuss.
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