Noggin Story Time Ma Lien And The Magic Paintbrush
Ma Lien And The Magic Paintbrush is a Chinese folktale that has been passed down from generation to generation. The story was first recorded in a book called “Liaozhai Zhiyi” written by Pu Songling in the Qing Dynasty. The story has inspired many artists and writers, and it has been adapted into various forms of entertainment, including movies, TV shows, and children’s books. This article will retell the story of Ma Lien And The Magic Paintbrush in simple terms, targeting American readers.
The Story Of Ma Lien And The Magic Paintbrush
Ma Lien was a poor orphan who lived in a small village in China. He loved to draw and paint, but he didn’t have any money to buy paintbrushes and paint. One day, while he was walking in the forest, he saw an old man who was lost and hungry. Ma Lien gave the old man some food and water, and the old man was so grateful that he gave Ma Lien a magic paintbrush.
The old man told Ma Lien that the paintbrush was magic and that whatever he painted with it would come to life. Ma Lien was amazed and didn’t believe the old man at first. But when he tried the paintbrush, he was surprised to see that whatever he painted came to life. He painted a bowl of rice, and the rice became real. He painted a house, and the house became real.
Ma Lien was overjoyed and used the magic paintbrush to help the poor and the needy in his village. He painted food, clothing, and houses for them. The people in the village were amazed and grateful for Ma Lien’s kindness.
One day, the greedy and cruel emperor heard about Ma Lien’s magic paintbrush and summoned him to the palace. The emperor ordered Ma Lien to paint a mountain of gold and jewels for him. Ma Lien refused, saying that he only used the magic paintbrush to help others, not for personal gain.
The emperor was furious and threatened to kill Ma Lien if he didn’t obey. Ma Lien decided to trick the emperor by painting a mountain of gold and jewels, but also painting a fierce dragon to guard it. When the emperor tried to take the gold and jewels, the dragon came to life and chased him away.
Ma Lien continued to use his magic paintbrush to help others, but he had to be careful not to attract the emperor’s attention again. He lived a long and happy life, and his magic paintbrush became a legend in China.
The Moral Of The Story
The story of Ma Lien And The Magic Paintbrush teaches us about the power of kindness and selflessness. Ma Lien used his gift to help others and never asked for anything in return. He also stood up to the emperor and refused to use his gift for personal gain. The story also shows that greed and cruelty will always be punished in the end.
Conclusion
Ma Lien And The Magic Paintbrush is a timeless story that has inspired generations of Chinese people. The story’s message of kindness, selflessness, and justice is universal and relevant to people of all ages and cultures. The story also reminds us of the importance of using our talents and gifts to help others and make the world a better place.
