THE DRAGON PRINCE AND THE STEPMOTHER--A Persian Fairytale

THE DRAGON PRINCE AND THE STEPMOTHER--A Persian Fairytale

ISSN: 2397-9607 Issue 422 In this 422nd issue of the Baba Indaba's Children's Stories series, Baba Indaba narrates the Japanese Legend, "The Dragon Prince and the Stepmother". In an Eastern land a Padishah (King) and his wife were childless, despite many years of marriage. One day the Padishah's fell ill and none could cure her. Eventually a maiden arrives with a cure and son is born, whose form, however, was that of a dragon. The monarch was not pleased, but nonetheless contended himself with the thought that he now had a son. Many years later it was time to start teaching the dragon-prince. All who tried were killed or driven off. Once again the young maiden came to the Padishah's aid and began to instruct the son, with positive results. Eventually the dragon-prince falls in love with the maiden who reluctantly agrees to marry him. But there is magic afoot. Is the dragon-prince really a youth cursed to take the form of a...