Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented in
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
with subtitles in Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Thai
and Spanish.
The art of
Aulacese puppetry
began around 255 BCE,
during the time
when the Cổ Loa Citadel
was constructed by
King An Dương Vương.
Like music,
puppetry conveys unique
cultural characteristics
of each nation.
It is divided into
two main categories:
traditional puppetry
and water puppetry.
Although
performing styles
and stage techniques
of traditional and water
puppetries are different,
both have distinctive
features, including
arrangement of puppets,
making of puppets,
and methods of handling
the puppets to make them
lively and real.
Today, Aulacese puppetry
is a member of the
International Union
of Puppetry, currently
headquartered in France.
The traditional puppetry
entitled
“The Three Droplets
of Magic Water” is based
on an Aulacese legend
that teaches children to
love and care for others,
beginning with
their family members
and gradually extending
to all beings.
Love is the magic nectar
that can save lives
and bring happiness to
ourselves and everyone.
We now invite you
to enjoy the
traditional puppet show
“The Three Droplets
of Magic Water,” created
by playwright/director
Hoàng Duẩn
and produced by
Trùng Dương Audio
& Video Center.
Once upon a time,
there was a boy
named Tích Chu.
His parents passed away
when he was very young,
so he lived
with his grandma.
All day long from
morning till evening,
Tích Chu just roamed
from one village
to another, neglecting
all household chores.
One day,
his grandma fell ill.
O Tích Chu!
The boy is gone again.
I wonder
where he is now.
I’m going home, friends.
See you next time.
Tomorrow then.
We’ll play again tomorrow.
O Grandma! Have you
cooked dinner yet?
I’m so hungry now.
Is my meal ready,
Grandma?
I’m very tired.
I’m sick today,
so I couldn’t get up to cook.
Tích Chu, how about
you go rinse the rice and
cook a meal to help me?
O God! Cooking?
How can I cook?
Well, if you don’t cook,
I’ll go play some more.
I’m going now.
Tích Chu! The boy
likes to play so much.
How come I feel so tired?
Tích Chu, I feel exhausted.
I’m so thirsty.
Help get me some water.
Tích Chu!
Tích Chu! Tích Chu!
O Grandma! I’m back.
Grandma,
is dinner ready yet?
I’m starving.
Strange!
Where’s Grandma?
O Grandma!
I’m so hungry,
but I don’t know
where Grandma is.
O Grandma!
Tích Chu, my child!
You are... (I’m a Fairy.)
You’re a Fairy?
Really? O Fairy!
Do you know
where my grandma is?
Please tell me, Fairy.
O Fairy!
You liked to play
and didn’t take care
of your grandma
when she was ill.
She was very thirsty,
but no one helped her,
so your grandma
unfortunately already
turned into a bird.
What did you say?
My grandma already
turned into a bird?
No, I don’t believe it!
I do not believe it.
Because she loves you
very much,
while flying around,
she keeps calling
your name.
That is the Tích Chu Bird.
Tích Chu! O Tích Chu!
Grandma! (Tích Chu!)
O Grandma!
Is that my grandma?
O Fairy, please help.
Please help
turn my grandma back
into a human, O Fairy!
Tích Chu, my child.
Your grandma has turned
into a bird already.
I can’t help you at all.
What to do now?
What should I do now?
O Fairy!
Please, please help me.
Please bring her back,
O Fairy!
Tích Chu,
it’s too late to cry now.
O Fairy, I beg you!
Your tears cannot bring
your grandma back to life.
Only with three droplets
of magic water
can you turn her
into a human again.
Magic water? Where is it?
On top of
the Fairy Mountain,
at the end of the horizon.
I’ll get there by all means.
Hold on! The road
to the Magic Stream
is very dangerous
and difficult.
Only those with patience
and courage
can obtain water
from the Magic Stream.
I’m afraid
you can’t make it.
No matter how dangerous
or hard it is,
I’ll try to overcome.
If my grandma
becomes human again,
I’ll be very happy.
Tích Chu! (Yes.)
You only have
this one chance.
Remember
what you just said and
carry it out by all means.
Only then, can you
redeem your mistake.
Here, I give you
this bottle. (Yes.) Take it.
Go to the west,
cross 3 rivers and 3 forests,
then you will reach the
top of Fairy Mountain.
There you’ll find
the ever-flowing
Magic Stream
with crystal clear
and aromatic water.
Bring that water home
to your grandma.
Remember,
you need only 3 drops.
Good luck on your journey.
Thank you very much, Sir.
I’ll go right now.
Tích Chu! Tích Chu!
O Grandma! Wait for me.
I’ll bring back the
magic water to save you.
I’m a tiger who
has lived very long
in an ancient forest.
I’m the lord of
all the wild animals.
No one can escape me.
No one can escape me.
I’m a tiger who
has lived very long
in an ancient forest.
I’m the lord of
all the wild animals.
No one can escape me.
No one can escape me.
I haven’t had any food
for a few days.
There’s a boy
who brings himself here.
He’s coming. I’ll hide here.
I’m so tired!
I’ve been walking
since this morning
but no water is seen.
Ah! There’s a trail.
(Boy!) Who are you?
Need you ask?
Who are you?
O Sir,
please spare my life!
Please, let me go, Sir!
I can’t let you go!
I’m the lord of this forest.
Please let me go.
Sir, have pity
and spare my life.
Spare your life? I will,
if you answer my question.
Where are you going?
I... I...
Why are you coming
to my forest?
I’m looking
for the magic water
at the Fairy Stream.
What? You? Looking for
the magic water?
Little brat! (Yes... Sir.)
Don’t you lie to me!
Even I myself
dare not go there,
much less a tiny tot like you.
It’s the truth.
I’m really here
for the magic water.
O Sir, please let me go!
Please, Sir.
All right, I’ll let you go,
but listen to my question.
Why are you looking
for the magic water?
I’m looking for
the magic water
to save my grandma.
Why do you have to
save your grandma?
My grandma unfortunately
turned into a bird.
It’s all because of me.
O Sir, please have pity
and let me go
to bring water back
to save my grandma.
Saving your grandma?
Yes, honest!
I promise you after
I find the magic water,
I’ll come here
to offer my life.
I promise! O Grandma!
How can I save you?
O Sir, if you were me,
you’d do the same.
Tích Chu! (Yes.)
Tích Chu! (Yes.)
I also made a mistake
long ago.
I was too busy
having fun, and
my grandma died on me.
All this time,
I’ve been living alone
in this forest.
I lacked love
so I became meaner
and more domineering.
I admire your courage
to sacrifice yourself
to save your grandma.
Tích Chu! (Yes.)
From now on,
you and I are friends, okay?
Oh, really, Sir?
Yes. I’ll help you reach
the Magic Stream faster.
Thank you very much, Sir.
I’m going now.
Wait!
I have this magic staff,
a gift for you.
It’ll help you when needed.
O magic staff!
Help Tích Chu on his
way to the Magic Stream.
Now, I’ll take you
out of this forest.
Quickly,
or you’ll be late! (Yes.)
You’re gonna die!
Mommy, please rescue me!
Be quiet!
You’re still crying?
Stop wailing, little rabbit!
You’re lost in this forest;
no one will come
to save you.
You’ll surely die.
O Mommy!
Hush! Ah, I caught you!
You dare fight against
me, stubborn rabbit?
O wolf!
Who are you, little rascal?
I’m a friend of
the lord of this forest.
Let that rabbit go now!
Go away! Otherwise,
don’t blame me.
You don’t believe me?
Watch this! Magic staff !
(Where?)
Help the little rabbit!
Ouch! Ouch!
Thank you, big brother.
Who are you?
How come you came
to save me?
I’m Tích Chu.
Don’t be scared anymore.
I’m scared...
Don’t be scared, little one.
But why are you here?
I was busy looking for food
and lost my way
in this forest.
If I hadn’t met you...
I understand now.
Go home, little one!
I have to go now.
Tích Chu,
where are you going?
I’m looking
for the magic water.
Magic water?
You’re looking
for magic water?
Why? You know
where that stream is?
Do you know, Rabbit?
Do you know where it is?
Where is it?
Yes, I know.
It’s over there.
Over there?
Yes, there!
But before reaching
the Magic Stream,
you must put up
with a rain
that’s cold to the bone.
Whoever can overcome
that rain can
get the magic water.
Many people had tried
but none ever came back.
I’m afraid
you can’t bear it.
It’s all right. I must
get there by all means.
Thank you, little one.
I’m going now.
Brother Tích Chu!
Be careful!
He might die from freezing.
I’m exhausted.
Ah! The Magic Stream
is over there!
It’s the Magic Stream,
Grandma!
So cold! Oh...
why is it so cold?
My arms and legs
can’t move anymore.
It’s freezing cold.
I’ll probably die!
Tích Chu! Tích Chu!
Grandma!
I can’t collapse here.
I must be brave
to run quickly over there.
I’m exhausted!
One, two, three droplets!
With this water,
I will save my grandma.
She’ll become human again.
Tích Chu!
Why are you
in such a hurry?
Come here!
Who... are you?
Don’t be afraid!
I’m just the overseer
of this stream.
Oh, so this water is...
Correct!
This water is mine.
Whoever drinks it will
become young again.
The dead will come back
to life.
The living will live longer.
It’s real magic water,
Grandma!
Right!
That is magic water.
Drink it to live
a thousand years,
and you can play
all you want.
Why bother to bring it back?
No! This water
is for my grandma.
I must bring it back
to save her.
Never mind, just drink it
and stay here with me.
You’ll be king of the world,
don’t you like that?
No, I don’t.
I’ll bring this water
back to my grandma.
Look here! I’m fine
without a mother.
I even own this
entire Magic Stream.
Do you want to be the
owner of this stream?
No. I can’t live
without my grandma.
In that case,
you can’t go anywhere.
Return that water to me!
(No!)
Give it back! (I won’t!)
Give it back!
No! Let me go.
Let me go!
Magic staff, help me!
Oh! You’re the Fairy.
Tích Chu,
you’re a very good boy.
Now, return
the magic staff to me.
Ah! So it was you.
Correct! I arranged
everything to test you.
Tích Chu, in this world,
everyone
has made mistakes,
but the important thing is
whether one is willing
to change.
I advise you to listen
to your elders
from now on
and rise above
your shortcomings.
Now, bring the water
back to your grandma,
as it won’t be effective
after so long.
Thank you, Fairy.
Tích Chu! Tích Chu!
O Grandma!
Please drink this!
It’s the magic water.
Tích Chu! Tích Chu!
Grandma, Grandma!
Tích Chu, dear!
O Grandma,
please forgive me.
I promise to do
as you say from now on.
I will help you.
I won’t loaf around
like before.
Grandma,
please forgive me.
It’s all right.
Stand up, my child.
Let’s go home
before it gets dark.
Yes, let’s go home,
Grandma.
The playwright and
director Hoàng Duẩn
of the puppet show
“The Three Droplets
of Magic Water”
has received
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
gifts along with
her wishes for success
and all the best.
He has expressed
his appreciation
for Supreme Master’s
caring concern.
Thank you for watching
today’s program.
We invite you to watch
other Aulacese folk arts
in future broadcasts.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up next
is Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
Farewell for now.
T