the legend of Bawshou
So I was reading a book, "Bawshou Resecues the Sun" to my daughter in the weekend and it occurred to me that this is yet another instance where soil appears in a significant folk story.
"Bawshou Resecues the Sun" is based on a traditional Han Chinese story about the sun being stolen by the King of devils (variously, a powerful dragon). Bawshou's father dies in an attempt to rescue the sun, even when aided by the golden phoenix. Bawshou continues the quest, helped by the same phoenix, but his success hinges ultimately on reaching the home of the devils across the mighty Eastern ocean. He is able to do this because some helpful villagers give him a packet of "earth" (for which I read soil), which transforms itself into a chain of islands as he sprinkles grains upon the water.
It's also interesting how here, as in many other contexts, the word "earth" is used synonymously with "soil"... but that's for another time.
Bawshou Rescues The Sun, by Chun-Chan Yeh and Allan Baillie, illustrated by Michelle Powell. Ashton Scholastic, Sydney, 1991.
土壤
I have worked at UWA since 1995, coming from New Zealand to take an appointment as Lecturer in the Soil Science group in the former Faculty of Agriculture. I completed my PhD, from Lincoln University in New Zealand, in 1991. If you really want to find out about work stuff go
here. In real life I love my wife, daughter and guitar. Occasionally, I wish I had chosen a career as a carpenter, counsellor or poet.