Some folktales begin with an unexpected discovery, while others reveal how courage and quick thinking can help people survive difficult circumstances. The Cave of the Beasts is a traditional Chinese tale about two young sisters who find themselves abandoned in the mountains by their own father.
After discovering a hidden cave filled with precious stones, pearls and golden treasures, the sisters believe they have found a safe place to spend the night. However, the cave belongs to a wolf and a fox, whose unexpected return puts their lives in danger. Through careful observation and clever thinking, the girls find a way to protect themselves and eventually reunite with their family.
The Family of Seven Daughters
Once upon a time, there lived a family with seven daughters. Their father worked hard to provide for the household, and one day he went into the countryside to gather firewood.
While searching for wood, he discovered seven wild duck eggs. He collected them and carried them home, intending to eat them with his wife. He did not initially plan to share the eggs with his daughters.
That evening, the oldest daughter woke up and asked her mother what she was preparing. Her mother explained that she was cooking wild duck eggs and offered her one, provided she kept the meal secret from her sisters.
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The girl accepted the egg and ate it. Before long, the second daughter also woke up and asked what their mother was cooking. Her mother gave her the same explanation and offered her an egg on the condition that she told no one.
One after another, the daughters woke up and received an egg. Each was instructed to keep the meal secret from the others. By the time the last daughter had been served, all seven eggs had been eaten.
The mother had given away the entire meal without informing her husband. When morning came, the father discovered that the eggs were gone and became extremely angry.
The Father’s Cruel Plan
The following morning, the father asked his daughters who wanted to accompany him on a visit to their grandmother.
Although his invitation sounded harmless, he had a cruel intention. He planned to take the children into the mountains and abandon them there, hoping that wolves would devour them.
The older daughters suspected that something was wrong. They refused to accompany him, unwilling to leave home for the proposed journey.
However, the two youngest daughters agreed to go with their father. They did not realise that his invitation was a deception, and they climbed into the donkey-cart with him.
The journey continued for some distance until they reached the mountains. Their father then told them to wait while he travelled ahead to the village to inform their grandmother that they were coming.
The girls believed him and remained where he had left them. Their father climbed into his donkey-cart and drove away.
They waited for a long time, expecting him to return. However, he never came back. Eventually, the sisters understood that he had abandoned them in the mountains.
The Discovery of the Hidden Cave
Realising that they could not depend on their father to return, the two girls began searching for somewhere to spend the night.
They travelled further into the hills, looking for a suitable shelter. As darkness approached, they noticed a large stone lying nearby. They decided to use it as a pillow and rolled it towards the place where they intended to sleep.
While moving the stone, they discovered that it was not an ordinary rock. It served as the entrance to a hidden cave.
A strange light came from inside. Curious about what could be producing such brightness, the sisters entered the cave and discovered an extraordinary collection of treasures.
The cave contained precious stones, jewels and pearls stored in jars. Their brilliance illuminated the darkness, making the place appear beautiful and inviting.
The girls soon realised that the cave belonged to a wolf and a fox. Despite this discovery, they were attracted by the comfortable surroundings and the treasures within.
Two golden beds stood inside, covered with embroidered coverings made with gold. The sisters decided to rest there and lay down to sleep.
They had no idea that the owners of the cave would soon return.
The Wolf and the Fox Come Home
During the night, the wolf and the fox returned to their cave.
As soon as they entered, the wolf noticed something unusual. It sensed the presence of human beings and warned the fox that it could smell human flesh.
The fox dismissed the warning. It believed that no person could have entered the cave because the entrance was always securely closed.
The wolf accepted the explanation, and the two animals considered where they would sleep.
There were two beautiful golden beds in the cave, but the fox suggested that they should sleep inside the kettles on the hearth instead. The kettles still contained some warmth from the fire, making them comfortable places to rest.
One kettle was made of gold, while the other was made of silver. The wolf and fox climbed into them and curled up for the night.
The sisters remained asleep in the golden beds. Neither the animals nor the girls knew what the morning would bring.
The Sisters’ Clever Plan
When morning arrived, the two girls woke up and noticed the wolf and fox inside the kettles.
They were frightened by the sight. The animals were dangerous, and the sisters understood that they could easily become their next victims if they allowed them to escape.
Instead of panicking, the girls quickly devised a plan.
They covered the kettles and placed several large stones on top of them. This prevented the wolf and fox from climbing out.
After securing the coverings, the sisters lit a fire beneath the kettles.
At first, the animals did not understand what was happening. They felt the warmth of the fire and wondered why the morning seemed unusually comfortable.
However, the heat gradually increased. Before long, the wolf and fox realised that they were trapped and that the fire was becoming dangerous.
They called out to the girls, begging to be released. They promised to give them large quantities of precious stones and gold if they would allow them to escape. They also promised that they would not harm the sisters.
The girls refused to listen. They continued making the fire larger, determined not to give the animals an opportunity to attack them.
Eventually, the wolf and fox died inside the kettles. The sisters had survived the dangerous encounter through their quick thinking and determination.
The Father Searches for His Daughters
After the death of the wolf and fox, the sisters remained in the cave. They had found a place filled with valuable treasures, and there was no longer an immediate danger from its former owners.
They lived there happily for several days, making use of the shelter and the riches surrounding them.
Meanwhile, their father began to miss his daughters. Although he had abandoned them in the mountains, he eventually felt a longing to see them again.
He decided to search for the girls and travelled into the mountains, hoping to discover where they had gone.
During his search, he came upon the very cave where his daughters were staying. Unaware that the large stone before him concealed an entrance, he sat down on it to rest.
He took out his pipe and tapped it against the stone to empty the ashes.
The sound reached the girls inside the cave.
A Surprising Family Reunion
Hearing someone knocking against the entrance, the sisters called out and wondered who was at their door.
Their father immediately recognised their voices and wondered whether the people inside could truly be his daughters.
The girls also recognised his voice. They realised that the person outside was their father, the same man who had left them alone in the mountains.
They quickly moved the large stone aside. When the entrance opened, they saw their father standing before them.
He was delighted to find his daughters alive and safe. He had expected the mountains to be a dangerous place for them, and their survival was a great surprise.
The father also noticed the extraordinary treasures inside the cave. There were precious stones, pearls and jewels of considerable value.
The girls explained everything that had happened. They told him how he had abandoned them, how they had discovered the hidden cave and how they had defeated the wolf and fox that lived there.
Their father listened to their account and realised that the cave contained wealth far beyond anything the family had possessed before.
He went to fetch other people to help carry the jewels and precious stones home.
When they returned, the father’s wife was astonished by the amount of treasure they had brought. She wanted to know where her husband and daughters had obtained such riches.
The father and the girls explained the entire adventure to her. The family became very wealthy and lived happily for the rest of their days.
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Moral Lessons
The story highlights the importance of courage, alertness and resourcefulness when facing danger. The two sisters found themselves in an unfamiliar place without protection, yet they did not surrender to fear. Their ability to observe their surroundings and devise a plan helped them survive the dangerous encounter with the wolf and fox.
The tale also presents a warning about cruelty and irresponsible decisions within families. The father deliberately abandoned his young daughters in the mountains, placing their lives at risk. Their eventual survival came through their own actions rather than his protection. Their experience demonstrates the value of intelligence and determination when circumstances become difficult.
Knowledge Check
1. How many daughters were in the family?
There were seven daughters.
2. Why did the father become angry with his daughters?
He discovered that all seven wild duck eggs he had brought home had been eaten.
3. Which two daughters accompanied their father into the mountains?
The two youngest daughters accompanied him.
4. Which animals owned the hidden cave?
A wolf and a fox owned the cave.
5. How did the sisters prevent the wolf and fox from escaping?
They covered the kettles, placed large stones on top and lit a fire beneath them.
6. How did the father discover where his daughters were staying?
He found the stone entrance to the cave and tapped his pipe against it, allowing the girls to recognise his presence.
Source
This retelling is based on “The Cave of the Beasts,” Chapter VIII of The Chinese Fairy Book, edited by Richard Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens, published in 1921.
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