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<p>Like most Folktales its difficult to know who exactly to credit for this work. The origins are often unknown and the earliest versions were orated in the villages. I have only managed to successfully find this story translated into English from 1 source. I am using that version here, as told by Supaporn Vathanaprida in "Folktales of Thailand" published in 1994.</p>
<p>I hope you enjoy this story and would be interested to read some of your comments regarding the themes and symbolism in this tale. So let's begin the Tale of Chet Huat, Chet Hai (7 Pots, 7 Jars)</p>
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<p>http://covers.booktopia.com.au/big/9781563080968/thai-tales.jpg</p>
<h1># Seven Pots Seven Jars </h1>
<p> A long, long time ago a poor couple lived near the edge of the forest. They were so poor they barely had enough rice to eat. And to make matters worse, their only son was an unusual boy with exceptional strength. He needed lots of food. Ever since he had reached the age of seven, he had eaten an enormous amount of food each day. For only one meal he consumed seven pots of rice and seven jars of salted fish! So he was called "Chet Huat Chet Hai," or "Seven Pot, Seven Jar." </p>
<p>The poor couple tried hard to provide for their son, but they could not seem to get ahead. Every day, that son needed his seven pots of rice and seven jars of salted fish to fill his stomach. Finally, the poor couple decided they could no longer provide for their son. They quietly consulted each other. </p>
<p>"Let us leave him in the forest," the father said. </p>
<p>"Oh, but he will be frightened and hungry at night, " the mother protested. <br>
"Then what do you suggest?" the father asked. <br>
"I do not want him to suffer. He is still too young to fend for himself " the mother said. <br>
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Several nights later, the couple found themselves faced with the son's eating habit again. There was no food left in the house. They did not know where the next meal would come from. There was just no way they could feed a child with such a huge appetite. Then the father said, "Tomorrow, I will take him into the forest with me. If it is necessary, I will kill him myself to spare him from hunger." The mother sobbed quietly, but did not say anything. The next morning the father asked his son to go into the forest with him. <br>
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"Chet Huat Chet Hai, you are a big boy now. You can help your father fell a tree for firewood to sell at the market. So be ready in five minutes." <br>
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Chet Huat Chet Hai was glad to be of help to his old father. He hurriedly dressed and waited excitedly for his father. Once they reached the deep forest, the father found a tall tree and started to cut it. When the tree was about to fall, the father told his son, "Chet Huat Chet Hai, when the tree falls, you try to catch it. We do not want any marks on the tree. This tree is too beautiful to use as firewood. We can sell it as lumber to build houses with. Remember, catch the tree. Do not let it fall to the ground." <br>
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Chet Huat Chet Hai obediently did as he was told. Unfortunately, the tree was so big that when it fell on top of Chet Huat Chet Hai, its weight pushed Chet Huat Chet Hai down under the earth. The impact was earthshattering. The sound of the falling tree was earsplitting. <br>
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Even though the father had planned this accident, now that it had happened, he began to cry uncontrollably. He ran over to where his son had disappeared but he could not see Chet Huat Chet Hai because the huge tree was on top of him. The father thought his son was surely crushed to death. He prayed quietly for his son and began the journey home to tell his wife. <br>
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Even before he reached home, he saw his son come running after him, carrying the great tree. "I'm coming. Father! Where do you want the tree carried?" When the tree had fallen on Chet Huat Chet Hai he had been stunned by the blow for a few moments. But as soon as he had recovered, he had hurried to push the huge tree off of his body, strip off its branches, and lift it up to carry it home. The father was both glad and dismayed to see his son still alive. But he did not say anything. He went inside and asked his wife to find something for his son to eat. <br>
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The next day, the father asked his son to go into the forest with him again. This time he said he wanted his son to help him catch a horse. <br>
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"Son, if we can catch a wild horse, we can sell it in the market, or we could use it on our farm." <br>
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Once they had reached the deep forest, the father led his son to a wide river. "Son, this is the river where wild animals come to drink. Stay here and wait to catch a wild horse. I will go look upriver." The father hurried home in tears, believing that wild animals would soon come and kill his son. <br>
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Chet Huat Chet Hai did not know what a horse looked like. He obediently waited by the river for a long time. When he saw a tiger coming down to drink, he thought this must be a horse. He caught the tiger bare-handed, tied the tiger's legs, and sat waiting for his father's return. When the sun set and the father did not return, he began to worry. He thought, "I should go home and tell my mother." So he untied the tiger, jumped on its back, and rode the tiger home. When he arrived home, the tiger was roaring loudly. The dog and the chickens were terrified and fled into the forest. They never returned. That is why some of these domesticated animals are wild. <br>
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The couple was very frightened when they saw their son on the back of the tiger. They called out, "Son, get away from the tiger. Let it go free in the forest. Do not bring it home!" <br>
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Chet Huat Chet Hai did not understand all this, but he obediently did as he was told. <br>
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Many months later, the couple consulted each other, "We are so poor. There is no more rice, no more fish. We cannot provide enough food for ourselves and our eat-too-much son. How can we go on living?" They decided the only solution was to try to abandon their son again. <br>
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The next morning, the mother called her son. "Son, we have run out of money to buy food. There is nothing left to eat. I need money to buy food and the giant owes me money. Can you go ask him to pay me now?" She thought Chet Huat Chet Hai would never return from such a trip. The son felt sorry for his poor parents. "Do not worry. Mother. I will go to the giant and bring back the money." <br>
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So it was that Chet Huat Chet Hai began his great adventure. (To Be Continued...)</p>
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