Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternate Names: Red Willow Boys, Tamarisk Children
Category: Gnome
The Myth
In the deep mountains near Urumqi, herders tell of tiny people who appear when the red willows bloom. They are no taller than a foot or two and resemble miniature men, women, and children. When spring comes and the willow branches redden, these beings break off the twigs, bend them into small hoops, and wear them as crowns upon their heads.
They gather in groups and dance among the valleys, moving in circles and making soft, musical sounds, like a distant song carried by the wind. Their dancing is joyful but fleeting, and they vanish as suddenly as they appear.
At times, the Red Willow Children creep into camps or tents to steal food. When caught, they do not resist. Instead, they fall to their knees and weep like frightened children. If tied or imprisoned, they refuse all food and soon die. If released, they move away timidly at first, walking only a short distance before turning back to look. If shouted at or chased, they kneel again and cry. Only when they are far enough away to know they are safe do they finally flee, crossing streams and mountains and disappearing into the wilderness.
No one has ever found their nests or homes. They seem to belong neither fully to the forest nor to the mountains, and their true nature is uncertain. Some say they are neither spirits nor beasts, but something in between.
One tale tells of a local magistrate who once captured a Red Willow Child and brought it away for closer inspection. Its hair, eyebrows, and beard were said to be indistinguishable from those of a human. This discovery led some to believe that the ancient stories of little people hidden in the wild places of the world might be true after all.
Thus the Red Willow Children remain beings of song and sorrow—small, elusive figures who dance beneath blooming willows and vanish before they can ever be fully understood.
Gallery
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 红柳娥. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BA%A2%E6%9F%B3%E5%A8%83
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Red Willow Children