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K'ang 1
As told by Jerry M. Pickard
In a village of craft, high of the side of a mountain, working in his little garden, K'ang was thought a fool …
Among the artisans, he alone seemed to have no skills. This he tried, and that, but try as he would, his art always seemed flawed.
The makers of baskets could always find a reed wrong twisted in the work of K'ang, so his baskets were ever set aside, used only to hold flowers on the tables of the villagers.
K'ang's weaving was slow and humble, with here and there a misplaced woof, so that his efforts were kept out of sight, banished to simple use in the village where they could not be seen by passing traders.
The pottery tried by K'ang showed the mark of his fingers, or was turned askew just enough to be thought unfit for trade. His carving was thought less than perfect, as was each of his efforts, and K'ang was sad.
Withdrawing into his garden, K'ang only saw the villagers when they came to pick his fruit, gather rice from his terrace, or harbor the benefits of the crops K'ang grew.
K'ang never knew he was the soul of the village.
[ Introduction ] [ K'ang 1 ] [ K'ang 2 ] [ K'ang 3 ] [ K'ang 4 ] [ K'ang 5 ] [ K'ang 6 ] [ K'ang 7 ][ K'ang 8 ] [ K'ang 9 ]
[ K'ang 10 ] [ K'ang 11 ] [ K'ang 12 ] [ K'ang 13 ] [ K'ang 14 ]