Mt Kinabalu The Dragon of Kinabalu A myth submitted to the site by Richard Freeman Mount Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaya Many centuries ago in China there lived an Emperor with three jealous sons each thirsting for power. The Emperor could not decide which of his sons should succeed him to the throne. He also worried that the one who ascended would be killed by the others. As he mulled this problem a traveller from the far off island of Borneo in Malaysia arrived at court. He told an amazing story of a huge gem that was guarded by a dragon on Mount Kinabalu deep in the Bornean jungle. The dragon dwelt in a lake atop the mountain and would emerge on moon lit nights. He would like in the moonlight playing with the gem, a ruby the size of a peafowl’s egg. The Emperor lusted after the huge ruby and a plan came into his greedy mind. He gathered his three sons about him and told them about the dragon and his treasure. “My sons, it has long perplexed me which of you should have my throne. So now I set you set you this quest. Whomsoever brings me the giant ruby shall have my kingdom. But those who fail shall be put to death.” Kwun Wang, the eldest son was first to try. He amassed a fleet of ships and set sail for Borneo whit a host of warriors. Upon arrival they trekked for days through the think, primal jungle until they saw the bulk of Mount Kinabalu towering up through the misty rainforest. Hundreds of men noisily began the steep climb up the mountain and finally reached the top. There indeed was a deep green lake. But the men had made so much noise in their ascent that they had awoken the dragon. He rose up from the water like an island forced to the surface by an earthquake. He towered above them opening his huge wings and flexing his razor talons. His terrible head looked like a cross between a giant golden-eyed seahorse and a crocodile. The dragon ground his iron teeth and fell upon the men biting and slashing and whipping his thorny tail. Those who were not killed and eaten fled down the mountainside to hide in the jungle. The dragon in his fury raised a great storm that destroyed all the fleet of ships that Kwun Wang had brought with him. Hearing no news of the first expedition the Emperor’s second son Sun Wang decided to try his look. He too amassed a great fleet of warrior filled ships. He too trekked through the dangerous jungle and climbed the steep slopes of the mountain. Once more the dragon, alerted by their noise made short work of the warriors. Arrows, spears, and swords were shattered against his scales as he gorged himself on the men. The survivors fled to join those left from the first quest hiding deep in the jungle. One again the dragon raised a magickal storm and shattered their ships. It was a grim life. The jungle was filled with vast crocodiles and pythons as well as tribes of fierce head hunters. Sometimes the dragon would fly down from his lofty home to snatch men from jungle clearings. The poor men made a crude settlement beside the river. They erected a palisade of stakes to keep out the wild animals and began to grow meagre crops. After many months the youngest son, Kong Wang left for Borneo. He took a fleet of ships but far fewer warriors. Mainly he carried cauldrons with him for he had a plan. He reached Borneo and found his brothers disconsolate in the jungle. They were too afraid to return to China, as their father would behead them. “Do not worry my brother, said Kong Wang, I will not abandon you and I will retrieve the giant ruby.” Kong Wang and his men began to stack the big cauldrons one on top of another forming a ladder up which Kong Wang could climb. He carried a smaller cauldron with him. In this was a rock that had been heated up till red-hot. Every so often he paused to pour oil over it to keep the rock glowing redly. When he reached the summit an amazing sight greeted him. There by the light of the fat moon was the great green dragon playing with the ruby. He would toss the gem high into the air and catch it in his toothy maw. The dragon looked like a giant kitten playing with a ball of wool. Kong Wang tossed the red-hot stone into the dragon’s mouth. Because he was an eastern dragon his breath was not hot and fiery but cool and damp. The stone scorched his tongue and bellowing in rage he dived into the water to cool off. Kong Wang snatched the giant ruby from the side of the lake and began to climb quickly back down. Kong Wang ran to his brother’s hovel and bid them to come quickly to his waiting ships. The three brothers took the first ship and set sail. Kong Wang’s men and the few remaining from the previous endeavours brought up the rear in the other ships. By this time the dragon of Kinabalu had recovered and was engaged. He swept down from the mountain like an oncoming storm. Lightning flashed about his beating wings and coiled about his body. A great wind swept before him tearing up trees and raising great waves. Thunder clapped as he flew out to sea in pursuit of the fleet of ships. The men on one of the ships behind the brother’s vessel drew back their bows and sent a rain of arrows at the dragon. All clattered harmlessly off his scales. He swooped down and landed on the ship almost capsizing it. He swiftly devoured the whole crew then in his fury began to eat the ship itself. This was his undoing. He ate so much that he could neither fly nor swim. His bloated belly dragged him down to the bottom of the sea. As the brother’s ship grew close to the coast of China the two elder became afraid of their father’s wrath. Kwun Wang talked Kong Wang into lending him the gem so that he could convince his father to spare himself and Sun Wang. However the prize of becoming Emperor was too great a temptation and Kwun Wang brought the ruby before his father and claimed he had secured it. The emperor ordered the arrest of the two other brothers immediately. However the wily Kong Wang evaded the guards and managed to sneak into his father’s chamber were he explained all that had happened. Furious at being duped the Emperor ordered the execution of Kwun Wang. Kwun Wang got wind of his failure and set sail in a ship followed by Sun Wang. Kwun Wang’s ship was wrecked on the rocky coast of the Malayan Peninsular but Sun Wang made it to Borneo again and after many trials and adventures became a great Rajah. The brave and resourceful Kong Wang was made emperor of China.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:42:40 +0000
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