Starry River of the Sky

In these chapters, the worlds of fact and fiction collide as “characters” from Rendi’s true story invade the inn, revealing a clever new angle on the theme of Storytelling as a Self-Portrait, for it is only because of Rendi’s previous stories that the villagers are able to connect the dots and divine his true identity. The arrival of the duke tells those who have listened to Rendi’s stories that his tales are real, and this development celebrates the common truism that all stories contain a blend of both fact and fiction. Rendi has used the events of his past to craft stories and fulfill his deal with Madam Chang, but even so, this does not mean that his stories are accurate retellings of the events in question, for Rendi’s own biased perspective on his past makes him an inherently unreliable narrator. Whether Rendi intends it or not, his stories are clouded by his emotions and judgments. Thus, the true events are only true from his perspective. Rendi’s change in attitude toward the village and its people, as well as his decision not to leave yet, show that he is already changing for the better. When he first arrived, he viewed the village as a temporary detour on his way to somewhere else, even though he never had a specific destination in mind. Now, as he gets to know Peiyi and the others, he starts to feel welcomed and cared for, and this positive dynamic compels him want to stay, because these new people have fulfilled a longing he didn’t know he had.

The incident with the toad and the traders calls both to Chinese mythology and to the ingenuity of the villagers. In Chinese mythology, toads are one of five poisonous animals (viper, centipede, scorpion, toad, and spider) that are believed to be a great threat during the warm months. As protection, people would drink wine laced with realgar (a poison containing arsenic sulfide), as shown by the wine that the innkeeper serves to the traders. Those who are not old enough to drink, like Peiyi, traditionally wear medallions or pouches full of protective substances, as represented by the symbol of power adorning Peiyi’s forehead. The trick with the toad is an example of Mr. Shan’s sage knowledge, and it is also a hint at his true identity, as he yet again finds the perfect plan to scare off the traders and rescue Rendi. The toad’s injury results in the removal of its leg, which also calls to Chinese mythology and culture, for the tales traditionally tell of a three-legged toad that is sometimes synonymous with Chang’e, the Moon Lady. In other tales, the toad produces pearls that can transform someone into a Xian. The toad also has connections to Liu Haichan, a 10th-century Daoist Xian.

The discussion of drought conditions in Chapter 21 also has its origins in Chinese mythology. Due to an increase in rainfall around the moon’s full phase, the moon came to be associated with rain; the novel acknowledges this by implying that the drought conditions are caused by the moon’s absence. Similarly, the dog ritual described in Chapter 21 is a reference to the ritual of the dog bride, in which a dog was dressed in traditional bridal red and given an entire wedding procession in hopes that the deities inhabiting the starry river above would laugh so hard that they would cry, thus causing rain to fall, ending the drought. These stories also provide another hint as to the moon’s current location, for it is the moon’s proximity to the village that allows its wells to remain full of water.

The tale of the white tiger in Chapter 22 is unique among the tales told, as it calls equally to Rendi and Madam Chang’s lives and identities. Though the story is set in the world of myths and legends, its messages apply to Rendi’s father, who has tigerlike qualities, such as shouting (roaring) at anyone who displeases him. The tale is also a message to Rendi not to give up on his father. As with the tiger in the story, change takes time. Only after many years of caring for the helpless rabbit and later for the children of the village does the tiger fully learn his lessons and transform back into a man. Similarly, Rendi’s father cannot be expected to change overnight, but the fact that he has already changed by worrying about Rendi shows that further change is possible, and this inspires Rendi to miss home enough to eventually return. The tale also implies that people’s choices and actions determine their true identities. The man in the story chose to be cruel and terrible, which transformed him into a tiger, and he only begins to transform back into a man when he chooses to be kind and caring.