Can you recommend a short folk story?

Sure. One short folk story is 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. The hare is overconfident and takes a nap during the race while the slow but steady tortoise keeps going and wins the race. It teaches us the value of perseverance.

Yes. There is the story of 'Nian'. Nian was a fierce beast that came out every New Year's Eve to harm people. People found that it was afraid of red, fire, and loud noises. So they started to put up red couplets, set off firecrackers and light lanterns on New Year's Eve to drive Nian away. It's a very interesting and traditional Chinese folk story.

An example of a short folk tale is as follows: Legend had it that there was a monkey called Sun Wukong who had supernatural powers and could transform into various forms. One day, he came to a village and saw that the people in the village were living in poverty. He decided to help them. Sun Wukong conjured a village and saw the villagers working in the fields. He decided to help them harvest the crops. He conjured many cows and horses to help the villagers transport food. He also conjured many doctors to help the villagers treat their illnesses. However, some villagers were not grateful for Sun Wukong's help. Instead, they thought that Sun Wukong was a monster and wanted to kill him. Sun Wukong was very brave. He was willing to sacrifice his life to protect himself and the villagers. In the end, Sun Wukong's courage and wisdom won the respect and gratitude of all the villagers. They decided to build a temple for Sun Wukong to commemorate his heroic deeds. From then on, Sun Wukong became the guardian of the village and his story became a legend in the village.

One popular Russian folk tale short story is 'The Little Humpbacked Horse'. It tells the story of a kind and clever peasant boy named Ivan. He befriends a magical little horse and together they face various challenges, including outwitting an evil tsar. Another is 'The Firebird'. The Firebird is a beautiful and magical creature. In the story, a hero tries to capture it, which leads to a series of adventures filled with danger and mystery. And 'Vasilisa the Beautiful' is also well - known. Vasilisa is a young girl who has to deal with her evil stepmother and stepsisters. With the help of a doll given to her by her mother, she overcomes difficulties and finds her true place in the world.

One great folk horror short story is 'The White People' by Arthur Machen. It delves into the eerie and the occult within a folk - inspired setting.

Sure. 'The Willows' by Algernon Blackwood is a classic in folk horror short stories. It creates a sense of dread through the description of the natural environment. Also, M. R. James has some excellent works in this genre. His stories like 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' often involve old - timey folklore and spooky happenings. Additionally, the short story 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs has elements of folk horror with its cursed object.

In Chinese mythology, there was a story about the sun. Legend has it that a long time ago, the sun was not as bright as it is now, but hung in the sky like a gem. People could not see the sun clearly, nor could they find the reason why the sun rose. One day, a man named Xu You heard about this question and decided to look for the answer. He walked for many days, passing through the mountains and rivers, and finally came to a place called the Heaven Realm. There, he met an immortal who told him that the sun hung in the sky because it was the wing of a bird. Xu You was very surprised, but he still decided to continue searching for the answer. After many days of hard work, he finally found a bird called the Sunbird. The Sunbird told him that the sun was bright because it had eaten a gem called the "Sunlight Pearl." After Xu You got the answer, he went home and told the people the secret. People began to make "Sunlight Pearls" to make the sun brighter. This legend spread.

The Legend of the White Snake: Legend has it that the White Lady transformed into her human form to save her husband, Xu Xian. On her way to the underworld, she met a magical white snake. The two of them became husband and wife and overcame many difficulties together in the underworld. Later, when the White Lady learned that Xu Xian was in danger in the human world, she immediately returned to the human world and used her magical power to save Xu Xian. However, the White Lady never forgot Xu Xian's friendship. She continued to use her magic power in hell and finally escaped and reunited with Xu Xian. In the end, the White Lady used her intelligence and firm belief to successfully save the underworld and the human world, becoming a classic image in folk myths.

There is an old legend about how a brave young man defeated an evil monster. This young man was called Jack, and he had a magical sword that could break the bones of any monster. One day, Jack came to an ancient forest and met a monster. The monster said that if he could turn himself into a human, he would let Jack go. Jack disagreed, so the monster turned into Jack and started a battle with Jack. Jack used his sword to break the monster's bones. The monster's body gradually became weak. In the end, Jack defeated the monster and won. Jack went back to the village and showed everyone his sword and told them about his battle with the monster. The story was passed down for a long time. People believed that Jack was a hero who used his sword to protect the village and the people.

A long time ago, there was a young man named Jack who lived in a remote village. Jack was a brave, intelligent and creative man who yearned for adventure and to explore the wider world. One day, Jack heard of a legendary treasure. It was said that the treasure was hidden in a forgotten cave. He decided to go on an adventure to find this treasure. Jack set foot on the long and arduous mountain road, passed through many dangerous situations, and finally reached the cave. However, he found that the cave was already occupied by people who were digging for treasure. Jack was very angry and decided to start a battle to protect his treasure. He picked up his sword and began a fierce battle. In the end, Jack defeated all the enemies and got the treasure. However, when he left the cave, he found that he had fallen in love with the cave. He decided to stay inside and never leave because he wanted to live in this magical and beautiful place forever. From then on, Jack lived in this cave. He planted some flowers, raised a bird, and regularly went to the village to visit his lover. Although their lives were simple, they were filled with happiness and satisfaction.