YehShen

YehShen is a Chinese folktale, often considered an early version of the Cinderella story. The tale originates from the T'ang Dynasty, with its earliest known written record dating back to the 9th century.

The story centers on a young woman named YehShen who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsister. After her father's death, YehShen's stepmother forces her to do all the household chores and denies her basic necessities. Her only companion is a magical fish with golden scales, which she secretly feeds. When the stepmother discovers the fish, she kills it and cooks it, serving it to her family. YehShen, heartbroken, retrieves the bones of her beloved fish. She is later able to bury the bones, which then grant her wishes.

During a village festival, YehShen's stepmother and stepsister prevent her from attending. In her despair, YehShen calls upon the bones, which provide her with a beautiful tunic and golden slippers. She goes to the festival, where her exquisite attire and slippers captivate everyone, including the king. The king, smitten by her beauty, tries to find the owner of the lost golden slipper. After a fruitless search, he discovers YehShen, who is recognized by her slipper. The king marries YehShen, and she lives a life of happiness, while her stepmother and stepsister eventually meet a grim end. The tale explores themes of perseverance, virtue rewarded, and the triumph of good over adversity.