Ten Suns: A Chinese Legend

by Eric A. Kimmel, Yongsheng Xuan (Illustrator)

The sons of the eastern god, Di Jun, become bored one day and decide to play a game, but when their game causes everything on the planet to begin to die, the emperor approaches Di Jun and pleads with him as he is the only one whom he could ask for help.

Genres: Picture Books, Folk Tales, Fairy Tales

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Eric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ten sons - who are also suns - of eastern emperor Di Jun, the god who rules the skies, grow bored with their regimented and solitary duties in this Chinese folktale, leading to a crisis on the earth below. Each day, one of the sons/suns must make his way across the sky, giving light and heat to the world below, but this journey is made alone, and never varies. One day the eldest and youngest son/sun decides that all ten of them will walk across the sky together, leading to catastrophe on earth, as crops wither, seas dry and people perish. Finally, Di Jun must call in the great archer Hu Yi to shoot down his sons, and save the world...

I enjoyed Ten Suns: A Chinese Legend quite a bit, finding Eric A. Kimmel's retelling engaging and YongSheng Xuan's illustrations lovely. The story was already familiar to me, although I am better acquainted with the version in which the archer Hu Yi (sometimes Hou Yi) is rewarded with immortality (or a potion for immortality) as a result of his actions in shooting the suns. In this version, Hou Yi's wife, Chang-E, consumes the potion instead, becoming the lady in the moon. This story is central to the folklore associated with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. By contrast, Hu Yi is already immortal in this telling, and the story concludes with the shooting down of the suns, containing no reference to Chang-E and what happened afterward. I really enjoyed seeing another side to the story of Hou Yi and Chang-E, one which explains why the suns were all proceeding across the sky in the first place. The illustrations here, as mentioned, were quite beautiful. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to readers interested in traditional Chinese tales.

[Set · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brutal Chinese folk tale of how there came to be one sun and why the crows "call" to the sun.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dunno. Normally I love Kimmel, and some of the pix in this are enchanting. Others are odd, and the story is very illogical & strange, at least to my Western sensibility. I really can't find anything to like about it enough to give it more than "it was ok" two stars. There is a brief author's note for the sources.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old Chinese legend, retold here by Eric Kimmel, tells of the 10 sons of the eastern emperor of the sky who cross the sky each day as the sun. But one day they all decide to cross together to the detriment of the earth.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, story. Obey parents

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

that was fairly offputting

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love learning the legends from other countries. This was a great story and I loved Yongsheng Xuan's illustrations, especially the cover.

[Abigail Wingard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good retelling of the ancient Chinese myth. Lovely illustrations.

[Cassandra Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is one of the oldest Chines myths and dates back to the Shang dynasty (c.1523 BC-1027 BC). It is a story of a mother and father who have ten sons (suns) who take turns walking the cun across the sky. They grew tired of the task and decided one day to walk together and the immense heat produced from their collective powers bioled oceans and burned land. Their father had to make the heart wrenching decision to shoot them out of the sky with his bow and arrow, turning them into crows. The 10 sons still wait for their parents forgiveness for their irresponsibility.

[Literacy Group]

Di Juns ten sons take turns every day walking across the sky to bring light and warmth to the world. One day, all of the sons decide to walk together. The world cannot takes the heat and is in danger of being destroyed. Di Jun summons the archer of heaven to shoot down his sons and turn all but one to crows.

Grades preschool - 3
Heather

[Catherine Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Suns carries with it a simple message. When you are selfish bad things happen. There are some fabulous illustrations to talk about with children. They are rich with colourand very beautiful. It is great story to ask: What do you think happens next? as you read,and Why?

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 4.1 -- 0.5 pts
Chinese legend.

[Melanie Boss · Rating 5 out of 5]

pictre book. all go together, scorching the earth, they must be stopped. 9 are turned to crows. fabulous retelling.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting--did not know that the ancient Chinese believed in 10 suns traveling across the sky. This story dates around 2170 BC.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrative art. Story is well told, but the end falls a bit flat.