The Journey of-

Author: (Swedish) Selma Lagerl?f / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Crane Dance Performance Festival on Kula Mountain follows the tradition of Kula Mountain, where the two-day entertainment begins with the flight dance of crows. They form two groups, flying face to face, meeting and then turning back to start again. Their dance is too monotonous, and the animals don’t particularly enjoy it, but the following performances are truly spectacular. The performance of the mountain hares fills the animals with the vitality of movement; the singing of the grouse makes the animals feel that the harsh winter has finally passed, and the wild fire of spring is burning across the entire land! Just as the performance is in full swing, an unexpected incident occurs. It’s Smurf again—he seizes the opportunity when all the animals are engrossed in watching the performance and sneaks to the gathering place of the geese, biting one to death. Because Smurf disrupted the peace of this grand festival, he receives a severe punishment. All the animals present unanimously sentence Smurf to be driven out of the territory. The foxes present are also very angry, believing that Smurf has brought shame upon the foxes. An older fox pounces on Smurf and bites off the tip of his right ear. Subsequently, the younger foxes also pounce on Smurf and tear him apart. With no other option, Smurf escapes Kula Mountain.
After dealing with Smurf, the performance festival resumes. After many animals have performed, the grand finale—the Crane Dance—begins. The beautiful and elegant cranes, draped in grayish-red twilight clouds, fly down from the hills. Their graceful dance leaves everyone dazzled. Their dance is rough yet full of vitality, evoking a sense of beautiful and joyful longing. At this moment, no one wants to fight or struggle. Instead, whether they have wings or not, all the animals wish to soar together with the cranes, rising from the ground into the boundless sky, flying beyond the clouds into the vast universe to explore the eternal mysteries. P33-38