Thai

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There have been several life cycles on earth, which began with Then ("heaven") sending down a batch of human beings. At one time, men shed their skins when they got old, like snakes, and lived a long time without offspring. With no chance to return to heaven, they conspired to disobey Then's will. They went around hunting frogs and snakes and blocking up the caves of toads. These animals sent deafening cries of help to the heavens. This sent Then into a fury. He opened the seven paths of the sun's rays and closed the nine paths of rain, causing draught over the earth. All people died except Lang Ai and Lang Nhi. They went to Thanh Nua to fish. But days would pass without them seeing a fish. Getting angry, they felled trees, killed snakes and held sham funerals, caught owls and salamanders to play games with, and offered small jars of wine to Heaven's shrine. But Then became angry. He closed the seven paths of the sun's rays and opened the nine paths of rain. Water rose up to the sky. Humanity and animal life thus eneded a life cycle. Later, Then sent another batch of humans to restore order on earth. He assigned his son-in-law Tao ("chieftain") Tum Hoang as master of a region embracing four rivers. Tao Tum Hoang sent two brothers, Tao Xuong and Tao Ngan, to two regions beyond his realm, Muong Om and Muong Ai. With them, he sent eight brass pillars and eight gourds containing 330 Xa and 500 Thai lines of descent, 330 species of rice, 330 species of fish, books of prayer and fortune telling, and calendars. The two taos sent six of these pillars and six gourds to the Muong Bo Te region and gave the rest to the Viet, Moi, and Lao people. Accompanied by the Lo, Luong, Zhuan, Tong, and Lao lines of descent, they built the Muong Lo Luong region. Tao Ngan then returned to Muong Bo Te. Tao Xuong remained, but life was too hard to sustain, so he returned to Muong Om and Muong Ai.

Dang Nghiem Van, 1993, 325-326.