The soul of the woodland

The first rays of sunlight fell on the dryads. Colorful colors flashed alternately on her body, like a soap bubble, shattered, disappeared, became a drop of water, a tear, fell to the ground, and disappeared. ()

—Hans Christian Andersen

At that time, people were full of fantasy, they looked up to the sky, countless myths emerged from the stars, and the stories of the gods have been passed down ever since. When they looked up at the sky, they also saw the towering trees above their heads. They know that these ancient trees have gone through thousands of years, witnessed the birth of their ancestors, and will also watch them die. They believe that all things have spirits, and the wood clan with such vigorous vitality naturally gave birth to a few strange goblins. In that legendary era, when you lift the leaves, you can always find the shoeed dryad Lacey, who has green beards and blue skin, and whose magic power is boundless. In that romantic era, Zoya, the fairy of the forest, lived in a tree, and they were beautiful and handsome. If you want to know the story of these dryads, then come with me, peel back the branches of mythology, and go in search of those mysterious elves.

Zoya

Welcome to this tree spirit tour, I am the tour guide XX. The above sentimental but ineffective slogan was conceived by the high-minded men of the company, you know, who always want to highlight the company's cultural taste. I think if they squeeze the water out of the leaflet......

Ah, ah, see, see, the one who flashed out of the corner of our eyes just now was Dryad, the fairy of the woods. What, don't you see? It's a shame to see that beautiful laurel, that's what the fairy has turned dumb. Thanks to Blizzard's masterpiece "Warcraft 3", they are probably the most famous tree spirits in recent times, and I believe that the beautiful posture and good combat power will be unforgettable for all Warcraft players.

Zoya comes from Greek mythology and is a member of the Nymph, a natural fairy who rules forests and trees. Each Zoya is born at the same time as the trees she cares for. She will live near the tree, or she will live in the tree. Depending on the tree species, Zoya is divided into several branches. For example, Hamezoa, who tended oak and poplar trees. Daphle, who cares for the laurel tree, and Melia, who has had the greatest influence on humanity, was the Zoya of these Cen trees as the spouse of the man before the advent of women, allowing humanity to continue.

Most of the Zoya have delicate faces and graceful bodies. Someone once wrote: "They have high cheekbones, big eyes, and dark green or amber-like eyes." Otherwise, it's a violet-like lilac. Their skin and hair color change with the seasons. In autumn, Zoya's hair turns blonde or red, and her skin tone is slightly darker than her usual light brown color. From a distance, it blends in with the autumn leaves, and it is difficult to distinguish them. In winter, Zhuoya's hair and skin are white, and the snow in the forest has become their most haode cover. And in spring and autumn. Zoya's complexion is light brown, and her hair is as beautiful as the surrounding woods. ”

Such a soul-stirring charm that Zeus or Apollo, Poseidon or Hermes did not hesitate to pull down their old faces and pursue it by any means, not to mention the Egyptian princes and Greek kings who fell under their branches in droves. However, it is said that the Zoya were once seen by men. It will turn into a slender sapling, so it is quite difficult for us to really see it......

Unlike the Nymphs such as the meadow fairy Lymoniad, the mountain fairy Ored, and the sea fairy Nereid, Zoya are not immortal, and their lives are tied to the trees they care for. If the tree withers, then Zoya will wither with it. Therefore, those who cut down trees will be punished by the gods, and of course Zoya will not show mercy to them.

However, Zoya was not a powerful deity, and when in danger, she usually relied on her extraordinary beauty to charm her enemies, and it has also been recorded that Zoya could turn those who angered them into trees. However, not every Zoya can master the magic of turning into a tree, and there are often people in the world who have no heart and lungs and do not know how to pity the fragrance and cherish the jade, so in Greek mythology, Zoya can be described as ill-fated. ()

Legend has it that a man named Iroshi Chimori wanted to build a house, and when he came to a woodland, he picked the largest oak tree, and when he went down with an axe, he saw blood flowing from the trunk. In the face of such an anomaly, this rough man did not hesitate to continue cutting. At this moment, a beautiful Zoya appeared in front of him, begging him not to do this to him. But the TMD's Irousi Chisen is nothing short of a beast, and for the sake of a house, it (let me use that word now) continue that horrible murder. Eventually, the helpless Zoya and her beloved oak tree fell together. Although Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, later punished the thug, such a heinous atrocity still left me, a feminist, unable to sleep.

Oh, I was so excited just now that I said something unclean, and gentlemen, please have compassion on my sincerity...... Hey, you guy dare to pick laurel leaves, you give it to me......

By Leshy

Alright, alright, thank you for your help, now let's leave this sad land and go see the ancient spirit of Slavic mythology, Lacey.

In Slavic, "Leszi" means lord of the forest, and the word is derived from "les", which means forest. There is usually only one lacey per forest. He dies at the beginning of October and is reborn the following spring. They usually appear as farmers, but they are easily recognizable because of their green eyes and blue skin (supposedly because of their blue blood), as well as their habit of wearing their clothes backwards and their shoes upside down. In some legends, he has wings and a tail, and his whole body is covered with black hair. There are also many stories that he was like the Greek god of faun, Pan, who had horns and hooves. In fact, this is possible, because Lacey can change at will, he has the ability to shrink into a spirit as tall as a blade of grass, or he can turn into a giant like a towering ancient tree. He can also transform into a hare, a wolf, a bear, a crow, a pig, a horse, a rooster, a burning fir tree, and even a mushroom.

Lacey is the protector of the forest and its animals, and he always carries a wooden stick with him, which symbolizes his dominion over the creatures of the forest. His favorite animal was the wolf, the king of beasts in Slavic mythology. In addition, people often see him in the company of bears. Lacey was also very fond of trees, and it is said that he could hear the sound of trees crying when they were cut down.

Usually the forest dryads don't like human disturbances, and Lacey is no exception. So before a person enters the forest, it is best to add a protective magic or ...... to yourself Pray not to touch them. Some people say that wearing clothes backwards like Lacey can also be protective, and I honestly doubt this kind of blinding. Even if Lacey's shili is not good enough to see your disguise, don't forget that there is an ancient adage in this world that "one forest does not allow two Lacey". It was also said that if you could make Lacey laugh. He won't hurt you—but who knows if the Laceys' facial nerves are as thick as a grown oak tree. So let's take a look at the actual way, and I can tell you that Lacey loves porridge, butter, bread and salt, and he'll be glad if you leave some sweet bread or candy on the stump.

Well, the gentleman who sat on a tree stump and ate cookies. What are you muttering? Where is your beloved Lady Mary? Don't go over...... Forget it, leave him alone. Listen up to the rest, sometimes Lacey will be like your friends and family. They will also use their voices to lure you into getting lost in the woods. Of course, that doesn't mean you're going to die in the forest. Usually after a while you will reappear in front of people, but you will be deaf and dumb, covered in moss, unable to concentrate, and behave strangely for the rest of your life...... Ah, like the gentleman who now crawled back upside down from the woods.

Well, before leaving this mysterious forest. Let me have good news for those who want to aspire to pursue a promising career as a magician. If you can make a promise with Lacey that you will never carry the cross again or eat communion for the rest of your life, he will tell you the secrets of magic. Well, I know it sounds a bit like a deal with the devil, gentlemen, I'm afraid not...... Oh. Are you sure? Well, let me tell you.

If you want to summon Lacey to gain knowledge of magic, you need to do the following: first cut down an aspen tree and make it fall to the east, then lean down, look between your feet, and chant aloud, "Lacey, Lord of the Forest, manifest thy body." Don't take the shape of a gray wolf, don't take the shape of a black crow, don't take the shape of a fire tree, please show your body in the form of a human. ”()

Oh, by the way, the question of "what can be done to cut down a tree without being punished by Lacey" has been a matter of disagreement in the academic community. I think you'd better experiment on your own. Okay, that's all for this attraction, please come with me, don't bother this rising star of the wizarding world anymore.

Ah, everyone, hurry up and take a look. I'm so sorry I almost forgot to tell you that Lacey also has women – like the one on our "left" right now. They are often referred to as Lesiviks, sometimes in the form of ugly women; It's a beautiful girl like this today - as for the weishenme, ahem, I guess it's because of the summer. I know you are gentlemen of honour and integrity, but just in case, Madame Lessivik is also fond of being a giant as tall as an ancient tree.

Greenman

I think you've all noticed that someone is looking at us. Yes, the gentleman in the upper left who pokes his head out from between the leaves, his face is covered with leaves, and his mouth grows branches, he is the green elf I am going to introduce to you. You want to know what he looks like? Uh, with all due respect, are your eyes ...... Well, I have to say that your mind is very sharp and you get to the point right away. Your question is one of the important topics studied by many mythologists and folklorists. But no one has ever said exactly what the Green Elf looks like—except for this face.

A little digging through the sources reveals that this leafy face is one of the important symbols of Celtic culture, often appearing in the motifs of their temples and tombstones. Despite this, this ancient elf is not exclusive to Celtic legends, and his footprints can be described as Shijie. In Indian religion he is simply called "Green Thing", in ancient Babylon his name is "Tamuz", and in continental Europe he is "Green George". In the British Isles, he was known by many names, such as the "Green Elf" we now use, the same "Green George" as the European continent, and many other names such as "Green Jack", "Grove Jack", "Lord of the Forest", and many others. Many people also associate him with the Green Knight in King Arthur's story. It is also said that Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek mythology, was the predecessor of the Green Elf, because the god of the wasteland always wore a mask and a crown of grapes and ivy on his head, which resembled the leafy face of the Green Elf. It is even more believed that Robin Hood, a thief who lives in the Sherwood Forest...... Oh, so let's talk about something more credible.

According to known sources, the image of the Green Elf first appeared on the columns of Roman temples in the 2nd century AD. Around the same time, they also appeared in temple carvings in Rajasthan, India. Then, for some reason, he incorporated into the Christian style of carving. Along with the church, it spread throughout the European continent.

In addition to ancient temples and tombstones, the image of the Green Elf often appears in various spring celebrations in Europe. In the port city of Hastings in the United Kingdom, a parade called "Jack" is celebrated every spring. At the celebration. A man will play Green Jack. Dressed in a costume covered in foliage and more than 2 meters tall, he wore a mask and a flower wreath as he marched through the city. He was accompanied by several men dressed in green. A man with dyed green hair and skin, and a young girl with flowers in her hand and covered in ink. Around them are dancers dancing the traditional English folk dances of Morris and Clogs. The celebration will end on a hill in the forest outside the city. The Morris dancers swung their wooden swords and slashed at Greenjack. Our poor dryads will fall to the ground. to show death. When a solemn memorial poem is recited, the cheering crowd rushes up to pluck the leaves from Jack's body—getting them means a year of good luck.

Similar spring celebrations take place in many parts of Europe. In these celebrations, the ritual of Zuihou killing the Green Elves is the most crucial part...... Ah, do you think it's too cruel, too barbaric. yes, yes, I'm not in a position to do that. The rude behavior of the crowd is very dissatisfied. You see, it's hard for someone as thin as me to ...... What, you're saying it's too cruel to kill the Green Elves. Oh, on the subject. Let me explain to you that, as the respected folklorist Sir James Fraser said, "Killing a dryad usually means that it will awaken or be resurrected in a younger and more energetic state." ”

So you see, while no one can say exactly where the legend of the Green Elf originated—there is absolutely no written material to say what he represented in the early religions. No one can tell us that the Weishenme Christian Church incorporated this ancient elf motif into its own architectural carving style. But most folklorists associate the Green Elves with revival and rebirth, just like nature's most basic functions. I think that's why he became the icon of rebirth in Christianity.

One of the most famous of the many theories is to associate the legend of the Green Elves with the Mother Earth Goddess. Here, the earth is seen as a living being, called the Supreme Mother. The green elf is the male part of the opposite part, symbolizing the irrepressible vitality. He expresses the harmony and unity of man and plant, embodying the mysterious laws of nature. ()

Green elves usually live in oak trees, the long-lived trees often depicted in mythology as shijie trees or trees of life. Imagine yourself winding along an ancient path that has been worn by time in the midst of a dense oak forest. The mist in the forest begins to rise, first past your shoes, then over your calves, and zuihou wraps you all like a membrane. Then you will see that this is not some viscous mist, but a white glow, flashing and flashing like a strange heart beating, and you have never felt so strongly before that nature is a living thing, intertwined with all kinds of liliang. You realize that there is a face not far ahead, staring at you, this face is covered with foliage, the eyes are slanted, the mouth is squinting, and the twisted branches peek out of the corners of the mouth like ram's horns...... Uh, I knew it wasn't a good idea to write a guide in Stephen King's style......

Ent

Now that I've taken you through a number of Ancient Elves, let's take a look at the newest member of the Wood Clan, Ent, the Treant created by the venerable Professor J.R.R. Tolkien.

You say that after the green elves it should be the legendary Huntin of the Xhosa people in Africa and the Vanativites of the Vedic culture?What, what, and the Mata who lives in Papua? Are you sure? Well, what is it? The flyer of our travel agency...... That's right, you see the small print in the lower right corner doesn't it say that these three attractions have been temporarily closed, of course, if you are willing to pay again...... Oh my God, that's terrible. You must listen to me. The reason why the company temporarily closed this route is entirely because of the recent emergence of a very contagious and strange disease in those places, with patients suffering from high fevers, dry coughs, and difficulty breathing...... All right. If you insist on going...... Oh, you already understand? I know you're a cultivated gentleman. Come with me to see the magical wood clan living in Shijie, Ent.

I think those of you who have watched the fantasy epic blockbuster "The Lord of the Rings 2 - The Two Towers" must have vivid memories of the scene in which the Treants defeat the Warlock Saruman and flood Fort Isengard. As depicted in the book, "The ents roar again." Screaming and whining, the stone cracked. Drop down. Like a raging wind, they slammed round after round on the rocks of Osanke, knocking down pillars, throwing boulders into the ventilation ducts, juggling large boulders like leaves. ”

In Tolkien's mythical shijie, the birth of Ente is a very interesting story. When Middle-earth was still pitch black, Olli, the god of the earth, created the dwarves. He fears the reproach of the other gods (because the people of creation are the rights and liliang of the Lord of all things, Ilavata). So I didn't tell them. Later, Olli's wife, the fertility goddess Yavana, found out about this, and she was very worried that the dwarves would harm the flowers and trees she had created. She said to Ollie, "You hid this idea from me before you succeeded, so your child has no feelings for what I love...... Many trees will be gnawed by their merciless iron axes. "Of all the creatures that Yavanna has created, trees are her favorite. She very much hopes. Trees can "speak for all rooted creatures, to punish those who harm them." Knowing her wish, Ilavata agreed to the request, saying, "When the people wake up, so will Yavana's wish." It summons spirits from afar, and these spirits pass through the korva (animals) and olva (plants), and some remain in them. They are venerable spirits, and their wrath will be feared by all beings. And so Ente the Shepherd was born. Like the roots of a tree that can turn stones into chips, Ente was born to restrain stones. During the assault on Fort Isengard, the devastated Liliang of the Treants came from here.

As for where these prototypes of Ente came from, it's hard for me to give you an exact answer. Tolkien mentioned in his letter that the Tree Man was inspired by Shakespeare's play Macbeth, in which a warrior disguised as a tree attacked an enemy's castle. He also told the story of the conquest of Fort Isengard, which was partly inspired by the ancient poem "Ruins", a poem about the baths of ancient Rome. It implies that the buildings of the time in which the poet lived were originally "the ancient masterpieces of the giants". They were built by giants and eventually destroyed by time. Here, Tolkien turns the giant in the poem into his own – knowing that the name "Ente" itself means giant in Old English. In addition to this, many critics and enthusiasts have also found a variety of sources for Ente. Some say they are the same as the warriors of the trees in the ancient Welsh poem "The Battle of the Trees", while others say that Ente's story reflects the love and reverence for trees in Celtic culture.

Well, in short, the threads that weave this tapestry come from wherever they come from, but in the end it is Professor Tolkien's great mind and creativity that shines brightly. His praise of Ente allows us to see the yearning of a scholar living in a smoky modern city to the rural idyllic life.

Well, that's all for the legend of the tree giant, and here's a stop on this trip.

Chinese Legendary Wood Monster ()

When it comes to Chinese tree spirits, I think you must immediately think of the weird hundred-year-old tree spirit grandma in "A Chinese Ghost Story...... Do you only remember Xiaoqian?

That way, I don't have to spend time and effort correcting your misconceptions. To be honest, there are no hundred-year-old tree spirits in the original work of "A Chinese Ghost Story" "Strange Tales from Liao Zhai - Nie Xiaoqian", and some are just a worthless little ghost. However, if the dryad grandmother is really as stated in the movie, she only has a hundred years of Taoism, then ...... Well, let's show you some data first.

Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty wrote "Hug Puzi - to the Vulgar Chapter" recorded that "the thousand-year-old pines and cypresses, the branches on all sides, the upper branch is not long, look at it, it is like a cover, there are things in it, or like a green ox." Or like a green sheep, or like a green dog, all live a thousand years. "The Narrative of Differences" says: "The thousand-year-old wood spirit is a green cow." Li Fang's "Taiping Yulan" of the Song Dynasty also quoted "Xuanzhong Ji" and said: "The thousand-year-old tree spirit is a green sheep." Long live the tree spirit for the green cow, more travelers in the world. "You see, even if you have cultivated for tens of thousands of years, you are just a cow and a sheep. As for the Centennial Treant...... You say you can't see their mana from the outside?

Well, there's one more piece of writing here. "Ancient Novel Hook Sinking" also cites a story from "Xuanzhong Ji". It is said that Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty traveled to the river, and a green ox appeared from the river and was killed by the Taiwei with an axe. And said: "This green cow is a 10,000-year-old wood spirit." "Well, you all understand people, so I won't say anything, that hundred-year-old tree spirit...... Everyone together despises it.

China has a vast land and a wide variety of biological species. Of course, this wood essence is not only green cattle and green sheep. "Hug Puzi - Dengshi" once recorded that "there are big trees in the mountains, and there are people who can speak, and non-trees can speak." Its essence is called Yunyang". There is also a record in the "Taiping Guangji" that when Wu Xianzhu, Uncle Lu Jing was the Taishou of Jian'an, and there was a big camphor tree in his courtyard, covered with branches and leaves, covering a wide area. Uncle Lu Jing didn't like this tree. So he found someone to cut it down, and when he went down with an axe, suddenly blood came out of the tree. Uncle Lu Jing thought it was strange and asked people to continue to cut it...... Don't get excited, it's not in Greece, and it's not a beautiful maiden that emerges from a tree, it's a youkai with a dog's face. This Uncle Lu Jing is worthy of being the Taishou of a county, and he is really well-informed, so he said to the servants at that time: "The essence of this wood is named 'Peng Hou'." Then they boiled the wood spirit, and everyone ate it, and it was said to taste like dog meat.

Well, you don't have to doubt that it is indeed divided and "eaten". Alas, it seems that you still don't know much about the long-standing food culture of our country. Since youkai can eat people, weishenme people can't eat youkai? For example, this lunch box in your hand...... Ah, no, for example, for example, in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", almost every entry for a strange monster is marked with its edible value. In fact, if you think about it carefully, you will understand that in that era, human beings and the natural world were in a competitive relationship, so it was normal to say that the law of the jungle was not cruel.

However, the real tragedy is not without it, and "Journey to the West" once recorded a tragedy of extermination. It was in the sixty-fourth chapter: Thorn Ridge Wu can work hard, and Muxian Nunnery Sanzang talks about poetry. It is said that the four masters and apprentices walked to a good place, only to see "the earth is far away from the sky, and the smoke brings rain." The road is soft and chaotic, and the mountains are covered with greenery". Go up the ridge and see an ancient temple, there are pines and cypresses condensing green, peach and plum fighting beautiful. After a short time, an old man with a scarf and a light suit came out of the temple, claiming to be the eighteenth prince of the Thorn Ridge Jinjie. He used a method to take Tang Seng in front of a smoky stone house to explain his intention, it turned out that he just wanted to "meet friends and talk about poetry and entertain feelings". Tang Seng took a closer look, the moon here is bright and the stars are bright, and it is a Qing Dynasty fairyland. Walking into the house, I saw three old men waiting for me, namely the lonely straight man with a rich frosty appearance, the volley with green sideburns, and the humble and colorful Fuyunsuo. The five people sat down and talked about poetry, and the four elders all wrote poems and said that they were a thousand-year-old tree. At this time, Sanzang saw that everyone had no intention of harming them, so he was not worried, but praised elegantly: "The four immortals, all of whom are old and have attained the Tao, are rich and clear, and they are not the 'four Hao' of the Han Dynasty?"

The apricot fairy who appeared below is not only "enchanting and delicate like a rooftop girl, no less than the pretty Da Ji back then", but also the female workers are all good at poetry. When she saw Sanzang, she suddenly fell in love and courted him. Of course, Tang Seng did not allow it, jumped up and scolded, but frightened all the wood spirits into speech; when Tang Seng turned around and wanted to leave, they were just "pulling and dragging" some scholarly methods, neither "rope wrapping and tying", nor "hanging upside down and dipped in salt water". Compared with the evil "evil animals" who ran out of the Bodhisattva's lotus seat and in front of Laojun's alchemy furnace, they are really so good that they can't be more good.

However, it was these simple wood spirits who were finally swept to the ground by Zhu Bajie, who came later, "a meal of nailed palladium, three or five long mouths, and even arches and belts" - hateful swine fever, and they were nested in their pockets on weekdays, and this time they encountered some mountain pines and wild apricots who would not fight back. It is a pity that the bamboo, cypress, maple and poplar in the garden are full of poetry, and they gave their lives with affection. Every time I read the sentence in the book, "There is blood under the roots", I can't help but cry......

Ah, don't be afraid, I know the atmosphere around me is getting a little weird. It's nothing, think about it, if you were a tree spirit, would you be able to calm down when you heard something like the "Thorn Ridge Murder Case"...... Ah, where are you going, Yunyang, chase him back, don't let that gentleman get lost. Peng Hou, help this gentleman to sit down, I don't think his face is very good. Yes, yes, everyone sit down, at least let me finish the propaganda of zuihou. ()

Perhaps due to the rise of environmentalism today, in recent years there has been a rise in research into the legend of the Treants, and their stories are often mentioned in many fantasy novels. The giant wheel of time turns again and again, and these ancient spirits, as representatives of the endless spirit of nature, finally appear in front of us again. Allow me to conclude this trip by borrowing a witty quote from the famous folklorist William Anderson in his research book The Green Elves.

Our distant ancestors said to their Mother Goddess, "I belong to you." ”

Modern people often say to nature, "You belong to me." ”

The Green Elf is back, his leafy face like the whole earth, and we can proclaim to the whole universe through his mouth, "We are one." ”

Well, this is the end of this trip, so please feel free to do so. (To be continued.) )