My Old Friend

My Friend (Chinese Folktale)

This is a traditional Chinese folktale. Long ago, animals resembling today’s black-and-white pandas did not exist. Instead, deep in China’s bamboo forests lived white bears with soft, shining fur, as bright as freshly fallen snow. These bears were called Bai Xiang, meaning “white bears.”

Near one such forest lived a farmer with his wife and their little daughter, Chen Min. One summer day, Chen Min was playing near the edge of the forest. The shade of the trees felt cool like flowing spring water, and yellow marigold flowers swayed among the greenery. Seeing that some golden flowers grew just a little way inside the forest, Chen Min decided to pluck a few.

After gathering the flowers, she realized she was lost. All the narrow paths looked the same, and she could not tell which one led home. As she stood worried, she heard rustling leaves. A small deer with large ears appeared, but it ran away as soon as it saw her. Chen Min followed it, hoping it might lead her home, but it soon disappeared. Fear began to creep into her heart.

Suddenly, she heard soft cries of pain. Following the sound, she found a small white bear cub trapped near a thorny bush. A sharp thorn was stuck in its paw. Gently and carefully, Chen Min removed the thorn. The cub rubbed its face affectionately against her hands, and she stroked its head with love.

At that moment, a large white female bear burst out of the trees, roaring fiercely. But when she saw her cub safe with the little girl, her anger melted away. She nuzzled both her cub and Chen Min tenderly. The bear felt kind and protective, and Chen Min was not afraid at all.

Chen Min hugged the bear and wished aloud that she could find her way home. The bear rose and gestured for Chen Min and the cub to follow. Soon, she guided the child safely out of the forest, close to her home.

From that day on, Chen Min often visited the forest. Her parents were at peace, knowing the white bear would protect her. Chen Min met many bears and their cubs, but the once-injured cub became her closest friend. She named him Niao Niao, meaning “soft and gentle,” because of his beautiful fur. The mother bear even showed Chen Min her home inside the hollow of a great tree. Before nightfall each day, she safely escorted the child back.

One spring afternoon, Chen Min sat near Niao Niao’s home watching the cubs play when she sensed danger. Hidden among the bamboo was a fierce leopard with red eyes, spotted fur, and long yellow teeth. Chen Min shouted warnings, but it was too late—the leopard attacked Niao Niao.

Without fear, driven by love, Chen Min lifted a heavy stone and struck the leopard. Enraged, the beast turned on her. Just then, Niao Niao’s mother charged in with lightning speed. The leopard fled, but not before slashing Chen Min with its claws.

The mother bear rushed to Chen Min, licking her and urging her to rise, but the child lay still. Chen Min had given her life to save her friend.

News of her death spread across the forest. White bears came from every direction, mourning their little human friend. As they wiped their tears and beat their chests in grief, dark marks formed on their faces and bodies.

From that day onward, pure white bears were never seen again. Instead, black-and-white bears—Xiang Mao, known to us as pandas—remained, forever carrying the sorrow of Chen Min in their markings.