Knight of Swords. Art by Agga Aye, from The Southeast Asian Myths & Stories Tarot.
A maiden with golden wings and able to fly is that of a Kinnaree. They are warriors of the wind and protect the heavens. In the Legends of Myanmar, they are heavenly protectors against chaos and aggression. Once a long time ago, the king of Heaven, who had seven beautiful daughters and is lord of the air and kinnaree, was challenged by the king of the forest, who is lord of the were tigers. The king of the forest needed to find the bridge of mists or rainbows which will link the mortal realm to the heavens. He knew that a particular hermit named Zwangyi of the red cloth had the location of the bridge. However Zwangyi is a crafty man and a master of disguise. The army of were tigers started to get Zwangyi to show himself by attacking human villages. The Were tigers warriors were destroying the villagers and bringing their aggression, they attacked every human be it a women or child. Everyone was fleeing this terrible army. The eldest daughter of lord of heaven Sui was unable to bear the destruction of the human villages and decided to act. She came from the heavens in her armour and challenged the were tiger warriors. She alone stood before the lord of the forest and said, “ this violence cannot go on, the humans are innocent. I challenge you to a duel of three feats. Two will be your choice, the third will be mine.” The Mighty Weretiger chief accepted. The first feat was to hunt the greatest beast in the forest. As the lord of the forest was king, he easily went to the forest and slew the fiercest tiger there. The Kinnaree sang a song of such beauty that the greatest elephant; the biggest rhino and even largest eagle came out to hear her voice and all bowed down to her. In this deed she won. The Second feat was a feat of fishing, the were tiger lord charged into the ocean and grabbed all the fishes which was within his reach. The Princess blew on a rainbow conch horn and out of the sea the mighty sea naga came and bowed to her. The third feat was a feat which the kinnaree chose, to go to a village and command he villagers to dig a well. The lord of weretigers went there with his warriors and forced the villagers out… but none came willingly and the numbers were few and no one put their hearts in doing the task of making the well. The Kinnaree princess brought food and with songs of encouragement and plans coaxed the people to come out from hiding and within a day the job was complete. Being defeated, the were tiger asked the princess why her way was better. The princess told him that the way of peace and the calming of the heart is the way of progress. The way of war and violence only instill fear. The Lord of the forest then declared he will no longer harm humans but protect them. Hence peace and progress prevailed. Author’s note. Myanmar violence now is never the correct way and does not win the hearts and minds of the people. This card is dedicated to the CDM and to the way of peace.
