The Legend of the Rooster and the Jade Emperor

In the early days of the world, when the Jade Emperor ruled over all of Heaven and Earth with wisdom and benevolence, there lived in the celestial realm a magnificent rooster whose beauty and voice were legendary throughout the heavenly court. This rooster, known as Kim Ke, possessed feathers that shimmered like liquid gold in the divine light, a crest as red as the finest rubies, and a crow so powerful and melodious that it could be heard across vast distances.

Kim Ke served as one of the Jade Emperor’s trusted attendants, responsible for various duties around the celestial palace. He was known for his reliability, his punctuality, and his unwavering dedication to his responsibilities. Unlike many of the other celestial beings who sometimes became distracted by the pleasures and entertainments of heaven, Kim Ke took his duties seriously and could always be counted upon to complete his tasks with precision and care.

During this time, the world operated according to a perfect cosmic order that the Jade Emperor had established to ensure harmony between Heaven and Earth. Day and night followed each other in regular succession, the seasons changed according to divine schedule, and all of nature functioned according to celestial timing that maintained balance and prosperity for all living beings.

However, maintaining this cosmic order required constant attention and effort from the Jade Emperor and his celestial staff. One of the most crucial responsibilities was ensuring that each new day began at exactly the right moment. The transition from night to day was not an automatic process but required divine intervention to signal the sun that it was time to begin its journey across the sky.

For many eons, the Jade Emperor himself had personally overseen this daily transition, using his divine power to announce the beginning of each new day. But as the universe grew larger and more complex, with more worlds and more beings requiring his attention, the Jade Emperor found that he needed to delegate some of his responsibilities to trusted servants.

The daily announcement of dawn was particularly important because it affected not only the celestial realm but all the worlds below. Humans, animals, plants, and all living things depended on the regular cycle of day and night for their survival and well-being. If the dawn came too early or too late, it would disrupt the natural order and cause confusion and hardship for countless beings.

The Jade Emperor searched among his celestial servants for someone who could take on this crucial responsibility. The task required not only reliability and punctuality but also a voice powerful enough to reach across all the realms and announce the coming of dawn to every corner of the universe.

After careful consideration, the Jade Emperor’s choice fell upon Kim Ke, the golden rooster. Kim Ke’s voice was certainly powerful enough for the task, his reliability was unquestioned, and his natural connection to the cycles of day and night made him an ideal candidate for this important role.

When the Jade Emperor summoned Kim Ke to discuss this new responsibility, the rooster was both honored and somewhat apprehensive about the magnitude of the task. “Your Imperial Majesty,” Kim Ke said respectfully, “I am deeply honored by your trust in me, but I must ask: what exactly would this responsibility entail?”

The Jade Emperor explained that Kim Ke would need to crow at the precise moment when night was ready to give way to day, every single day, for all eternity. His crow would serve as the signal for the sun to begin its journey, for nocturnal creatures to seek their rest, for diurnal beings to awaken, and for all the natural processes that depended on the transition from darkness to light to begin their daily cycle.

“This is not a task to be undertaken lightly,” the Jade Emperor warned. “Once you accept this responsibility, you will be bound to it forever. Every dawn, without exception, you must announce the coming of day. You cannot rest, you cannot take vacations, and you cannot delegate this duty to others. The entire cosmic order will depend on your faithfulness to this task.”

Kim Ke considered this carefully. He understood that accepting this role would mean giving up much of his freedom and many of the pleasures he currently enjoyed in the celestial realm. He would need to rise before dawn every single day for the rest of eternity, and he could never be late or absent from his duty.

However, Kim Ke also understood the importance of the task and the honor of being chosen by the Jade Emperor for such a crucial role. The welfare of countless beings across multiple worlds would depend on his faithfulness and reliability. This was an opportunity to serve the greater good in a way that few beings would ever be able to do.

After careful thought, Kim Ke bowed deeply before the Jade Emperor and accepted the responsibility. “Your Imperial Majesty,” he said, “I understand the magnitude of this task and the sacrifices it will require. I accept this duty and promise to fulfill it faithfully for all eternity. The cosmic order will not suffer due to any failure on my part.”

The Jade Emperor was pleased by Kim Ke’s acceptance and began the ritual that would transform the golden rooster from a ordinary celestial servant into the eternal Herald of Dawn. Divine light surrounded Kim Ke as his role was officially changed, and he felt the weight of cosmic responsibility settle upon his shoulders.

From that day forward, Kim Ke took up his new position at the very edge of the celestial realm, where he could observe the precise moment when night was ready to yield to day. Every dawn, without fail, he would crow with all his might, his voice carrying across all the worlds to announce the beginning of a new day.

The results were immediately apparent throughout the universe. The sun responded promptly to Kim Ke’s call, beginning its journey across the sky at exactly the right moment. Plants and animals fell into perfect synchronization with the daily cycle, farmers knew exactly when to begin their work, and all of nature functioned with a precision and harmony that had never been achieved before.

Kim Ke’s dedication to his duty was absolute. Whether he felt tired or energetic, whether the weather was pleasant or stormy, whether he was feeling happy or sad, he never failed to crow at the appointed time. His voice became as reliable as the cosmic forces themselves, and beings throughout the universe came to depend on his daily announcement.

Over time, Kim Ke’s sacrifice did not go unnoticed by the other inhabitants of the celestial realm or by the beings in the worlds below. They recognized that he had given up his freedom and personal desires to serve the greater good, and they honored him for his selfless dedication.

The Jade Emperor, observing Kim Ke’s unwavering faithfulness over many years, decided to reward his devoted servant. He decreed that Kim Ke’s descendants on Earth would share in the honor and responsibility of announcing each new day. Roosters throughout the mortal world would be given the ability and the instinct to crow at dawn, serving as earthly representatives of their celestial ancestor.

This gift meant that Kim Ke would not be entirely alone in his eternal duty. While he continued to serve as the primary Herald of Dawn in the celestial realm, roosters on Earth would echo his call, creating a worldwide chorus that announced each new day to all living beings.

The roosters on Earth took pride in their connection to Kim Ke and their role in maintaining the cosmic order. They crowed not just at dawn but at various times throughout the day, serving as natural timekeepers for human communities and reminding everyone of the importance of punctuality and reliability.

In Vietnamese culture, the rooster became a symbol of duty, sacrifice, and faithful service. The daily crowing of roosters served as a reminder of Kim Ke’s eternal dedication and an inspiration for humans to be reliable and responsible in their own duties and commitments.

The legend of Kim Ke and his sacrifice also taught important lessons about the nature of service and responsibility. It showed that true honor came not from pursuing personal pleasure or glory, but from accepting difficult duties and fulfilling them faithfully, even when no one was watching or appreciating the effort involved.

Today, when Vietnamese people hear roosters crowing at dawn, many remember the story of Kim Ke and his eternal service to the cosmic order. The sound serves as a daily reminder of the importance of duty, the value of sacrifice for the greater good, and the honor that comes from faithful service to others.

The tale also reinforces Vietnamese values of punctuality, reliability, and the understanding that some responsibilities are so important that they require lifelong commitment. Kim Ke’s story teaches that true greatness is measured not by what we achieve for ourselves, but by how faithfully we serve others and contribute to the harmony and well-being of the world around us.

In the continuing cycle of dawn and day, night and rest, the rooster’s crow remains a constant reminder of Kim Ke’s eternal vigilance and his sacrifice to ensure that each new day begins exactly when it should, maintaining the cosmic order that allows all life to flourish in harmony with the divine plan.