Other translations - Do not laugh

Today is Sunday, March 11, 2018.  I spent part of my morning adjusting the clock around my domicile to Daylight Saving Time.  I haven't been translating as of late because translation is hard work.

I also have other projects I devote my time on.  For example, a few months ago I wrote my first spin off companion (imho) children story in Chinese (obviously to a child's story written in Chinese  which I read in childhood).  I have published it online in my other blog which is mostly in Chinese.  I will set out the url or web address at the end of this post.

Today, I will translate the story I have read many times.  I also loved all the illustrations that came with the story.  Thank you Ms. Ho(?), the author and illustrator.

Just so you know this story is not in the Myths and Legends of China hence the title of this post being other translations - do not laugh.

My humble translation begins now.

Title: Do not laugh
Author: Ms. Ho (see photograph)
Translator/Reteller:  Yours truly

Once upon a time, there was a country with a prohibitive law which was no one can laugh, all those who laugh will go to jail.

Everyone began their training at infancy to rid of the bad habit of laughing.

No one could laugh in the classroom, people believed that only strict discipline would result in good learning of homework.

No one could laugh in the office.  They believed only those with a strict face had a will to move forward.

Even on a Sunday, they would not play because playing would result in laughing.  They believed that: in order for the country to be strong and big, prohibitive laws must be followed strictly, and that serious business must be conducted without pause seven days a week.

Among the many ways to laugh, the most offensive way to laugh was laughing in front of the king.  This was a representation of disrespect towards the king, disloyalty towards the country and the punishment for such offence was death.

Once upon a time, the king was very open and understanding.  He spent a lot of time joking and playing with his son.  During one play time, his son pulled on his beard too hard to a point of indescribable pain.  The king was extremely mad and ordered the entire country to not laugh which eventually became the prohibitive law "Do not laugh".

The king thought in his heart, "if people laugh they will not be scared, not being scared will lead to not listening, not listening will turn into a rebellion. Wah! This cannot be!  Laughing is a serious offence."

From that moment forth, the four seasons were gone and that country was like winter all year long, every single year.

One day, while the king was using the toilet, he was not careful and fell into the potty pot; as he was quite fat, he could not climb out and so he cried for help.

Every single servant who saw him immediately turned around and ran away with all their might; they were scared that they would burst out laughing.  The king cried for half the day and still no one came to help.

The King's son arrived, saw his face and laughed to the point that his hands and legs went numb.  It was not easy getting him out.

The king asked, "how come only you came to rescue me?".  The son answered, "My royal father, I love you and I know you love me, I am not scared of laughing in front of you, love can chase away fear!"

The next day, the king proclaimed a new order: everyone must always laugh.

But... everyone had went through training for a prolonged period of time; a lot of people did not know how to laugh.

People were scared of being locked up in the event that they could not follow the order.  This resulted in a new type of tragedy, commonly known as forceful laughing to the brick of tears.

The king was in agony; he thought for a long time and finally remembered those who were placed in jail for the once unforgivable crime of failing to secretly squeeze in a laugh.  He released them.

He ordered them to make comedic films and promote the education of laughter.

He also sent the army to assist the laughing team with their executions.

The audience who saw these comedic films were not laughing instead they appeared like they saw a horror film. The king finally understood that people in fear do not laugh.

He thought of his son's words again, "love can chase away fear."

From then on, the king provided people with the freedom to laugh, the freedom to cry, the freedom to rest, the freedom to work, the freedom to play and the freedom learn.

The king understood that this kind of love and care was needed so that everyone can truly happily laugh.

The end...
...........

My spinoff Chinese version to the above story is do not cry which I have every intention of translating.  You can read the Chinese version here: starwberrycheesecake.blogspot.ca

Do not cry (Chinese) was published online on December 29, 2017. Today I am working on illustrations to do not cry (Chinese).