Cinderella Vs Wen-Shen

Are all of children around the world told the same Cinderella? Of course not. According to “Cinderella” there are 340 to more than 3000 versions of Cinderella around the world (1). However the most popular version of Cinderella is Disney’s version, the oldest version is Chinese version called Yen-Shen. Both of them are based on Cinderella theme, but they were written by two different cultures between Western and Eastern. Therefore, they have some major differences in how the poor girl gets shoes, loses shoe, and finds shoe. First of all, both Cinderella and Yen-Shen get theirs shoes differently. In the Disney version, Cinderella is too busy and has nothing to dress for the ball, so she can not go. Cinderella’s fairy godmother appears and waves her magic band says “Salaga doola, Menchicka boola, Bibbidy boo!”. Cinderella is given a pair of tiny glass slippers (Grant 1, 2). Compare with Yen-Shen in the Chinese version, Yen-Shen is left behind by her stepmother and her stepsister. As the wise old man tells her that she can make a wish by asking the bones of the fish that Yen-Shen fed it every day and was killed by her stepsister. Yen-Shen has a pair of slippers that are made
of gold with a pattern of a scaled fish and gold soles (Louie 1, 2). Second, Cinderella loses her different with Yen-Shen. While dancing with the Prince, Cinderella hears the midnight bell ringing. She runs away without saying anything. She loses one of her slippers at the palace stairs. The shoe is found by the Prince when he follows her (Grant 2). In contrast, Yen-Shen is being looked by all of people at the festival and her stepmother sister. She runs away to avoid them. She loses one of her slippers on the side of road. A merchant found her shoe and it is taken to the King (Louie 2). Finally, the way Cinderella and Yen-Shen get their slippers back are different.
In the Disney version, when Grand Duke goes Cinderella’s house, Cinderella is locked in her room by the stepmother. The stepmother and stepsister do not want Cinderella to try the shoe. However, the Cinderella’s mouse pet gets the stepmother’s key to release Cinderella. Cinderella’s feet fits the shoe perfectly (Grant 2). On the other hand, Yen-Shen in Chinese version tries to steal the shoe in the pavilion which the King’s men build to let all of the girls can try on it. Yen-Shen gets caught and taken to the King. The King is upset at her, but he is noticed by her beauty and her small feet. The King follows Yen-Shen to home and realizes that she is the girl who he is looking for after she wears her dress (Louise
2). In conclusion, the way the poor girl gets shoes, loses shoe, and finds shoe are totally different. However they have the same Cinderella theme that is known all around the world. The reason for that well-known is the changing of life from a poor life to a wealthy life. That changing is the gift for the hard working and the kindness of people. These stories are setting up a mindset for all people in the world to think more positively about their lives.