Item details
Item ID
KK1-0616
Title Si du hpe tam ai la (The man who wants to die) with English translation
Description Translation (Htoi San)
I am now telling a story about a man looking for a grim reaper. A long time ago, a man could not comfort himself and make himself happy while he was on earth. Therefore, he wanted to die. Whatever the sadness came from, he said, "I wanna die. I don't want to live anymore." "I want to die. Where is the Grim Reaper?" He searched like this. He passed the time of his life like that for quite a long. One day, he felt depressed again. He felt sad about something and determined, "Today, I will definitely find the grim reaper." He decided himself and looked for him, "Where is the grim reaper?" Then he started searching. "Where is the grim reaper living?" He searched the reaper around and round. He walked and walked on the world and tramped wherever he wanted. Wherever he reached, he asked, "Where does the grim reaper live?" He asked and asked all the way. However, no one could answer him where the grim reaper was, "Oh, we don't know where the grim reaper is, and we have never seen him before." He went out to find the grim reaper and met with him one day. He was so happy to meet the grim reaper and said, "I really want to die, Mr. Grim Reaper! Let me die." The grim reaper answered him, "You cannot die now." "It is not your time to depart your life. You have to live five or six months, oh, at least five months," the grim reaper replied. "You have to live that much. You can't pass away yet." The man was so sad about how he could pass that moment. He felt down so much and depressed because the grim reaper told him that he could do nothing. "I don't know what to do. So I just have to live within this period. I have to live," the man thought to himself and lived his life. He tried to live within this period and was successful in his work. Therefore, he was satisfied as he had success in his life again. He wanted to die and look for the grim reaper before but did not want to depart his life anymore. He did not want to pass away and said, "Now, I don't want to die." "I may need to tell the grim reaper that I don't want to die," then he searched for the grim reaper again. He searched for the grim reaper, although he did not know where exactly he was. He could find the grim reaper like that before while he walked and walked to search for him. "I will apologize when I meet him," he thought and looked for the grim reaper. However, he could not find the grim reaper. When he could not find the grim reaper, he thought, "Alright. That's fine." "If I can't find the grim reaper, I know one thing. When it is time for me to die, I will hide from him not to see me," the man thought that way. After that, he became wealthy as he got so much money. So he asked his servants to make a big box which prevented water from going in. He ordered his servants to put food inside the box that could last for five or six months. He planned to get into the box and stay there, so he made his maids put all the things necessary. Before he went in, he arranged the box not to leak water and could breathe while he was inside the box. After he set up everything, ultimately, he went into the box and ordered, "Alright, put me down in the deep ocean after I get in." He called that before he was in the box. He asked to tie the box with a very, very long rope. Only then put the box into the deepest ocean. He asked his servants to tie the other end of the rope on the hard sand ground with a peg. He planned to stay in the container that was under the ocean. He arranged to pull him up after the time when the grim reaper told him to die. "So that the grim reaper will not let me die," he thought and arranged everything. Then he was put in the box and dropped into the ocean when it was the day for him to pass away. The grim reaper looked for him because it was his day to depart his life. He had been missing for six months, and it was time for him to die, so the grim reaper searched for him. However, the angel of death could not find him; thus, he looked and looked for him. As the grim reaper went by and went by, then walked back and forth until he went through the world before, the angel of death also searched him through the whole world. However, the grim reaper could not find him, and he was hungry. He looked for the man in the villages but could not see him. So, he went to a place where there were no people, like in the desert, to find him. While walking in the desert, he could not lift his legs as he was starving. The grim reaper's legs were dragged, and he walked with his dragged legs and looked for the man who wanted to die before. His legs were tripped with a rope in the desert while passing it. So the grim reaper fell down there. He was amazed and said, "What kind of rope is this?" Then he pulled and pulled as if it was never-ending. He dragged and dragged out until he found a box in the end. When he saw the box, he pulled it on the dry land. It was lighter when he pulled the container because it was in the water. He pulled it from the floating end of the water. As soon as the container reached the ground, he hit and opened it. He found the man who looked for him to die before. The grim reaper said, "Today is the day for you to die. Therefore, I am searching for you until I find you." "You have to die today." Then the grim reaper let the man pass away on that day. He gave the man permission to die. Therefore, "This is not how we should decide whether we want to die or not." Here is the end of the story.

Transcription (La Ring)
Ya ngai hkai na maumwi gaw si du hpe tam ai la langai mi a maumwi re. Moi shawng de e da ndai la langai mi gaw ndai shi gaw mungkan ga e nga yang shi a myit hpe gara hku nan nlu shalan gara hku nan nlu shapyaw la ai da. Dai majaw shi gaw si chyu si mayu ai da si chyu si mayu. Hpa sha myit ru yang mung "Ngai si mayu sai si mayu sai si mayu sai si du gara kaw nga nga ai kun" ngu ai da. Hpa dai hku sha aten tsawm ra mi lai mat wa lai mat wa raitim shi gaw kaja wa nan lani mi gaw bai myit ru sai da. Lama mi a majaw sha bai myit ru yang mung shi gaw "Ngai gaw daini gaw kaja wa nan si du hpe she tam sana" ngu na shi gaw myit daw dan kau na "Si du gara kaw nga ai kun" ngu na shi gaw tam hkawm mat wa ai da. Shaloi she tam hkawm sai da "Si du gara kaw nga ai kun a" ngu na tam she tam hkawm tam she tam hkawm shi lu hkawm hkawm chyam chyam ai e mungkan ga ntsa e shi gaw dai hku na gara kaw ding yang hkawm ai gara kaw du yang gara kaw gara kaw du yang gara kaw "Si du gara kaw nga ai kun" ngu na dai hku na san mat wa rai na tam hkawm mat wa ai da. Raitim mung kadai mung "E anhte si du hpe nchye ga ai lo nmu ga ai lo" ngu na dai hku hkrai hkap tsun dan ai da. Raitim mung shi gaw lani mi hta gaw dan rai na tam hkawm mat wa yang she ndai si du ngu ai wa hte hkrum ai da. Shaloi jang she shi gaw grai kabu na hku rai nga. "Yi ngai grai si mayu ni ai lo si du e ngai hpe si shangun rit lo" ngu na dai hku tsun ai da. Dai shaloi gaw ndai si du gaw shi hpe gara hku tsun a ta nga yang she "E ya nang rai nmai si shi ai na na si na aten rai ndu shi ai. E nang shata manga shata kru aw yawm dik gaw nang dai daram naw nga ra ai" ngu na tsun ai da. "Dai daram naw nga ra ai nang nmai si shi ai" ngu na tsun jang she shi gaw e dai lapran hpe nga shalai na pyi gaw shi gaw grai myit ru ai hku rai nga grai myit htum ai hku rai nga. Raitim mung si du e dan nga da ai re majaw gaw "Kaning nchye di ai dai laman sha gaw naw nga pra ra na rai sai nga pra ra sai ga rai nga ai" ngu na shi gaw dai hku myit na nga sai da. Dan re wa she shi gaw dai hku na bai nga nga rai yang she bungli lama ma awng dang ai a majaw i e dan re a majaw mung wo myit pyaw hpa amyu myu bai lu la ai a majaw shi gaw grai bai pyaw mat sai da e la dai gaw. Dan rai jang she mi gaw grai si mayu na she si du hpe tam sai she ya hkring gaw shi gaw bai nkam si mat sai da. Kai nkam si sai da lo nkam si mat nna she "Ya ngai e ngai nkam si shi ai nkam si ai ngu na ngai si du hpe bai e tsun la na rai sam ai" ngu na shi gaw dai hku na bai tam hkawm ai da. Si du hpe bai tam hkawm tam hkawm kaja wa nan si du ngu gaw gara kaw nga ai re shi hkrak nchye ai re majaw gaw dai hku hkawm hkrai hkawm hkawm hkrai hkawm rai yang she mi mung dan rai yang she shara mi tsawm ri sha hkrum lu ai re majaw gaw "Ya mung dai hku bai tawngban la na" ngu na shi gaw hkawm hkrai hkawm ai da. Hkawm hkrai hkawm rai yang she si du hpe nmu ai da. Si du hpe nmu rai na she shi gaw "E rai sai si du hpe nmu jang gaw ngai gaw ya ngai myu mi chye sai" ngu da. "E ndai ngai hpe si ra ai ngu ai nhtoi shani si du ngai hpe nmu hkra ngai makoi mat na re" ngu na shi gaw dai hku na myit sai da. Dai majaw shi gaw dai shaloi gaw shi gaw ja gumhpraw lu na she grai sahte mat sai ten rai na hku rai re nga. Dai majaw gaw shi na ma shi na shangun ma ni hpe i shi gaw wo ra sutdek hka nshang hkra re sutdek kaba galaw shangun ai da. Sutdek kaba law ai galaw shangun na she shi gaw dai kaw e shi na dai shata manga shata kru sha na matu lu sha ni mung dai kaw e bang shangun ai da. Shing rai na dai kaw ma hkra jahkum bang shangun shi mung dai kaw e shang rawng rai na she shi hpe gaw ndai sutdek shi mung dai kaw rawng ngut sai i nga jang she hka nshang lu na hku i shi gaw dai kaw e nsa sa lu na matu ni ma hkra hkum hkum tsup tsup lajang da rai na she shi gaw sutdek kaba dai kaw e rawng sai da. Rawng na she "E ya ngai ndai kaw rawng ngut ai hpang e gaw ngai hpe e panglai de jahkrat bang kau na" ngu na jahkrat bang marit ngu na mi kaw na matsun da chyalu re ai da. Sumri galu law ai sumri galu law ai gai galu dik ai dai hpe e dai sutdek kaw gyit nna she sung dik ai panglai de jahkrat bang ai da. Panglai de jahkrat bang rai na she dai sumri dai hpe gaw e wo zaibru jang nang loimi ga ja ai de she nrai na i dai kaw e she bai mailak dit nna i dai kaw e bai sumri hte bai gyit da rai na dai hku galaw shangun ai da. Shing rai na dai hku galaw rai na shi gaw sutdek e rawng nna le hka kata kaw rai taw nga sana hku rai nga. Dai she shi gaw shi hpe e nang dai daram nga na aten masat ya ai aten lai jang e shi hpe bai shaw la na matu shi gaw matsun da ai da. "Shaloi jang gaw si du gaw shi hpe nsi shangun sana re" ngu na dai hku myit na shi dai hku galaw wa sai re da. Dai she shi dai kaw rawng taw nga sai da. Rawng taw nga rai yang she kaja wa shi si na nhtoi wa du wa sai da e. E dai nhtoi du wa rai yang she si du gaw shi hpe bai tam sai da. Si du gaw shi hpe bai tam sai da shi na aten du sai re majaw shata kru tup mat sai re majaw shi na aten hkrak kaw e si ra ai re majaw gaw bai tam. Nmu hkra sai da lo tam hkrai tam tam hkrai tam si du mung tam ai wa nmu she nmu hkraw nmu she nmu hkraw mi dai la dai wa htinglet hkawm ai kahkrang hkawm ai mungkan ga she chyam hkra hkra si du mung dan rai chyam hkawm na tam hkrai tam ai da nmu ai da. Nmu she nmu nmu she nmu rai na ya shi gaw shat mung kaw si mat da law ndai si du wa mare buga kahtawng hkan e tam hkawm yang mung nmu rai na she shi gaw le masha nnga ai shara hkan e i dai hku na hka kau zaibru jang dan re hkan e shi gaw tam hkawm ai da. Shi gaw tam hkawm mat wa rai yang she wora zaibru jang hku shat nau kaw si mat ai majaw she shi gaw lam hkawm tim pyi gaw lagaw nlu sharawt mat ai da. Lagaw pyi gaw zaibru jang kaw she garawt garawt garawt rai na kasawt nna she dai hku na hkawm rai na mi na si mayu ai la hpe tam hkawm rai yang she e zaibru jang hku lai wa rai yang wa shi na lagaw kaw wa sumri langai mi bai la wa ai da. Shaloi jang e she dai shi dai kaw bai la nna galau taw na hku rai nga si du gaw. Dai shaloi she "Ndai kaning re sumri rai kun" ngu na wo gang hkrai gang gang hkrai gang gang hkrai gang nhtum she nhtum hkraw ai da nhtum she nhtum hkraw gang hkrai gang shaw gang hkrai gang shaw rai yang wa she hpang jahtum e rai jang e gaw sutdek langai mi wa paw wa ai da. Sutdek langai mi paw wa rai na she dai hkarang kawng de e dun i hka kaw rai jang gaw dai sutdek hpe gang yang mung tsang na rai nga i. Dai hku na gang shawaw dat yang she dai hka htum ai kaw e du sutdek dai du ai hte shi gaw kaja wa na sutdek dai hpe adup nna hpaw dat yu yang wa da mi shi si mayu na shi hpe e tam hkawm ai la wa rai taw nga ai da. Kaja wa nan dai shani gaw "Nang na si nhtoi daini rai sai majaw daini ngai nang hpe e mu hkra tam ai rai sai daini gaw nang si sanu" ngu na shi hpe e dai shani si kau shangun sai da. Si na ahkang jaw kau sai da. Dai majaw i "Si mayu ai nsi mayu ai gaw anhte tinang hkrai daw dan la ai baw nre" ngu na maumwi ndai hpe hpungdim ai hku re.
Origination date 2017-02-09
Origination date free form
Archive link https://catalog.paradisec.org.au/repository/KK1/0616
URL
Collector
Keita Kurabe
Countries To view related information on a country, click its name
Language as given Jinghpaw
Subject language(s) To view related information on a language, click its name
Content language(s) To view related information on a language, click its name
Dialect Standard Jinghpaw
Region / village Northern Myanmar
Originating university Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Operator
Data Categories primary text
Data Types Sound
Discourse type narrative
Roles Keita Kurabe : depositor
M. King Nang : speaker
DOI 10.4225/72/5989e1db5d65f
Cite as Keita Kurabe (collector), Keita Kurabe (depositor), M. King Nang (speaker), 2017. Si du hpe tam ai la (The man who wants to die) with English translation. EAF+XML/MPEG/VND.WAV. KK1-0616 at catalog.paradisec.org.au. https://dx.doi.org/10.4225/72/5989e1db5d65f
Content Files (3)
Filename Type File size Duration File access
KK1-0616-A.eaf application/eaf+xml 50.1 KB
KK1-0616-A.mp3 audio/mpeg 7.53 MB 00:08:14.367
KK1-0616-A.wav audio/vnd.wav 272 MB 00:08:14.358
3 files -- 279 MB -- --

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Collection Information
Collection ID KK1
Collection title Kachin folktales told in Jinghpaw
Description Recordings of Kachin folktales and related narratives in Jinghpaw. These materials were collected by Keita Kurabe, Gumtung Lu Awng, Sumdu Ja Seng Roi, Hpauhkum Htu Bu, Labang Tu La, Gumtung Htu Nan, and Lashi Seng Nan as part of community-based collaborative fieldwork in northern Myanmar. A total of 2,491 stories with 2,481 ELAN files, 2,481 transcriptions, and 1,437 translations are currently available (November 23, 2024). Transcriptions were contributed by Gumtung Lu Awng, Pausa La Ring, Galang Lu Hkawng, Sumdu Ja Seng Roi, Hpauhkum Htu Bu, and Keita Kurabe. Stories were translated by Nbanpa Rita Seng Mai, Sumlut Gun Mai, Lazing Htoi San, Maran Seng Pan, Dumdaw Mike Tu Awng, Nhkum Htoi Awng, and Keita Kurabe.

Animated stories are available at:

https://catalog.paradisec.org.au/collections/KK3
https://www.youtube.com/@kachinfolktales
https://www.facebook.com/KachinStories

Other Kachin culture and history are available at:

https://catalog.paradisec.org.au/collections/KK2

Our research was made possible under the support of JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17H04523, JP20K13024, JP20H01256, JP24K03887, Linguistic Dynamics Science 3 (LingDy3) from Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), and JSPS Program for Advancing Strategic International Networks to Accelerate the Circulation of Talented Researchers "A collaborative network for usage-based research on lesser-studied languages."
Countries To view related information on a country, click its name
Languages To view related information on a language, click its name
Access Information
Edit access Nick Thieberger
Keita Kurabe
View/Download access
Data access conditions Open (subject to agreeing to PDSC access conditions)
Data access narrative
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