A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Cham-ba finds a young sparrow that has fallen from a nest above his doorway and broken its leg. He binds the injury and returns the bird to its nest. O’Connor’s narrator explicitly identifies it as a fairy in disguise. When grown, it speaks to its benefactor and gives him grain to plant. Each ear of the resulting crop contains a jewel, bringing Cham-ba prosperity.

The jealous neighbour Tse-ring deliberately injures another nestling, then tends it in imitation. That bird also speaks and supplies grain, but its crop brings a claimant to a debt from a former existence. The first bird is explicitly called a disguised fairy; the second receives a parallel narrative role without a separate explanation of its identity. No Tibetan spirit term, fairy wings beyond the bird form, or ordinary sparrow species is supplied.

Disguised fairy whose grateful gift produces jewelsSpecific translated narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Tibet; collected historical narrative

02

Records & interpretation

Full relevant tale and collection preface directly read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Folk Tales from Tibet

    W. F. O’Connor, collector and translator · 1906

    IV, The Story of the Two Neighbours, pp.20–25

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

W. F. O’Connor, Folk Tales from Tibet (1906)

IV, The Story of the Two Neighbours. pp.20–25

Entire tale and collection preface read. First sparrow explicitly fairy in disguise; second parallels its speaking grain gift. Creditor appears from crop and claims past-life debt. Later monkey substitution explicitly a human trick. Original paraphrase; historical colonial collector mediation retained.

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References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical tale collectionO’Connor, Folk Tales from Tibet, IV, The Story of the Two Neighbours, pp.20–25Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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