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

Overview

A violinist saves a white snake from a black one and is taken to the snake’s father, ruler of a lower kingdom. Advised to request a hen as his reward, he receives the ruler’s daughter, whose chicken-skin covering conceals her beauty. She brings a golden pick and chain, a brass blessing cup, fruit, feathers and animal hair.

When a worldly king takes her from her husband, she secretly helps the musician perform impossible tasks. Her tools remove a mountain, create a lake and populate its banks with trees, birds and animals. Finally the golden chain opens a deceptively attractive entrance to hell. After the king enters, the violinist closes it and reunites with his wife. The source does not label her a naga, despite her brother’s snake form.

Supernatural spouse with a removable feather coveringSpecific translated narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Tibetan narrated traditions, as mediated by the Shelton collection

02

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant tale, title-page credits, contents and Flora Beal Shelton’s preface read.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Tibetan Folk Tales

    A. L. Shelton, translator; Flora Beal Shelton, editor · 1925

    Tale 29, The Story of the Violinist, pp. 117–122

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

A. L. Shelton, Tibetan Folk Tales (St. Louis: United Christian Missionary Society, 1925), edited by Flora Beal Shelton

Historical English collection. Tale 29, The Story of the Violinist, pp. 117–122

Full tale directly read, including ending; original contents confirms printed locator. Preface read for mediation and absence of individual narrator identification. Primary witness of this historical translation, not an independently checked Tibetan original.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

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

  1. Historical translated folktaleShelton, Tibetan Folk Tales (1925), 29, The Story of the Violinist, pp. 117–122Research 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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