Kim Qui

The cool, dark water of the river is my favorite place to rest. From my home deep below the surface, I can feel the rumblings of the world above, like a giant's tummy growling. My name is Kim Qui, and I am the Golden Turtle. Long ago, I felt the worry of a great king named An Dương Vương, who was trying to build a strong fortress to protect his people. But every time his workers built a wall, it would crumble to the ground overnight. The king was sad and didn't know what to do. This is the story of how I helped him, a tale known as the myth of the Cổ Loa Citadel and the Magic Crossbow.

Seeing the king's great trouble, I decided it was time to help. I rose from the depths of the river, and my golden shell shone as bright as the morning sun. King An Dương Vương was very surprised to see a giant turtle speaking to him, but he was a kind and wise man, so he listened carefully to my words. 'Your Majesty,' I said in a calm, deep voice, 'your walls are being knocked down by mischievous spirits who love to play tricks in the dark of night.' I promised to help him solve this pesky problem. I used my ancient magic to chase the naughty spirits away, telling them to never bother the builders again. With the spirits gone, the walls stood tall and strong, spiraling around and around like a giant snail shell. The fortress, which the king named Cổ Loa, was finally finished. The king and his people were so happy and felt safe. To thank him for his kindness and to help him keep his kingdom safe forever, I gave him a very special gift. I carefully removed one of my own golden claws. 'Use this to make a trigger for a crossbow,' I told him. 'It will become a magic crossbow that can protect your entire kingdom with a single shot.'

The king’s best craftsmen took my golden claw and made the most amazing crossbow the world had ever seen. It wasn't just beautiful; it was magical. When a soldier pulled the trigger made from my claw, the crossbow could fire hundreds of arrows all at once, like a shower of shooting stars. This powerful weapon protected the kingdom from any harm. For many, many years, the people of the Âu Lạc kingdom lived in peace and happiness, all thanks to the strong walls of Cổ Loa and the incredible magic crossbow. The story of the Golden Turtle and the kind king has been told in Vietnam for thousands of years. It reminds people that help can come from surprising places and that friendship and cleverness are powerful gifts. Even today, children hear my story and draw pictures of a giant golden turtle helping a king. It helps everyone imagine a world full of magic and reminds them to always protect their homes and help their friends whenever they can.