The Dragon Prince

The Dragon Prince is a collection of 15 stories and legends from Vietnam retold by Zen master poet and peace activist Thích Nhất Hạnh. As in many of his teachings, Thích Nhất Hạnh emphasizes themes of cooperation and reconciliation, while providing a rich introduction to the mythical elements of Vietnamese culture.

The stories range from creation myths to tales of wars and food and custom myths, all aiming at the notion of “mindfulness,” of become aware of what is happening in the moment. Imaginary characters weave through the lives of actual persons and events, blending fiction and non-fiction, magic and fantasy, into the profound realization of the interconnectedness of all beings.

The tales highlight the importance of “true seeing” and focuses on transcendence rather than anguish. Above all The Dragon Prince simply contains well-told stories with clear and lyrical writing, once again giving testament to Thích Nhất Hạnh’s immense skill as a writer. This book is a must for every collection.

From the afterword by translator Mobi Warren:

The heroes and heroines of these stories celebrate closeness to the Earth, the importance of assuming personal responsibility for one’s conduct, and the possibility of resolving conflict through understanding rather than violence.

B/W Illustrations throughout. A previous edition was titled A Taste of Earth.