The Tree of Life

    By Frank Sun

    The Tree of Life cover image

    23 Jun, 2024

    a group of people standing around a tree in a forest with mountains in the background and a large tree in the foreground, cloisonnism, a detailed matte painting, Christophe Vacher, orientalism

    In the heart of the Dai village, under the great Tree of Life, lived A-Wang, a young and courageous Dai man, known for his wisdom and strength.

    a man standing in front of a tree in a forest with a sky background and a mountain in the background, fantasy art, a detailed matte painting, Dan Mumford, cliff chiang

    One day, the sky darkened and a terrible storm approached. The villagers watched in fear as the Tree of Life's roots were exposed by the furious floods.

    a painting of a man walking in front of a tree with two men standing in front of it and a man in a white shirt and blue pants, fantasy art, a comic book panel, Baiōken Eishun, yusuke murata

    A-Wang, seeing the villagers' distress, took charge. He rallied the young men of the village and tried to repair the Tree of Life. But their efforts were not enough.

    a man standing in front of a tree in a village with mountains in the background and a sky with clouds, altermodern, a detailed matte painting, Clint Cearley, magic the gathering artwork

    Deciding to seek help from the neighboring Hani and Yi villages, A-Wang set out on a challenging journey through the stormy mountains and valleys.

    a group of asian men standing next to each other on a street near mountains and trees in the background, ukiyo-e, a detailed matte painting, Christophe Vacher, highly detailed digital painting

    Upon reaching the villages, A-Wang explained the situation to the Hani and Yi elders. Touched by his dedication, they agreed to help and sent their villagers to the Dai village.

    a painting of two men walking down a path in a village with a tree and mountains in the background, ukiyo-e, a storybook illustration, Byeon Sang-byeok, official art

    The next day, the Hani and Yi villagers arrived at the Dai village with tools and supplies. United, they began the task of restoring the Tree of Life.

    a painting of a group of people standing in front of a building with a tree in the background and a mountain in the background, ukiyo-e, a storybook illustration, Byeon Sang-byeok, official art

    The Hani villagers used their masonry skills, the Yi villagers built support structures, and the Dai villagers, led by A-Wang, devised a comprehensive restoration plan.

    a group of people standing around a tree in a village with a sky background and a large tree in the middle, sōsaku hanga, a storybook illustration, Baiōken Eishun, official art

    After days of hard work, their efforts bore fruit. The Tree of Life regained its vitality, standing tall with lush green leaves. The village was once again vibrant and full of life.

    a painting of a man in a traditional chinese costume standing in front of a crowd of people under a tree, fantastic realism, a detailed matte painting, Emperor Huizong of Song, official art

    The villagers held a grand celebration under the tree. A-Wang, on behalf of the Dai villagers, expressed their gratitude to the Hani and Yi villagers and invited them to share the harvest.

    a group of people standing around a tree with a man in a red robe and a woman in a yellow dress, naive art, a storybook illustration, Emperor Huizong of Song, orientalism

    At the celebration, the villagers danced and sang, exchanged blessings, and toasted to their hard-won peace and friendship. Their unity was stronger than ever before.

    a painting of two people standing under a tree in a village with mountains in the background and a tree in the foreground, cloisonnism, a storybook illustration, Christophe Vacher, storybook illustration

    From then on, the Dai, Hani, and Yi villagers lived in even closer unity, helping each other and moving forward hand in hand.

    a man in a kimono standing in front of a tree in a courtyard of a building with a tree in the background, ukiyo-e, a comic book panel, Emperor Huizong of Song, official art

    The story of their unity and the miraculous restoration of the Tree of Life became a legend in the village, symbolizing that together, they can overcome any difficulty.