Tiki Tiki Tembo

Tiki Tiki Tembo
Author: Arlene Mosel
Illustrator: Blair Lent
Folk/Traditional

Tiki Tiki Tembo tells the story of two brothers in China. One brother was simply named Chang, but the other had a very long and unusual name because in China at that time it was tradition to give the older son a very long important name. The older brother's full name was Tiki Tiki Tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo. In the story the older brother falls into the well and Chang runs to his mother to get help. Chang is frantic, and because his brother's name is so long it takes several tries for him to finally get the message across to his mother. Finally, his mother tells him to go and fetch the old man and his ladder to get the boy out of the well. But, when he visits the old man, the same thing happens. Chang is so nervous that he jumbles his words and it takes several tries for the old man to understand what he is saying. Finally, Chang slows down enough to tell the old man what has happened and they both rush to the well to get Tiki Tiki Tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo out. The old man revives Chang's brother and he is never the same afterwards. This tale speculates why today Chinese children are now given short and often one-syllable names.