Similarities Between a Mythological Legend and an Ancient Fable

I found some similarities between a legend from Greek mythology and a Chinese fable—the latter of which I read in a book specifically dedicated to fables.

These are the Legend of King Midas and the fable Hard to Please. Both tell the story of someone whose touch turns everything into gold.

First, I will transcribe the fable Hard to Please, a work collected by Feng Menglong from the Ming Dynasty.

A poor man met an old friend on his way. This friend possessed a supernatural power that allowed him to perform miracles. As the poor man complained about the hardships of his life, his friend touched a brick with his finger, which immediately turned into gold. He offered it to the poor man, but the man felt it was too little. The friend then touched a stone lion, which turned into solid gold, and added it to the golden brick. The poor man still found the gift insufficient.

"What else do you desire then?" asked the miracle worker.

"I want your finger!" replied the other.

And next, the Legend of King Midas.

King Midas, son of Gordias—a peasant who had ascended to the throne of Phrygia by the will of the gods—grew up obsessed with wealth. Therefore, when Dionysus (Bacchus) offered him a wish for having helped Silenus, his drunken satyr companion, Midas asked that everything he touched be turned into gold.

Everything was going well until he felt hungry. When they brought him food, it turned into gold as well... the same thing happened with the wine. Seeing this outcome, a horrified Midas begged Dionysus for help. The god told him to wash himself in the Pactolus River, which explains why gold dust can still be found along its banks today.

This last one is a very brief summary. To learn more about King Midas, visit and read the text on this webpage: www.ecosdelheroe.com/leyendas_reymidas.html , which explains it very well.