Talk:The Honest Woodcutter

Re-write

Um...language? Doesn't it seem like this article is written a bit informally for an encyclopedic document? I suggest a re-write. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.246.144.52 (talk • contribs) 20:31, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Computer game

Isn;t there a computer game by this name and shoulndt there be a disambig? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.190.121.150 (talk) 22:14, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

Merge

I just merged some content from The Gold Axe and the Silver Axe per a request made by an IP last month which hadn't been discussed; since the articles clearly shared the same topic, the merge seems uncontroversial and I have performed it. If anyone disagrees with the merge, or the way I made the merge, feel free to discuss it here and/or be bold and improve it. Since the merge involved transferring several references which make reasonable claims that the origin of this story is one of several different places, I have also removed the claim that it originated in Aesop's Fables until that can be firmly established, in favour of "of uncertain origin" as seen in the merged content. If anyone can provide solid references which can establish the origin of this fairy tale / fable one way or another, that would be helpful; otherwise, it may be worth including a section discussing a variety of notable theories as to its origin, as it appears multiple sources give multiple answers to that question. GiftigerWunsch [TALK] 09:36, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

So far as I am concerned, the claim that the tale is of uncertain origin is not proved. The works cited for variations from Nigeria, Tibet and Thailand are all published within the last 20 years and tell versions so similar to that of Aesop that one suspects that this has been the primary influence. The Thai version is said to be indebted to a Buddhist Jataka tale (as the Tibetan story might be also) but neglects to mention which. A Google search for "golden axe" turns up no such phrase in the Jatakas, not is there any mention of it in "The Golden Axe and Other Folk Tales of Compassion and Greed" by Ruth Stotter (1998). I am therefore rewriting the article as suggested but will replace the claim that this is one of Aesop's Fables, for which there is credible proof. Mzilikazi1939 (talk) 14:23, 9 February 2011 (UTC)

Redirect

I suggest that this article be moved back to its original title, "The Honest Woodcutter", for following reasons.

1) The story was not known by this title - until recently maybe.

2) There is an ambiguity with the computer game called The Golden Axe.

3) The name by which the fable was best known in Europe was "Mercury and the woodman". However, since the names of Greek gods may not be immediately recognisable to non-Western readers, it is probably best to settle for the one suggested above.

I'll wait until the end of the month to see if anyone comments. Mzilikazi1939 (talk) 18:15, 9 February 2011 (UTC)

Hadn't seen this - seems fine to change it to me.--Annielogue (talk) 07:50, 27 February 2011 (UTC)

Was it a silver pipe or a golden pipe?

This has been seen in Silent Hill 3, .Hack, The Legend of Zelda, and probably other places. John Moser (talk) 15:46, 16 November 2020 (UTC)

You'll have to explain what you mean. Sweetpool50 (talk) 17:57, 16 November 2020 (UTC)