At first, the world was in darkness. All who dwelt in the shadow of the Mulberry Tree had never seen the light,
nor could they imagine what it was, until ten crows began a journey seeking to bring its rays to the dark world. Long they flew, through paths both dangerous and dull, until they saw something glowing before them in the darkness of space.

They came to a heavenly realm full of brilliant light and heat. The red crows were delighted with the new realm and dwelt there a long time to learn its secrets. As they grew more skilled in the magic of the heavenly realm, their bodies were transformed so that they emitted a brilliant light of many colors and warmth.

When they learned all the mysteries in the brilliant heaven, the ten red crows returned to Earth. They were each as bright as a star. Those who dwelt near the Mulberry Tree first knew of their coming when a faint glow appeared on the dark horizon.

Then the world lit up, colors shining brilliantly against a sky that was azure blue. But as the crows grew near, the light became a searing blue-white light, and with it came a heat that was unbearable. It burned everything it touched. When the ten red crows perched in the Mulberry Tree, the whole of the Earth began to wither and dry up. All who dwelt in the shadow of the tree were afraid.

"Help us!"

They cried in pain, rolling on the grass and covering their sore eyes. Yi, an archer, heard their cries and saw that the crows were bringing death to the world instead of brilliance. He then took up his bow and counted out his arrows. One by one, he shot the red crows. Each fell out of the sky and burned away to nothing, returning to the darkness. However, Yi spared the life of the tenth red crow so that light would not be lost to the world.

To this day, the tenth red crow rises each morning from his perch on the Mulberry Tree and flies around the world as the sun until he comes to rest once again in the Great Solar Tree.