Avanti is a typical character in the legends of the Uygur Ethnic Group. “Avanti” is a generic term which refers to a teacher or scholar and can also be an honorifi c title. This particular Avanti’s name is Nasreddin. To show respect to him， people also call him Hodja · Nasreddin · Avanti (Hodja is also a title， meaning teacher).
In the eyes of the ordinary people， Avanti is the embodiment of wisdom and courage. Even his name is sufficiently magic to make the most woebegone person break out into
阿凡提的故事
The Stories of Avanti
laughters.
The classical image of Avanti is one in which he wears a colored ethnic cap and rides on a little donkey facing backwards and this image was established in early times. In China， Avanti is one of the most excellent folk creations.
I Kicked It First
Little Avanti and the other kids felt bored and couldn’t decide what to play. A relatively older child said to Avanti， “If you put your cap on the ground and personally kick it， I will make you the king of all the children.”
“Isn’t it impossible？ You see！” Avanti said. Then， he took off his cap， put it on the ground and kicked it. Afterwards， the other kids swarmed around the cap and began to kick it as though it were a ball.
In the evening， seeing the cap was so dirty， his mother interrogated him， “How did you make this nice cap so dirty？”
“The other kids kicked my cap as though it were a ball.” Avanti answered.
“Did you just stand still and look at them kicking your cap instead of stopping them？” his mother replied angrily
“Oh no， Mom. I kicked it first，” Avanti said.
I Throw the Cat into It
A mouse fell into a tank full of water in Avanti’s house. The little Avanti shouted to his father， “Dad， a mouse has fallen into our water tank！”
“Good grief， hurry up and fish it out！” his father shouted back.
“No need for that， dad， I have thrown our cat into the tank！” the little Avanti answered.
我把猫扔里面了
I Throw the Cat into It
Half of the Reward
Avanti brought some good news to the king， but he took a lot of trouble in doing so.
The king was very pleased after hearing the news and asked Avanti， “What kind of reward do you want for bringing me this news？”
“I would like to suffer fifty lashes.” Avanti said.
The king remained perplexed despite much thought and finally ordered that Avanti be given the fifty lashes as requested. At the 25th lash， Avanti shouted， “Stop. Please give the remaining 25 lashes to my colleague！”
“Who is your colleague？” the king asked.
“When I came to call on you， your guard wouldn’t allow me to come in. Only after he let me swear to deal out half of my reward to him did he open the door to me.”
一半报酬
Half of the Reward
The Day Absent in the World
When Avanti was a dyer， a self-claimed wise man found him with a piece of white hand-woven cloth， saying， “Avanti， please dye this piece of cloth into a kind of color that can’t be found anywhere in the world.”
“What kind of color do you mean？” Avanti asked.
“It is neither red， nor black， nor blue， nor yellow， nor green nor purple. Anyway， it can’t be found in the world.”Was the reply.
“All right， I will do as you wish！” Avanti said.
“When should I come to fetch it？” the person asked.
Please come to fetch it on the day absent in the world. It is neither Monday， Tuesday， Wednesday， Thursday， Friday， Saturday nor Sunday.” Avanti replied.
世界上不存在的那天
The Day Absent in the World
Blank Letter
A rich man in the village held a wedding ceremony but he didn’t invite Avanti to join. Not thinking much， Avanti folded a piece of blank paper into a square and placed it in an envelope. Carrying the letter， he went to the house of the rich man.
Avanti called the host of the wedding ceremony out and said to him， “Kaze (the Islamic judge) asked me to bring a letter to you.” The host was very pleased to hear it and led Avanti to the wedding banquet where Avanti began to taste various kinds of delicacies.
The host opened the envelope and took out the letter to read it. He turned the letter inside out but found no word. He said， “Avanti， what’s the matter？ There are no words on the letter.”
“Perhaps the judge was too busy to write anything.” Avanti answered.
空白信
Blank Letter
Let the Aware People
Tell the Unaware
One day， Avanti went to a school of philosophy to give a lecture. Stepping onto the platform， he asked the mullas and their disciples， “Do you know what will I lecture to you about？”
“No，” everyone replied with one voice.
“It is not interesting to talk with the unaware people，” said Avanti. Then， he stepped down from the platform and left.
Several days later， Avanti went there again and repeated the question. This time， everyone answered with one voice， “Yes！”
“It is also not interesting to repeat what you know.” said Avanti. Then， he left. For the third time， he put forward the same question. The prepared mullas and their disciples answered， “One half of us know and the other half of us don’t！”
“In that way， I ask those who are aware to tell the unaware.” Avanti said. Then， he once again stepped down from the platform.
Die Two Days Earlier
Than the King
