Of course, it is still possible that the story originated in Asia, and simply traveled west far earlier than Louie posited. I'm not sure what the state of research into the subject was, back in the 80s, but I think this idea is called into question by the existence of the Egyptian Cinderella story of Rhodopis, which was recorded in the late first century BC by the Greek geographer Strabo, and then in the work of the Roman author Aelian (ca. It's interesting to note that Louie speculates that this tale-type might have traveled from Asia to Europe, given the difference of recorded dates between the two versions. She makes this point in her brief note, and includes a reproduction of the original Chinese text of her tale. Originally published in 1982, Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China was a tale handed down in author Ai-Ling Louie's family, and is one she was surprised to discover predated the European variant of the story (which first saw print in 1634 AD) by some centuries. Using this magic to attend a festival, she leaves behind one of her golden slippers, and when this footwear finds its way into the hands of a king, her life is transformed.
When this too is taken by her stepmother, she is in despair, until she discovers that the bones of her fish can still speak to her, and can grant her wishes. Made to do all of the work and dressed in rags, Yeh-Shen's only comfort is the magical fish she befriends. Yeh-Shen is mistreated by her cruel stepmother in this Chinese Cinderella story, taken from the 9th-century collection, The Miscellaneous Record of You Yang.
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