The Disobedient Frog

A young frog lived with his widowed mother in a large pond. A rascal and a trouble maker, he never listened to his mother and caused her much grief and embarrassment. If his mother said go play on the hillside, he went to the seashore. If she said go to the upper neighborhood, he went to the lower. If she said do this, he did that. Whatever she said, he did the opposite. "What am l going to do with that boy?" she mumbled to herself. "Why can't he be like the other boys? They always listen and do what they are told. And they're always kind and respectfuI. I don't know what wiIl become of him if he keeps behaving like this. I have to do something to break him of his bad habits." Mother Frog sighed deeply. "Ha! Ha! Ha!" Iaughed Little Frog. "Hush aIl that mumbling. You don't have to worry about me. I'm doing fine just the way l am." "Is that so?" said Mother Frog. "Then why can't you croak properly? You don't even sound like a frog. Let me teach you." With a smile, she puffed herself up and let out a loud Kaegul! Kaegul! "Now you try." Grinning broadly, Little Frog puffed himself up and let out a loud Kulgae! Kulgae! "Why you impudent little rascal! You're going to be the death of me!" cried Mother Frog. "You'll Iisten to me if you know what's good for you. Now you..." "Kulgae! Kulgae!" croaked Little Frog, hopping away. Day after day Mother Frog scolded her young son but he continued to do as he wished and just the opposite of what she said. She fretted and worried so much about him that she became ill. Still he continued to misbehave. One day she called him to her bedside. "My son," she said, "I don't think I will live much longer. When I die, please don't bury me on the mountain, bury me beside the stream." She said this because she knew he would do the opposite of what she said.

A few days later Mother Frog died. Little Frog cried and cried. "Oh my poor mother! I worried her so much by misbehaving. Why didn't I listen to her?" he scolded himself. "Now she's gone. I killed her. I kiIled her." Little Frog thought about his mother and all the trouble he had caused her. Then he told himself, "I always did the opposite of what Mother said because it was fun. But this time l will do exactly what she told me to do." So Little Frog buried his mother beside the stream, even tough he did not think it was very wise. A few weeks later there was a storm. It rained so much the stream overflowed its banks. Little Frog could not sleep for worrying that his mother's grave would be washed away. At last he went to the grave to keep watch. In the pouring rain he sat, crying over and over, "Kaegul! Kaegul! Please don't wash my mother away!" And that is what he did every time it rained. And ever since then, green frogs have cried Kaegul! Kaegul! when it rains.

The Rabbit's Judgment

Long, long ago, when plants and animals talked, a tiger fell into a deep pit while roaming through the forest in search of food. He tried over and over to get out but the walls were too steep for him to climb and he could not jump high enough to reach the opening. He called for help but none came. The next morning he called for help until he was hoarse. Hungry and exhausted he slumped down on the ground, thinking that he was doomed to die in the pit. But then he heard footsteps. "Help! HeIp!" he cried desperately. "Oh! A tiger!" said a man, peering over the side of the pit. "Please! PIease help me out of here!" pleaded the tiger. "If you help me, I won't forget you as long as I live." The man felt sorry for the tiger but he was afraid of being eaten. "I would like to heIp you but, I'm sorry, the thought of what might happen makes me refuse. Please forgive me. I must be on my way," said the man and he began walking down the path. "No! No! PIease don't think like that! Please help me!" cried the tiger. "You don't have to worry! I promise! I won't hurt you! Please heIp me out! Please! I beg you! If you get me out. I'II be forever grateful to you! Please!" The tiger sounded so pitiful that the man turned around and walked back to the pit. He Iooked around until he found a big log. "Here, climb up this," he said, lowering the log into the pit. The tiger climbed up the log and came face to face with the man. His mouth watered and he began circling him. "Hey! Wait a minute! Didn't you promise not to hurt me? Is this your idea of gratefulness? Is this how you repay a kindness?" "What do I care about a promise when I'm starving! I haven't eaten for days!" "Wait! Wait!" cried the man. "Let's ask that pine tree if it is right for you to eat me." "All right," said the tiger. "But after we ask, I'm going to eat you. I'm awfully hungry."

The tiger and the man explained the situation to the pine tree. "What do men know about gratefulness?" said the pine tree. "Why your kind take our leaves and limbs to make fires to heat your homes and cook your food. And it takes us years to grow big but when we finally do you cut us down and cut us up to make timber and planks for houses and furniture and the like. Moreover, it was a man that dug that pit. Gratefulness. indeed! Don't give it another thought, Tiger. You just go ahead and satisfy your hunger!" "Now what do you think of that?" asked the tiger, smacking his lips loudly and slinking toward the man. Just at that moment an ox wandered by. "Wait! Wait!" cried the man. "Let's ask that ox to Judge?" The tiger agreed so they explained everything to the ox and asked his opinion. "Well, as far as I'm concened. there's no question about what to do." said the ox, turning to the tiger. "You should eat him up! You see from the time we're born we oxen work diligently for men. We carry heavy loads on our backs and plow up the ground so they can grow food. But what do they do when we're old? They kiIl us and eat our flesh and use our hides to make all kinds of things. So don't talk to me about being grateful to him. Just eat him!" "See! Everyone agrees. Now get ready to die," said the tiger, crouching to pounce. The man thought that it must surely be his time to die. But then a rabbit came hopping by. "Wait Tiger! Wait!" shouted the man. "Now what?" roared the tiger. "Please give me one last chance." begged the man. "Let's ask that rabbit to judge whether l should be eaten or not." "Oh, what's the use? You know the answer will be the same." "PIease, please," pleaded the man. "Oh. all right. But this is the last time. I'm starving!" So the tiger and the man told the rabbit their story. The rabbit listened carefully. Then he closed his eyes and stroked one of his long ears. After a few seconds he opened his eyes

and spoke slowly and deliberately. "I well understand what the two of you have said. But if l am to make a wise judgment we should go to that pit and you should tell me again what happened. So lead the way." The tiger and the man led the rabbit the few short steps to the pit. "Well it certainly is deep," said the rabbit. Iooking down into the pit. "Let's see, you say you were down there and you were standing here like this?" he said to the tiger and then to the man. "Well, get in the positions you were in at the time and then I can make a judgment." Without giving it a second thought, the tiger jumped down into the pit. He was so hungry all he could think about was getting the decision-making over so he could eat the man. The man peered over the edge of the pit. "So, that is how the two of you were. You, Tiger, had fallen into the pit and couldn't get out. And you, Man, having heard his cries of help. came and helped him out. Now I can judge. The problem started when this man helped that tiger out of this pit." explained the rabbit as if talking to someone else. "In other words, if the man had not shown any kindness and had left the tiger in the pit. there wouldn't be a problem. So what l think is that the man should continue his journey and the tiger should remain in the pit. Now, a good day to the both of you," said the clever rabbit and he hopped away.

Two Brothers
In times gone by there lived two brothers whose loving ways were the talk of the valley where they lived. They took care of their widowed mother and upon her death they divided everything evenly. Together they worked diligently from sunup to sundown to produce the most they could from their fields. It never failed that come autumn they had the largest harvest in the valley. One late autumn evening, after they had spent the afternoon sacking and dividing the last of the rice harvest, the older brother thought, "Brother has lots of expenses since he just got married a few months ago. I think l wiIl put a sack of rice in his storehouse and not tell him. I'm sure he would never accept it if I offered it to him." So, late that night, he carried it to his brother's storeroom. The next day, while tidying up his own storage, the older brother was surprised to find he still had the same number of sacks of rice as he had before taking one to his brother. "That's odd," he said, shaking his head, "I'm sure I took a sack of rice to Brother's house last night." He counted his sacks again. "Well," he said, scratching the back of his head, "I'll just take him another one tonight." So, late that night. he carried a sack of rice to his brother's house. The next morning, he was again shocked to find he had the same number of sacks as before. He shook his head over and over and decided he would take his brother another sack that night. After a late dinner he loaded the rice and set out for his brother's house. It was a full moon and he could see the path quite clearly. Soon he saw a man carrying something bulky coming down the path. "Why, Brother!" they both called out at the same time. The two brothers put down their sacks and laughed long and hearty for they both understood the mystery behind their unchanging number of sacks of rice. The younger brother thought his older brother could use the rice because he had a larger family.

Why the Sea Is Salty

Hundreds of years ago there was a king who had a very unusual stone hand mill. It looked like any other stone hand mill but it had special powers. All one had to do was say what one wanted and turn it and out would come what had been requested. If gold was requested, gold would come out. If rice was requested, rice would come out. Whatever was requested, the small hand mill would produce it. A thief made up his mind to steal the hand mill because once he had heard of it he couldn't get it out of his mind. For days and days he thought about how to steal it but he could not come up with a plan. Then one day he dressed like a scholar and visited a court official who had access to the royal palace. They chatted about this and that and finally the thief said, "I heard that the King buried his strange hand mill in the ground because he doesn't trust his ministers." "What's that? The King doesn't trust his ministers? Where did you hear such talk?" "That's what they say in the countryside," said the thief, happy he had sparked the man's interest. "They say the King dug a deep hole and buried the hand mill because he is so afraid that someone will steal it." "That's nonsense!" said the official. "The King's hand mill is beside the lotus pond in the inner court." "Oh, is that so?" said the thief, trying to control his excitement. "No one would dare try to steal the King's hand mill," said tht official. "Who would even think of trying when the thing is lying right beside the lotus pond where there is always lots of people coming and going." The thief was so excited that all he could say was "Yes" and "That's right" until he was able to leave. For many days the thief studied the situation. Then one very dark night, he climbed the palace wall and stole the hand mill from beside the lotus pond.

He was brimming with pride and confidence as he made his way back to the wall. But once outside the palace, he was overcome with fear of being discovered. His heart skipped a beat every time he met someone on the street. He decided to steal a boat and go to his hometown to hide because he knew that once the theft was discovered, everyone in the city and on the roads would be questioned. Once at sea the thief lay back against the bow of the boat and laughed. Then he began to sing and dance as he thought about how rich he was going to be. Then he thought about what to request from the hand mill. He did not want to ask for something common and easy to obtain. "Salt! Salt!" he suddenly shouted. "I'll ask for salt! Everyone needs salt. I can sell it and become a rich man. I'll be tht richest man in the country." He fell down on his knees and began turning the hand mill, singing as he did, Salt! Salt! Make some salt! Then he began dancing and singing about being a rich man. And the hand mill kept turning and turning. Salt spilled over the sides of the small boat but the thief just kept dancing and singing and laughing, all the time thinking about the big house he was going to have and the numerous servants who would serve him lavish meals. Finally the boat was so full of salt that it sank to the bottom of the sea. And, since no one has ever told the hand mill to stop, it is still turning and making salt, which is why the sea is salty. Suzanne Crowder Han, 1991, Korean Folk & Fairy Tales

Nolboo Hungboo A Korean Folktale

Retold By Eyoungsoo Park

Many years ago, there lived two brothers. Nolboo, the older was so mean that nobody liked him. Younger brother, Hungboo was the opposite. He was kind, polite, and generous to everybody and was filial to his widowed father. Naturally everybody liked him. Every parent wished to have a son like him and nobody doubted that God would bless him. One day, Father called his two sons to his bedside and took his last breath after telling them his last wish, that was, they always get along well and help each other. Hungboo was very sad and grieved over loss of his father, but his older brother became happy instead. In Korea, it was customary that the oldest son get all the inheritance. Now, being the oldest, Nolboo could do anything he wanted to do with his father's estate. Immediately, he told his brother and his family to move out. Hungboo didn't have any money even to rent a room, but he had to move out on the street with his wife and children. He knelt down on the ground and begged his

brother to allow them to stay until they could find a place of their own, but his brother didn't listen. He and his family packed a few belongings and had to sleep outside until they found a vacant lot on sunny side of a mountain and built a little hut. The whole family worked on other people's farms but their wages were not enough for them to live on. They had to skip meals. The children became so hungry and cried for anything to eat. Hungboo couldn't stand his familys suffering. He went over to his brother's. "Why did you come?" asked the older brother. "My children are so hungry and cry. I couldn't idly watch them, so came to borrow some rice from you, please help me!" Hungboo begged his brother for food. "Who told you to have so many children? I have no intention to give you any grain, even when my grain may get spoiled rotten in the barn." Nolboo refused to help him. Nolboo saw his brothers wife preparing the dinner table. He asked her to spare some boiled rice for his hungry children. After giving him a fiery sidelong scowl, she hit him with her wooden spoon on his left cheek. Hungboo feeling some rice left on his cheek asked "Please hit me on the right side once more." She wiped the wooden spoon with her apron and hit him again. Hungboo had to return home with empty hands. The long winter season was over and spring time came. A pair of swallows built a nest under the eaves of Hungboo's hut. The whole family was happy to have the guests and tried everything they could to make their guests feel comfortable. Soon, they had five baby swallows, who grew stronger everyday. One day, one of the babies dropped out of the nest to the hard ground and had his legs broken. Hungboo put medicine on and bandaged the injured legs and put the baby back in the nest. All five of the babies grew up to be adult swallows and flew away to the south when the winter came. Hungboo's family didn't have enough food, nor did they have enough clothes to warm themselves up, but the winter season was finally over, and once again the spring time came back. So, came another pair of swallows to occupy the old nest under the hut's eaves. The whole family was again happy to have the guests. On the very first day, one of the swallows dropped something in front of Hungboo. It was a gourd seed. He planted it and watered it every day with a great care. By the end of the summer, the vine had so many gourds ripened. One day, Hungoo decided to pick one of the gourds and open them. Each of his children had a wish. " I wish there were gold inside." "I wish there were rice." When the gourd was cut open, it kept pouring out gold and silver coins. When they opened the second gourd, it kept pouring out rice. They opened the last gourd, then out came a group of workers with tools. "God sent us to build you a house," one of the men said. The workers didn't waste and seconds. A gorgeous castle was built on the sunny side of the hill. On completion of the castle, all the workers disappeared in a blink of an eye. Hungboo and his family had enough money and rice to live happily ever after.

It didn't take much time before Hungboo's brother learned about his brother's wealth. Nolboo came over to Hungboo's house. "You must have stolen all this money," he accused his brother. No sooner had Hungboo told him how he became rich, than Nolboo hurried back home. A pair of swallows under eves of his big house were raising baby swallows. He picked one of the babies and broke its legs, then he applied some medicine, bandaged and put it back to the nest. All babies grew up and all of them flew off to the south when winter came. As expected, one pair of swallows returned and dropped a gourd seed in front of Nolboo. He planted and watered it with a great care hoping that he too would be as wealthy as his brother. It grew, and had three gourds ripened on the vine. Nolboo called all his family and announced that he was going to cut open their gourds with great expectations. Nolboo wished for gold and silver. His wife wished for rice. His children wished for a castle, bigger than their uncle's. Nolboo opened the first gourd, out of which endlessly poured unbearably stinky human wastes. He had to pick the gourd up and threw it outside. "It was a rotten one. This one looks good." He opened the second one, out of which countless number of poisonous snakes crawled. They opened the last gourd, hoping it would fulfill their dreams. This time, countless number of witches and ghosts flooded out and started beating up on Nolboo. Nolboo still didn't give up his greed. He went back and opened the last gourd, out of which a flood of water poured, and washed away all of his belongings and house. Nolboo and his family had nothing left and went over to his younger brother's house. "My younger brother, please forgive me. From now on, I will be a good person." He begged his younger brother for a room and food, shedding tears from his eyes. Hungboo helped his brother up from the ground, welcomed him and his family. "There is nothing to worry about, my big brother. We have more than enough rooms and rice for both of our families." Nolboo and his family truly changed and the two families lived together happily ever after.

A Scholar and A Goose A Korean Folktale

Retold By Eyoungsoo Park
Hundreds of years ago, an aspiring scholar was on his way by foot to Seoul, capital city of Korea. As it was getting dark, he looked for a place to sleep and found a country inn with a thatched roof.

"Anybody home?" he called loudly. A man with a pot belly came out of the court yard. He was the proprietor of the inn. "Of course we do," replied the proprietor arrogantly. He looked his visitor over from head to toes. The scholar was very tired from walking all day. His hair was disheveled. His clothes were soiled. "Of course, we have many rooms, but there is none for you," said the proprietor. "You've got to be kidding," said the scholar with a cynical laugh, "when I asked if you had a room, you certainly said, yes." Pushing his pot belly out further, the proprietor bluntly said, "It is true I told you we had rooms, but we have no room for you." If you are willing to sleep anywhere, you could sleep out in the barn." The tired scholar went into the barn and lay down on a heap of hay. "Not too bad. I can even see the moon from here." But thoughts of his own comfortable home kept him awake. A goose entered the barn. She was hungry and began swallowing up everything she could find on the ground. The scholar felt a pang of hunger as the goose disappeared from the barn. Suddenly the scholar heard a loud angry voice. The proprietor and his daughter had come into the barn. The little girl was crying. "You must have lost the marble, our precious family treasure, while playing right here." The proprietor tried to find the marble, but it was not to be found. Then, he looked at the scholar with suspicious eyes. "You took it didn't you?" he accused the scholar. The scholar was puzzled. "What do you mean? I know nothing of a marble." The scholars denial made the proprietor even more suspicious. "Produce the marble right now. If you don't, I'm going to tie you up and turn you in to the police."

"If you think I can produce a marble by your tying me up, go ahead," the scholar said, "but tie your goose to me as well." "I don't know if you are a magician, but if you think it will help, thats O.K. with me." A few minutes later, the proprietor brought the goose and tied her up to the scholar. Watching the goose tied up in the rope, the scholar couldn't help laughing. Both he and the goose were in the same predicament. At dawn the next morning the proprietor came back to the barn. "Did you find the marble?" "Yes" "Then give it to me right now!" "I couldn't give it to you now even if the sky were to collapse on us." said the scholar.

"Are you teasing me? I'd better take you to the police right away. Get up!" Just then the goose dropped her number two. The scholar calmly said to the proprietor, "Search for the marble in the goose droppings over there." The proprietor picked up a stick and scratched in the goose droppings. "Oh my precious treasure!" The proprietor became exhilarated as he picked the marble out of the goose droppings with his bare fingers. The proprietor begged the scholar's forgiveness for the way that he had treated him. As the scholar walked out of the barn, the proprietor asked him one question. "If you knew last night where the marble was, why didn't you tell me?" Then, I wouldn't have tied you up, but would have put you in the best room we have." The scholar walked quietly away after giving his answer. "If I had told you last night wouldn't you have killed the goose to get the marble?"

The proprietor was moved by the scholar s wisdom.

A Korean Folktale retold by Eyoungsoo Park

Long long ago when the tigers smoked long pipes, there lived a very rich old man with three sons. Realizing the day of his last breath was just around the corner, he called his sons to his bedside to relay his last wish. "My loving son, I am old and sick. Before the time for me to take my last breath, I want to tell you my last wish. Listen well to what I am about to tell you and make me happy by abiding by it. As you all know, we are the richest family in town. Don't fight over my estate. Divide it equally among the three of you. Do not be greedy, work diligently, love and support one another and live a peaceful life." A few days later, the elderly father died, leaving his great fortune to his three sons. No sooner had the funeral ended than the two oldest sons conspired with each other to take much larger shares of their father's wealth, leaving only a small portion for their youngest brother to live on. "From now on, just as our father wished let's keep working diligently but seek our own fortunes separately. You may think it unfair, but we two who are older soon have to marry adn support our own families, so we need a much larger portion of the inheritance. You have still many years to make a fortune before you become old enough to marry and have a family," said the oldest brother to his youngest brother.

Three Gifts

The three brothers divided up their father's fortune among themselves exactly as teh older two brothers had conspired. THe youngest brother accepted his older brother's proposition without even a single complaint and moved out on his own with his share. He kept diligently working just as his father wished. The youngest brother was not rich, but very generous and kindhearted. He shared whatever he had with the poor and needy in town. As he shared his fortune with his neighbors, his fortune

rapidly dwindled. He lived a very simple life just like those needy people with whom he had been sharing his wealth. On the other hand, his two older brothers kept their large fortune all to themselves and their fortune became larger and larger. They lived in a beautiful mansion, wore the most beautiful clothes, and covered their bodies with glittering gold jewelry. Their youngest brother, in his ragged clothes became a log in their eyes. One day the two older brothers called their younger brother, "You squandered all of your fortune. Look at your shabby appearance. We are too ashamed to call you our brother. For our sake, we want you to leave this town out of our sight. Come back only when you are rich and worthy of us." Being forced out of his town by his own brothers, the youngest brother became saddened. He left his hometown without any particular destination in mind. Walking all day, he became hungry and tired. While he was resting his two feet in a cool, clear stream of water, an elderly monk wiht silvery hair and beard approached to cross the stream. There was no bridge, no stepping stones. The elderly monk's legs were shaky as he had a very large pack on his back. "My children are so hungry and cry. I couldn't idly watch them, so came to borrow some rice from you, please help me!" Hungboo begged his brother for food. "Please sit here and rest awhile, let me carry your pack across the stream," said the youngest brother. After carrying the pack across the stream, he helped the elderly monk to cross safely. "Thank you young man!" said the old monk. But, the youngest brother did not stop, he carried the heavy pack all the way to the temple. The young man found that the old monk was the sole occupant of a small but beautiful temple, with no one to cook, wash, clothes or help with other tasks. Not having any particular place to go, the young man offered to say and help the monk. The elderly monk gladly accepted his offer. As the months passed, the young man learned Buddhist doctrines from the old monk, but he began to miss his brothers and friends back in his hometown. So he decided to go home. Then the monk brought out an old straw mat, a large dipper made of gourd and a pair of chopsticks, "I wish i could give you better ones, but these are the only things I can give you as gifts. Take them with you. You might find them useful on your way." The young man gratefully accepted the elderly monk's meager gifts and hurried toward his hometown. He walked all day without eating anything. As dusk fell, feeling deadly tired, he spread his straw mat and immediately fell into a sound sleep. It was dawn when he woke up from his amazingly restful sleep. He almost fainted from fright to find himself lying on a comfortable bed in a splendid room. He wondered if he was dreaming, but he soon realized everything was real, but he could not feel his old straw mat under his mat under his mattress. He took out the gourd dipper that the monk had given him. Out of it poured all kinds of delicious food. His shaky hands tapped the chopsticks. Then many maids, as

beautiful as angels, suddenly appeared. Some started singing, and some others started dancing to entertain their master. Whatever the young man wished for came out of the gourd dipper. Naturally, he became very, very rich. He decided to hurry back to his brothers. Walking out of his beautiful castle, he saw a beautiful carriage with twelve horses already waiting for him. He rode to the gate of his town, where he changed into his old ragged clothes and sent his horse carriage and servants back to his castle. He started walking on foot to his brother's home. Seeing their poor brother in his ragged clothes, the two older brothers becamse very displeased and gave him a cold reception. "But, my very dear big brothers, now, I don't have to live a poverty stricken life. I wish to be allowed to live in the same town with you. Please let me stay," begged this young man. "What's good about us living in the same town? You are just an embarrassment to us as you were months ago. Go back where ever you have been and seek your own fortune just as our father wished," said the older brothers. They didn't even invite their younger brother into their house. Rejected by his brother, this young man was very sad. The sun was already setting behind the western side mountains and dusk started to cover over the town. He stopped on a hillside and spread out the straw mat to sleep on. When he awoke from his restful sleep the next morning, he again found himself laying in a beautiful room of another newly built castle. The next morning, his brothers saw a large new castle on the hillside, and approached it out of curiosity. When they walked near the gate, the gate opened and the gate keeper invited them in. When they learned that it was their own brother who had become so rich, and how he had done so, they hurried back home. They put on a facade of being very generous men, gave away all of their worldly possessions to the needy in the hope that the elderly monk would give them the same gifts. After their worldly possessions had all been give away, they hurriedly traveled to the temple described by their brother. They pounded on the gate, but nobody answered. They walked into the temple ground. They still didn't see anybody. They looked for the elderly monk, but he was no where to be found. The waited for days, weeks, months, but the monk never came back. They ran out of food and money. They had no home to return to. They begged their way back to their youngest brother's castle. Seeing his brothers approach his castle, the youngest brother ran up to them and welcomed them with his arms wide open. He respectfully invited them in, and shared all of his fortunes with them. The older brothers were deeply touched by their yonger brother's love. United again, the three brothers all lived happily ever after, just as their father had wished.

Stone Dduk
Retold by Eyoungsoo Park
Long ago there lived a rabbit and a tiger. One warm spring day, after hopping here and there, the rabbit became very tired and fell asleep on a hillside, only to be suddenly awakened by a sharp tap on his back. Seeing a tiger in front of him the frightened rabbit did his utmost to maintain poise and show respect, "Honorable tiger."

"No need to fuss! I haven't eaten anything for lunch and I only want to ease my hunger by eating you." Wanting to avoid imminent death, the rabbit didn't waste any seconds before coming up with an idea. "My goodness! How did you miss your lunch? You must be terribly hungry by now." "I don't need your sympathy, poor rabbit. Just prepare yourself for your final moment." The tiger stretched his neck forward with his mouth wide open to devour the rabbit. Stepping backward, the rabbit said, "If you swallow me in such haste, I'm afraid you might choke on me. Before you eat me, why don't you try my Stone Dduk, which makes an excellent appetizer. Have you ever tried Stone Dduk? You don't know how delicious it is." Thinking he might as well eat both, the tiger replied, "Well whatever Stone Dduk is, bring me some. Let me try." The rabbit picked up eleven smooth, round stones. "These are Dduk. They will be delicious once they are roasted and dipped in honey." "Honey? Why would you need honey?"

"Dduk taste much much better when dipped in honey. I will go down to the village to get some. You watch the Dduk so that they don't burn while I am gone. There are ten Dduk, wait until I get back to eat them." No sooner was the rabbit out of sight than the Tiger counted the Dduk. "The rabbit clearly said there were ten, but there are eleven. I thought the rabbit was smart, but he doesn't even know how to count." He picked up one large red hot Dduk and put it into his mouth. "Oh, my throat! My mouth! What a fool I am! I have been deceived!" The raging tiger jumped up and down destroying the fire before racing back to his cave. Days passed. Unable to eat because of his badly burned throat, the tiger waited. Finally so hungry he could wait no longer, he came out of his cave to find something moving in the bushes. It was the rabbit. "I am glad to meet you again," said the tiger menacingly. Once again frightened, but again maintaining his poise, the rabbit calmly said, "Honorable tiger. Last time I was chased by a vicious village dog and couldn't bring you honey. After that I would have visited you, but I was so busy with my research." With a frightening roar, the tiger answered, "What research? You are no good rabbit. This time I will definitely eat you up." "Please listen to me honorable tiger. I have been researching ways of catching sparrows, lots of sparrows. I have discovered a very effective method." The tiger was determined not to be cheated again, but in listening to the rabbit, his appetite for sparrows rose. "Tell me how you would catch sparrows?" "It is not difficult, come with me to the middle of that field and sit with your eyes closed and your mouth wide open." The tiger did as the rabbit asked, but first he said, "you cannot cheat me again or your death is a sure thing." The tiger closed his eyes with his mouth open wide, listening to the rabbit chasing sparrows. "Hooee! said the rabbit. "The sparrows are coming; please keep your mouth open." Hoping to soon have a mouthful of sparrows, the tiger remained with eyes closed and mouth open, even though he strangely began to feel warmer and warmer. Finally, curious, he opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by wildfire! As he dashed through the flames for his life he thought, "how stupid of me to be cheated again." His skin and hair badly burned, the tiger had to lay down again for several days. As he lay there he thought, "I should never have underestimated the little rabbit." As for the rabbit, he has never been seen again.

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Shimch'ong,theBlindMansDaughter
fromvarioussources,retoldbyHeinzInsuFenkl InthelastyearsoftheHongpungeraofSung,inTohwadonginHwangju,there livedapoorblindyangbanbythenameofShimHakkyu.Heandhisdevoted wife,Kwakssi,werechildlessforthelongesttime,anditwasonlyaftermany yearsoffaithfulprayertothespiritsthatKwakssiboreabeautifuldaughter whomtheynamedShimchong.But,alas,theordealofgivingbirthatsuchan advancedagewastoomuchforKwakssi,andshepassedaway.Shimdidhisbest toraisehisdaughteraloneandtogetherthetwoofthemenduredgreat hardships. Shimchongwasanobedientandfilialdaughterwhoaccompaniedherfatheras soonasshecouldwalkandbeggedalmswithhimthemomentshecouldspeak. Itwasnotmanyyearsbeforeshewasabeautifulyounggirl. Oneday,OldManShimwasoutalonebeggingforalmsandhestumbledintoa deepirrigationditch.Ashewasfounderinginthewater,tryingvainlytoclimb out,bemoaninghisbadfateandhishandicap,heheardavoicespeaktohim fromabove."Oldman,"itsaid,"Ihaveheardyoulamentingaboutyour blindness.Ifyouwillgive300bushelsofricetomytempleasatributetothe LordBuddha,wewillofferupourprayerstoreturnyoursight."Gentlebutfirm handsthatseemedtoreachdownfromtheheavensthemselvestookholdofOld ManShimstremblingarmsandpulledhimfromthewatersoftheditch.Shim wassothankfulandsofullofhopethathemomentarilyforgothisdire circumstances,andwithoutthinkingheblurtedout,"Thankyoukindmonk. Thankyou!Iwillgiveyouthose300bagsofrice!Iswearit!" Itwasntuntilmuchlater,whenhiselationhadwornoff,thatOldManShimhad theterriblerealizationthathedidnothavethemeanstoofferthreebowlsofrice letalone300bushelstothetemple.

"Shimchongah,"hesaidtohisdaughterthatevening,recountinghismisfortune. "WhatshallIdo?Iwasfilledwithgladnessandtheworldseemedbrighttome. Othermenjostlemeoutofthewayorstealmyalmsfromoutofmyhandsbut themonkwaskind.AllIwantedwastoreturnhiskindness,andlookwhatI havedone.WhatterriblethingwillbefallusifIhaveoffendedtheBuddha himself?" Thatnightshelayonherthinbedmatunabletosleep,worryingabouther fatherspromisetothemonk.Shecouldthinkofnowaytoraisethe300bushels ofriceastributetothetemple,nomatterhowmuchsheponderedit,andbyand byshedriftedoffintoarestlesssleep. Inherdreams,hermotherappearedandtoldherhowshemightgetthericefor herfather."Gototheharbor,"shesaid."Thereyouwillfindamerchantlooking forayoungmaiden.Gowithhimandhewillprovidethe300bushelsofrice." ItjustsohappenedthattheDragonKingoftheEastSeawasdispleasedwiththe merchantfleetandhadsentfoulweatherandstormsthathadsunkshipafter shiponitswaytoChina.ToappeasetheDragonKing,themerchantsneededto sacrificeabeautifulmaiden,butasofyettheyhadfoundnofamilywillingtosell amaidendaughter.SowhenShimchongappearedthenextdawnandoffered herselfinexchangeforthetributeforherfather,thecaptainofthemerchantfleet wasmorethanhappytoaccept. The300bushelsofriceweretakentothetempleandtheprayerstothe compassionateBuddhawereofferedupasagreed,butOldManShimdidnot immediatelyregainhissightashehadhoped.Themonkssaidthatitwouldnot simplyhappenovernight.NowOldManShimwasnotonlypoorandblind,but hadlosthisonlydaughter. Theseawascalmatthebeginningofthevoyage,butsoontheskygrewgrayand ominous.Thewater,atfirst,wasonlychoppy,butthentheseaboiledasifthe DragonKingwerethrashinghismassivebodybeneaththewaves.Lightning flashedfromthedarkcloudsandthewindrippedatthesails.Oarsandanchor chainssnappedintheviolentsea. ThemerchantcaptainbroughtShimchongoutofthehold,dressedupinbright coloredbridalfinery.AlthoughShimchongtoldhimthatshewouldleapintothe

wavesofherownwill,hedidnotbelieveher,andhehadherhandsandfeet securelybound.Withthesailorsallweepingcopiouslywiththeiradmirationfor herbraveryandherfilialvirtue,Shimchongsaidaquietprayerandleapt overboardintotheocean.Andjustasshedisappearedunderthewaves,the violentseasgrewcalmonceagain. Shimchongdescendedintothecoldwater.Asshesankdeeperanddeeper,the wateraroundherwassuddenlybrightwithlightandshefoundthatshecould breath.ShelookedaroundherinwonderastheminionsoftheDragonKing approachedher,releasedherfromherbonds,andescortedhertothemagnificent underwaterpalace. Andthereshedwelled,happy,foritissaidthatthespiritofhermotheralso dweltthere.Butafteratimeshewashomesickfortheworldofthesurface,and shelongedtoseeherdearfatheragain.Hercheerfuldemeanorgrewsad,andit cametothenoticeoftheDragonKing,whocalledhertohimonedayandsaid,"I cannotbeartoseeyourunhappinessanylonger,Shimchong.Ihaveseenthat yourfilialpietyandyourselflessdevotionarefargreaterthanthatofanyother mortalIhaveknown.Ittouchesmyhearttoseeyourconcernforyourpoor father,soasarewardforyourdevotion,Iwillsendyoubackupintotheworld above."AndwiththistheDragonKingtransformedShimchongintolotusflower. Soithappenedthatagiantwhitelotusblossomwasfoundatthemouthofa riveralongthecoast,andthelocalfisherman,awedbyitsbeauty,decidedto makeitagiftfortheirKing.TheKingwasrecentlywidowed,andknowntobein adeeplymournfulmood.Theyhopedthebrightflowerwouldlifthisspirits. WhentheKingfirstbeheldtheflower,hiseyeslitupinwonder.Herewardedthe fishermenhandsomelyandhadthelotusinstalledinitsownspecialroomwhere hewouldstandforhourseachdayinamelancholymood,admiringitsbeauty. EachnightShimchongwouldemergefromtheblossom,andatthecrackofeach dawnshewouldmergeintoitagain.TimeandseasonspassedandtheKings lovefortheflowerdidnotwane. OnemoonlitnighttheKingwasrestless,andashewanderedthepalacehefound himself,byandby,atthechamberofthelotusflower.Hesteppedinsidetogaze uponthelotusinthemoonlight,butwhathesawwasfarmorewonderfula

womansobeautifulittookhisbreathaway."Whoareyou?"hesaid."Areyoua ghostcometobewitchmeorareyoureal?" "ItisonlyI,"saidShimchong."ItisIwholiveinthegiantflower."Outof modesty,shetriedtohideherself,butwhensheturned,shefoundthelotus flowerhadvanished. AndthisishowShimchongcametobetheKingsbride.Therewasamagnificent wedding,andtheypassedtheirdaystogetheringreathappiness,buttheKing sensedagreatsadnessabouthisnewQueen.Onedayhefoundherweepingin thegarden."Mydearwife,"hesaid,"Icannotbeartoseeyourtears.Tellmeyour wishanywishanditshallbegranted." "ThereisonlyonethingIdesire,"Shimchongreplied."Lettherebeagreatpublic banquettocelebrateourmarriage,andletalltheblindmenoftheKingdombe invitedtopartakeofthefeast.Thatiswhatwillmakemyheartglad." TheKinghonoredhisQueensstrangerequest,andsofromfarandwide,from allcornersofthekingdom,theblindbeggarmenwereinvitedtoabanquetto celebratethewedding.Forthreedaystheycametodrinkandtodineonthefine foods,andeachdaythenewQueenwatchedfrombehindhergauzysilk curtains,hopingthatthenextblindmanmightbeherfather.Butitwastono avail. Onthelastday,asthegateswereclosingandtheQueenhadturnedforlornly away,aloudracketwasheardoutside.Theservantswereturningawayablind beggarwhohadarrivedtoolate.Andjustasthegateswereclosing,theQueen happenedtoglancebackwardstoseethatunderthedirtanddustofhislong journeyandunderthetattersofhisrags,theoldmanwasnoneotherthanher father."Father!"shecried."Father!Itismydearfather!Lethimin!" OldManShimstaggeredinside,nearlylosinghisbalancefromtheshockof hearingthefamiliarvoice."Aigo!Shimchongah!"hecalled."Isitaghostorhave thedeadcometolife?Mydaughter!IsthatyourvoiceIhear?Letshavealookat you,girl!" Onceagain,inhisenthusiasm,OldManShimforgothiscircumstances.He openedhiseyeswide,oblivioustohisownblindness,andwhenhedidsohe

foundthathecouldsuddenlysee.Beforehimwashisdaughter,morebeautiful thanhecouldhaveimagined.Shimweptwithjoyandembracedher,andshe, too,wastearfulwithjoy.Soontherewasahappycommotionthroughoutthe palace,anditissaidthateveryblindmantherewhowantedtohavealookat Shimchong,thefilialdaughter,hadhisvisionrestoredthatday. 2003 by Heinz Insu Fenkl

The Fox Sister

(a Korean folktale about the origin of the mosquito) from various sources, retold by Heinz Insu Fenkl A long time ago there was a man who had three sons but no daughter. It was his dearest wish to have a daughter, so he went up into the mountains and prayed to the spirits. One night, after months of prayer, he was so desperate he said, "Please, Hannanim, give me a daughter even if she is a fox!" Soon the man discovered that his wife was pregnant, and in time she had a beautiful girl. The man was happy. But when the daughter was about six years old, strange things began to happen. Every night a cow would die, and in the morning they could never find a trace of what had killed it. So man told his first son to keep watch one night. In the morning, the first son told a terrible story of what had happened. "Father, I could not believe my own eyes," he said. "It is our little sister who is killing the cattle. She came out in the middle of the night and I followed her to the cattle shed. By the

moonlight I could see her as she did a little dance. Then she oiled her hand and her arm with sesame oil. She shoved her whole arm into the cows anus and pulled out its liver. She ate it raw while the cow died without a sound. That is all I saw, father, for it was too horrible to witness any longer." The father was outraged. "That is not possible," he said. "Tell me the truth." "That is the truth, Father." "Then you must have had a nightmare. That means you have betrayed my trust by falling asleep when you were supposed to keep watch. Leave my sight at once! You are no longer my son!" And so he threw out his eldest son. Now it was the second sons turn to keep watch. Everything was fine for a month, but then when the full moon came around the same thing happened, and in the morning he made his report to his father. "That is not possible," said the father. "Tell me the truth." "That is the truth, Father." "Then you must have had a nightmare. That means you have betrayed my trust by falling asleep when you were supposed to keep watch. Leave my sight at once! You are no longer my son!" And so he threw out his second son. So it was the youngest sons turn to keep watch over his sister, and once again, everything was fine for a month. When the full moon came around, the same thing happened, but having seen the fates of his older brothers, the youngest son lied. "Father," he said. "Our little sister came out in the middle of the night and I followed her to the outhouse. She made water and came out again. As I passed by the cattle shed in the moonlight I saw that a cow had died. It must have been frightened by the full moon." "Then you have done your duty as a son should," said the father. "You shall inherit my lands when I have gone to join our ancestors." Meanwhile, the first two sons were no more than beggars wandering the countryside. Eventually they had both come to the top of a mountain where an old Buddhist master took them in and they studied diligently with him until their hearts grew sore to see their home again. After a year they decided to return to their village for a visit. The old master made the two brothers a gift of three magic bottles, one white, one blue, and one red. "Use these as I have instructed," he told them, "and you shall be able to defeat any foe, even that sister of yours, who is surely a fox demon." The brothers thanked the old monk and returned to their village to find it entirely deserted. When they reached their house they found the roof in terrible disrepair and yard

overgrown with weeds. Inside, the paper panels on the doors were all in tatters. They found their sister all alone. "Where is everyone? Where is father? Where is our youngest brother? Where is mother?" they asked. "Theyre all dead," said the sister. She didnt explain, but the brothers knew why. "Im all alone now," she said. "Brothers, wont you stay with me?" "No," they said. "We must be on our way. There is nothing for us here." "Why, its nearly dark," said the sister. "Wont you at least stay the night?" They reluctantly agreed, and somehow the sister prepared them a fabulous meal with wine that night. They were suspicious, and they planned to take turns keeping watch that night, but they had been so starved during their year of poverty that they ate and drank their fill and soon they were fast asleep. In the middle of the night the older brother awoke suddenly with a full bladder. He thought his younger brother was still eating -- it sounded like someone chewing -- so he turned over in annoyance to tell him to stop. In the moonlight he saw the table still in the room, their leftovers strewn about. But instead of white rice, what he saw were maggots. Instead of wine, there were cups of blood. Instead of turnip kimchi there were severed human fingers. He sat up in horror, realizing what he had eaten, and then he saw what was making the noise -- it was his sister straddling his dead brothers body, chewing on his bloody liver. "Did you sleep well, dear oldest brother?" she said. "I need only one more, and then I will be a human being." The oldest brother leaped from his sleeping mat and ran out of the house. He was still groggy from the enchanted food, and he stumbled and staggered as he ran down the road in the moonlight. Soon his sister gave chase and she easily caught up to him. Remembering the old Buddhist monk's instructions, the brother took the white bottle and threw it behind him. Suddenly, in a puff of smoke, a vast thicket of thorn bushes blocked the sister's way. She was trapped for a moment, but then she changed into her original form -- that of the fox -- and easily escaped. In a short time she had caught up to him again. This time the brother took the blue bottle and threw it behind him. There was a loud splash, and a vast lake appeared. Once again the sister was trapped. She struggled to swim, but then she changed into the fox again and easily paddled ashore. The oldest brother was exhausted and terrified. He could run no more. He took the red bottle and he flung it at the fox, saying, "Ya! Take that!" There was a blinding flash of light, and the fox was engulfed in a ball of fire. She burned to death, screaming, and when there were only ashes left a small, whining insect flew out. And that is how the first mosquito came into the world. And that is why both the fox and the mosquito are afraid of grass fires.

 2003 by Heinz Insu Fenkl

The Jackal and the Farmer

North Africa (Kabyl)
A farmer plowed with two oxen from morning till eve. One evening a lion came and said, "Give me one of your two oxen or I'll kill you and both of them." The farmer was terrified. He unspanned one of the oxen and gave it to the lion. The lion took it and carried it away. The farmer went home with the remaining ox and bought another one the same evening so that he would be able to plow again in the morning. The next day the farmer plowed again from morning till eve, and when it was evening the lion came again and said, "Farmer, give me one of your two oxen or I'll kill both of them and you into the bargain." Again the farmer gave him an ox. That evening he bought another ox so as to be able to plow again the next day. The next evening the lion came again and demanded still another ox. The farmer gave the lion an ox every evening. One evening the jackal came by as the farmer was driving his single ox home.

The jackal said, "Every morning I see you leave the farmyard with two oxen and every evening I see you coming back with only one. How does that happen?" The farmer answered, "Every evening when I am finished with the day's work the lion comes and demands one of my oxen and threatens to kill me and both oxen if I do not comply with his wish." The jackal said, "If you promise to give me a sheep I will free you from the lion." The farmer answered, "If you can free me from the lion I will gladly promise you a sheep." The jackal said, "Tomorrow I will call out in a disguised voice from up there on the hill and ask who is speaking with you. Then answer that it is only an Asko (a block of wood to be split). Have a hatchet ready. Have you understood me?" The farmer said, "Certainly, I have understood you." The next day the farmer took a hatchet with him to the field and plowed as usual with the two oxen from morning till eve. When it was evening the lion came and said, "Farmer, give me an ox or I shall kill both oxen and you as well." When the lion had said that a deep voice spoke from the hill and said, "Farmer, who speaks with you?" The lion was afraid, ducked down, and said in a frightened voice, "That is god." But the farmer replied loudly, "It is only an Asko." The voice answered loudly, "Then take your hatchet and split the block of wood." The lion said softly, "But give me only a gentle blow, farmer." Thereat he bowed his head. The farmer gripped his hatchet and struck at the lion's lowered skull with all his force so that he split it and the lion died. The jackal came down from the hill and said, "I have done what I promised. The lion is done away with. Tomorrow I will come again and get the sheep which you have promised me." The farmer said, "You shall have it."

The farmer came home. He said to his wife, "The jackal has freed me from the lion. Now I will give him a ram. I will kill it. Then you pack it up so that I can take it with me to the field tomorrow." The man killed the ram. As his wife was about to pack it up she said, "Why shouldn't we eat the good ram ourselves?" She put the ram into a leather sack. She laid the leather sack in a wicker basket. But she told the house dog to lie down in the basket beside the leather sack. She said to the farmer, "If, perchance, the jackal does not take the ram in the course of the day, then bring it home again. Otherwise the other animals which have not helped you will eat it during the night. Set down the basket in the field just as it is and then let happen what will." The farmer went to the field. He put the basket down on the field and cried, "Jackal here is your ram." Then he went to his work without bothering himself further about the basket, the ram, or the jackal. The jackal, however, came to the basket in order to take out the ram. As he stuck his nose into the basket, up sprang the dog. The jackal ran away from there as quickly as he could. The dog ran after him for a while but when he saw that the jackal was really too fast he gave up and went home. The jackal swore never to help men again. In the evening the farmer came. He looked into the basket and found the ram still untouched. So he picked up the basket again with the ram in it, brought it home, and said, "The jackal has not called for his ram. Now we can eat it ourselves!"

Well Done and Ill Paid

Norway
Once on a time there was a man, who had to drive his sledge to the wood for fuel. So a bear met him. "Out with your horse," said the bear, "or I'll strike all your sheep dead by summer." "Oh! heaven help me then," said the man. "There's not a stick of firewood in the house. You must let me drive home a load of fuel, else we shall be frozen to death. I'll bring the horse to you tomorrow morning." Yes, on those terms he might drive the wood home. That was a bargain. But Bruin said if he didn't come back, he should lose all his sheep by summer.

So the man got the wood on the sledge and rattled homewards, but he wasn't over pleased at the bargain you may fancy. So just then a fox met him. "Why, what's the matter?" said the fox. "Why are you so down in the mouth?" "Oh, if you want to know," said the man, "I met a bear up yonder in the wood, and I had to give my word to him to bring Dobbin back tomorrow, at this very hour; for if he didn't get him, he said he would tear all my sheep to death by summer." "Stuff, nothing worse than that," said the fox. "If you'll give me your fattest wether, I'll soon set you free. See if I don't." Yes, the man gave his word, and swore he would keep it too. "Well, when you come with Dobbin tomorrow for the bear," said the fox, "I'll make a clatter up in that heap of stones yonder, and so when the bear asks what that noise is, you must say 'tis Peter the Marksman, who is the best shot in the world. And after that you must help yourself." Next day off set the man, and when he met the bear, something began to make a clatter up in the heap of stones. "Hist! What's that?" said the bear. "Oh! that's Peter the Marksman, to be sure," said the man. "He's the best shot in the world. I know him by his voice." "Have you seen any bears about here, Eric?" shouted out a voice in the wood. "Say No!" said the bear. "No, I haven't seen any," said Eric. "What's that then that stands alongside your sledge?" bawled out the voice in the wood. "Say it's an old fir stump," said the bear. "Oh, it's only an old fir stump," said the man. "Such fir stumps we take in our country and roll them on our sledges," bawled out the voice. "If you can't do it yourself, I'll come and help you." "Say you can help yourself, and roll me up on the sledge," said the bear. "No, thank ye, I can help myself well enough," said the man, and rolled the bear onto the sledge.

"Such fir stumps we always bind fast on our sledges in our part of the world," bawled out the voice. "Shall I come and help you?" "Say you can help yourself, and bind me fast, do." said the bear. "No, thanks, I can help myself well enough," said the man, who set to binding Bruin fast with all the ropes he had, so that at last the bear couldn't stir a paw. "Such fir stumps we always drive our axes into in our part of the world," bawled out the voice, "for then we guide them better going down the steep pitches." "Pretend to drive your axe into me, do now," said the bear. Then the man took up his axe, and at one blow split the bear's skull, so that Bruin lay dead in a trice, and so the man and the fox were great friends, and on the best terms. But when they came near the farm, the fox said, "I've no mind to go right home with you, for I can't say I like your tykes, so I'll just wait here, and you can bring the wether to me, but mind and pick out one nice and fat." Yes, the man would be sure to do that, and thanked the fox much for his help. So when he had put up Dobbin, he went across to the sheep stall. "Whither away, now?" asked his old dame. "Oh!" said the man, "I'm only going to the sheep stall to fetch a fat wether for that cunning fox who set our Dobbin free. I gave him my word I would." "Wether, indeed," said the old dame. "Never a one shall that thief of a fox get. Haven't we got Dobbin safe and the bear into the bargain. And as for the fox, I'll be bound he's stolen more of our geese than the wether is worth. And even if he hasn't stolen them, he will. No, no; take a brace of your swiftest hounds in a sack, and slip them loose after him. And then, perhaps, we shall be rid of this robbing Reynard." Well, the man thought that good advice; so he took two fleet red hounds, put them into a sack, and set off with them. "Have you brought the wether?" said the fox. "Yes, come and take it," said the man, as he untied the sack and let slip the hounds. " Huff!" said the fox, and gave a great spring. "True it is what the old saw says, 'Well done is often ill paid.' And now, too, I see the truth of another saying, 'The worst foes are those of one's own house.'" That was what the fox said as he ran off, and saw the red fox hounds at his heels.