효녀 심청 Filial Daughter ShimCheong- Korean Fairy Tale

This is a Korean fairy tale about a girl called ShimCheong, and the steadfast love and loyalty she has for her blind father. The original korean text was found in a book by 도서출판 새샘 and the author and artists are 글-신예영 (Shin YeYeong) and 그림- 김윤주 (Kim YunJu) All rights to them for the actual story, the translations were my own though. 

효녀 심청 
Filial Daughter ShimCheong 
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옛날, 어느 마을 심학규라는 앞을 못 보는 아버지와 심청이라는 딸이 살고 있었어요. 심청이의 어머니는 심청이를 낳은 지 며칠이 되지 않아 돌아가셨어요. 그래서 앞을 못 보는 아버지가 어린 아기를 키워야 했어요.

Once upon a time, there was a blind man named Shim Hakgyu and his daughter ShimCheong. ShimCheong’s mother passed away a couple days after giving birth to her, and so the blind father had to raise her.

심봉사는 우는 딸을 안고 동네 아주머니들 에게 갔어요. “저어 아주머니, 이 아이에게 젖을 좀 주세요.” “쯧 쯧, 불쌍하기도 하자.” 심청이는 동네 아주머니를의 젖을 얻어 먹기도 하고 때로는 족을 먹으며 자랐어요.

Count Shim went holding his crying daughter to the local neighborhood women. “Excuse me miss, would you please give milk to my daughter?” “Tsk Tsk, poor thing.” ShimCheong grew up by getting some of the local ladies’ milk and by eating porrige.

그렇게 자란 심청이가 어느덧 다섯 살이 되었어요. 심청이는 동네 아주머니들의 심부름도 하고 아기도 잘 돌봐 주었어요. 동네 아주머니들은 모두 칭찬을 하였어요.

ShimCheong grew up like this, until one day she became five years old.  ShimCheong did the local ladies’ errands and took good care of their children. All of the ladies praised her.

하루는 이읏 집에서 떡을 해서 심청이를 불렀어요. “청아, 이 떡 좀 먹고 가거라.” “저어, 아주머니이 떡 먹지 않고 가져가면 안 될까요?” “아버지 생각이 나서 그러는구나! 걱정 말고 먹고. 아버지 건 따로 싸 주마.” “고맙습니다.”

One day, the neighbors made some rice so they called ShimCheong. “Cheong will you eat a little bit of this rice cake and then go home?” “Miss, if I take this instead of eating this, would that be okay with you?” “You must be thinking of your father!” “Dong worry, eat. I will wrap your father’s rice cakes later.” “Thank you.”

심청이가 효녀라는 것을 모르는 사람이 없었어요. 하루는 이웃 마을에 있는 정승 댁에서 심청이를 불렀어요. “네가 심청이더냐?” “네, 그러하옵니다.” “마음만 고온 줄 알았더니 얼굴도 아주 예쁘구나.”

There was no one who didn’t know that ShimCheong was a good daughter. One day another town’s Duke called ShimCheong to his home. “You are ShimCheong right?” “Yes, that is right.” “You have not only a beautiful heart but also a pretty face too.”

정승 부인에게는 딸이 없었어요. 그래서 심청이를 수양딸로 삼으려는 것이었어요. “얘야, 난 너 같은 딸을 두고 싶은데, 나와함께 살지 않겠니?” “말씀은 감사하오나 앞을 못보는 아버지를 모셔 야 해서…….” “그러면 낮에는 이곳에서 지내다 해가 지면 집으로 가면 어떻겠니? 맛있는 것은 매일 싸 주마!.” “고맙습니다. 마님.”

The Duke’s wife did not have any daughters, so they wanted to adopt her in order to have her as a step daughter. “Child, I wanted a daughter like you but I do not have any, will you not live with me?” “Thank you for your offer but I must take care of my blind father so...” “Well how does you spending the day here and then returning during the nighttime sound? I will give you delicious food and pack some for your father everyday!” “Thank you. Ma’m.”

심청이는 아버님께 맛있는 음식을 드릴 수 있다는 생각에 그렇게 하기로 하였어요.

정승 댁을 오 가던 어느 날 심청이가 조금 늦게 오게 되었어요. 심봉사는 걱정이 되어 마중을 나갔어요. 그런데 그만 개울 물에 빠지고 말았어요. “사람 살려요!”

At the thought of being given delicious food and also some for her father too, ShimCheong decided to do it. One day ShimCheong was a little late coming back from the Duke’s house. Her father, was becoming worried so he went out to meet her. But he fell into the stream. “Someone save me!”

지나가던 스님이 심봉사를 건져 주었어요. “뉘신지 정말 고만습니다.” “뭉은사에 있는 중인데, 앞을 못 보시는 군요.” “이 군만 뜰수 있다면 소원이 없겠어요.” “공양미 삼 백 석이 있다면 눈을 뜰 수 있긴 한데…….” “그게 정말이세요?”

A monk that was passing by saved the father. “Whoever it is that saved me, thank you so much.” “I am a monk from the MungEun temple, I see you are blind.” “If I could see with these two eyes I would have no other wishes. “If you donate 300 big bags of salt to the temple you can see again. “Is that right?”

심봉사는 눈을 뜰 수 있다는 말에 쌀 삼백 석을 바치기로 하였어요.

To heal the fathers’ eyes, 300 bags of salt must be donated.

집으로 돌아은 심봉사는 걱정이 되어 견딜 수가 없었어요. “내가 미쳤지 쌀 삼백 석이 어디 있다고 흑흑흑…….” 그때 심청이가 돌아왔어요. “아버지 다녀왔습니다!” 아버지의 슬픈 모습을 본 심청이는 깜짝 놀라 물었어요. “아버지! 무슨 일이 있으세요?” “아니다. 일을무슨 일…….”

심청이가 계속 묻자 심봉사는 사실을 말했어요. “내가 제 정신이 아니었다. 넌 신경쓰지 말거라.” “아버지 걱정 마세요. 방법이 있을 거예요.” 그 후로 심청이는 쌀 삼백 석을 구 할 생각만 하 였어요.

Returning home, ShimBongSa could not withstand his worrying. “I’m going to go crazy, where am I going to get 300 bags of salt?......” Just then, ShimCheong came back. “Father, I’m back!” The father’s sad expression turned into one of surprise when he saw ShimCheong.  “Father, what are you doing?” “Nothing. Just stuff......” ShimCheong still asked ShimBongSa to tell the truth. “

그러던 어느 날 심청이는 우물가에서 아주머니들의 얘기를 듣게 되었어요. 아주머니들의 얘기를 되었어요. “뱃사람들이 처녀를 구한대요.” “처녀를 왜요?” “그야 뻔하죠. 인당수에 바칠 제물이죠. 그래세 원하는 건 다 준다나 봐요.” 그말을 듣고 심청이는 얼른 뱃사람을 찾아갔어요.

One day, ShimCheong heard the village ladies talking near the well. “The fishermen were looking for a virgin.” “Why a virgin?” “That's obvious. They need one for the sacred offering at InDangSu. So give the girl whatever she wants. Hearing those words, ShimCheong went quickly to find the sailors. 

“저어, 처녀를 구한다고 해서요.” 심청이는 사정 얘기를 하고 쌀 삼백 석에 팔려 가기로 하였어요. “참 보기 드문 효녀야. 전런  처녀를 바쳐야 한다는 것이 마음이 아프구먼.” 심청이는 아버지께는 비밀로 해 달라고 부탁하고  집으로 돌아왔어요.

“Well, I came because I heard you were searching for a virgin.” ShimCheong stated stated the circumstances of the 300 bags of rice and decided to sell herself. “It’s very rare to see a good daughter like you. It hurts my heart to offer such a good lady to InDangSu.” ShimCheong asked them to keep this a secret from her father and then went home.

“아버지, 쌀 삼백 석을 몽은사에 보냈어요.” “네가 무순 수로 그 많은 쌀을 보냈단 말이냐?” “정승 댁에서 주셨어요. 대신 저는 그 곳에서만 살아야 해요. 그래서 아버지를 보러 올 수가 없어요. 이제 얼른 눈을 떠서 잘 사셔야 해요.” “아이구! 청아! 흑흑흑…….”심청이는 할 수 없이 거짓말을 하였어요.

“Father, I sent the 300 bags of rice to temple MongEun.” “With what kind of means could you send that much rice?” “The Duke gave it. But in return I have to go live only there. So, I cannot come see you father. Please have your eyes quickly healed and you have to live well.” “Oh no, Cheong!” ShimCheong had no other way but to lie.

이윽고 심청이가 팔려 가는 날이 되었어요. 심청이는 아침 일찍 아버지의 옷가지를 정리해 놓고 마지막으로 올릴 밥상을 차리는데 눈물이 나와 참을 수가 없었어요. “이제 누가 우리 아버지 밥을 차려 드리고, 누가 옷가지를 챙겨 드릴까? 아버지! 흑흑흑…….”

Finally it became the day for ShimCheong to be sold. ShimCheong woke up early in the morning, laid out her fathers clothing, and prepared his meal but she couldn't stop the tears from coming out. “Who will prepare father’s meal and fix his clothing? Father!”

심청이는 애써 눈물을 감추며 밥상을 드리고 큰절을 하였어요. “아버지, 절 받으세요. 그리고 눈을 꼭 뜨셔서 오래오래 사세요.” “청아 감자기 이게 무슨 말이냐?” “아버지, 오늘이 정승 댁으로 가는 날이에요.”

ShimCheong tried hard to hid her tears, preparing the table and bowing low in a last farwell greeting. “Father, please accept this. Also please let your eyes heal and please have a long long life.” “Cheong, why are you saying these things all of a sudden?” “Father, today is the day that I have to go to the Duke’s house.”

그때 뱃사람들의 소리가 들렸어요. “이제 시간이 다 되었소.” 그리고 동네 사람들의 우는 소리가 들렸어요. “청아! 이게 무슨 소리냐? 혹시 뱃사람들을 따라? …….” “아니에요 아버지, 그럼 안녕히 계세요.” “안 된다! 청아, 자식 팔아 눈을 뜨면 무슨 소용있다구!” 절대로 못 단다! 여보시오! 저 어린 것 좀 잡아 주시오!”

Then they heard the sound of the sailors. “Now time has arrived.” They also heard the sound of the neighborhood people crying. “Cheong! What is this sound? By chance are you following the sailors?... .” “No father, well goodbye.” “No! Cheong, what is the use of opening my eyes by selling my own child! You absolutely cannot go! Hello! Please grab my child!”

뱃사라들도 마음은 아팠지만 수많은 사람들의 목숨을 위해 어찔 수 없었어요. 배가 인당수에 이르자 뱃사람들은 제를 올리고 심청이는 기도를 하였어요.

The sailor’s hears were also hurting, but they couldn't do anything because a lot of peoples lives depended on her sacrifice. When the boat arrived at InDangSa the sailors preformed the ancestral ceremony and ShimCheong prayed.

“하느님! 부디 아버지의 눈을 뜨게 해 주세요.” 심청이가 바닷물에 뛰어든 순간 하느님이 용왕님께 명하여. 심청이를 보살피게 하였어요.

“God! Please open the eyes of my father.” At the moment ShimCheong jumped into the ocean, god ordered the King of the ocean to take care of her.

용왕님이 심청에게 물었어요. “네가 심청이냐?” “그러하옵니다.” “어찌하여 이렇게 하였는고?” 심청이는 사실을 말씀드렸어요. “오오! 참으로 보기 드문 효녀로구나. 너를 다시 세상으로 보내 주마.”

King Yang questioned ShimCheong. “Are you ShimCheong?” “Yes, you are right.” “Why did you allow this to happen?” ShimCheong told him the truth. “Oh oh! Such filial daughter who is so rare. I will send you back up to the world again.”

며칠후 뱃사람들이 인당수를 지나다 큰 연꽃 하나를 발견하였어요. “저것 좀 봐요!” “바다에 웬 연꽃이?” 뱃사람들은 예사롭지 않은 것 같아서 임금님께로 가지고 갔어요. 임그님은 신기해 하며 꽃을 살펴 보았어요. 그 때 꽃이 열리면서 심청이가 그 곳에서 나왔어요. “그대는???…….” 심청이는 사실을 말씀 드렸어요.

Some days later, the sailors passed by InDangSu and saw a large lotus flower. “Look at that!” “What on earth, why is this lotus in the sea?” Since it looked like a strange thing, the sailors took the big lotus with them back to the king. The king marveled at the strange flower, and took a good look at it.  Then, the flower opened and ShimCheong appeared. “Who are you???... .” ShimCheong then told him the truth.

인금님은 모든 것이 하늘의 뜻이라 믿고 심청이를 왕비로 맞이하였어요. 왕비가 된 심청이는 아버지의 소식이 궁금하여 견딜 수 가 없었어요. “왕비의 안색이 좋지 않구료!” “송구하옵니다. 마마.” “걱정마시오. 모든 장님들을 초대해서 잔치를 베풀기로 하였소.”

The king believed that everything was the will of god and welcomed ShimCheong as a queen.  Queen ShimCheong couldn't stand the curiosity she had for news about her father. “The Queen’s complexion is not well!” “I’m sorry.” “Don’t worry. I have decided to throw a party for all the blind people.”

잔치는 사흘 간 열렸어요. 왕비는 아침부터 대궐 문으로 나가 심봉사가 오기만을 기다렸어요. 하지만 이틀이 지나도록 심봉사는 오지 않았어요. “어떻게 된 일일까?” 걱정하는 왕비를 임금님이 위로해 주었어요. “혹시 그 안에 눈을 떴을 지도 모르잖소. 그렇지 않다면 내일은 꼭 올 거요. 기다려 봅시다.”

The party was held for three days. From the morning, the queen would go to the palace gates and wait for ShimBongSa to come. Two days had passed, but ShimBongSa had not come. “What is happening” the king comforted the queen who was worrying. “We don’t know if he regained his vision during thist time. If he did not regain his vision he will definitely come tomorrow. Lets wait.”

사흘째되는 날 왕비는 대궐 문밖에서 심봉사를 기다렸어요. 드디어 심봉사의 모습이 보였어요. “아버지!” “누구신지? 내 딸은 이미 이 세상 사람이 아닌데…….” “아버지! 저 청이에요.” “청이? 네가 분명 청이냐?” “네, 아버지! 눈을 떠 보세요!” “창아!~” 순간, 심봉사의 눈이 번쩍 떠졌어요. “아버지!” 그토록 지극한 효성이 하늘을 감동사켜 아버지의 눈을 뜨게 하였고, 왕비까지 된 심청이는 아버지와 해복하게 잘 살았습니다. 

On the third day the queen was waiting outside the palace gates for ShimBongSa. Finally, she saw ShimBongSa’s figure. “Father!” “Who are you? My daughter is not a person of this world... .” “Father, it’s me Cheong.” “Cheong? Are you really her?” “Yes, father! Open your eyes!” “Cheong~!” ShimCheong’s extreme love for her father moved god, and he made her father open his eyes the moment when she asked him too. ShimCheong who had become Queen lived with her father happily ever after.


*This story displays ShimCheong's extreme filial piety that she has towards her father. Despite her young age, she does everything in her power to help her father and those around her to make their lives easier. In Asia filial piety is highly important and enforced, so you can see lots of children's stories having themes revolving around it. . For the translation aspect of this story, giving the right title to ShimCheong's father was difficult because the translation isn't completely smooth from Korean to English. Also, on another translation note InDangSu is actually a place in the ocean that is considered special, and used a long time ago for sacrifices to the gods. So, the fishermen took a boat to go to this part of the ocean in order to sacrifice ShimCheong.