콩쥐 팥쥐 Kongjui and Patjui

 This story is called 흥부와 놀부 Heungbu and Nolbu, and I got the original Korean text from the Parrot Fairy Tale Series by SaeSaem publishing company (지혜와 슬기 주머니 10 새샘 명작 동화) all rights reserved to them!

This story is like a korean version of cinderella, in that a girl named Kongjui is forced to grow up with her evil stepmother and sister after her parents die. She is forced to do all the chores but gets help along the way and ends up marrying the Govenor's son in the end despite her stepmothers attempts to interfere. 

콩쥐 팥쥐

Kongjui and Patjui

—————————————————————————

아주 먼 옛날 콩쥐라는 아이가 아버지와 함께 살고 있었어요. 어머니 콩쥐가 어린 때 돌아가셨어요. 그래서 콩쥐는 어머지 대신 집안일을 해야했어요. 아버지는 그런 콩쥐가 늘 안쓰러웠어요.

Along time ago, Kongjui lived with her father. Kongjui’s mother died when she was young, so Kongjui did the household chores instead. Kongjui’s father felt sorry for her.  

하루는 아버지가 새 어머지를 데려와 말씀하셨어요. “얘, 콩쥐야! 너의 새 어머니와 동생 콩쥐야, 인사하렴.””안녕하세요?콩쥐라고 함니다. 그리고 동생이 생겨서 반가워.” “뭐? 콩쥐? 이름도 되게 웃긴다. 나보고 언니라고 해!”

One day, Kongjui’s father brought home a new mother and said, “Hey, Kongjui! These are your new mother and sister, say hello to them.” “Hello? My name is Kongjui, and I’m happy to have a sibling now.” “What? Kongjui? That name is funny! When you see me, call me older sister!”

처음부터 새어머지와 팥쥐는 콩쥐를 못마땅하게 여겼어요. 함께 살면서도 새 어머니는 맛있는 것은 팥쥐에게만 주고 콩쥐에게는 힘든 일만 시켰어요. 그렇게 지내다 갑자기 아버지가 돌아가셨어요. “아버지! 흑흑흑…….” “콩쥐야! 넌제까지 그렇게 울고만 있을거냐?” 이젠 아버지가 하던 일까지 네가 해야지.”

From the beginning, the new mother and Patjui were never pleased by Kongjui. While they were living together, the stepmother only gave delicious food to Patjui, and only ordered Kongjui to do hard work. Like this time passed by until oneday Kongjui’s father passed away. “Father!” “Kongjui! Until how long are you going to keep crying like this? From now on you need to do your father’s work too!”

그 후로 콩쥐는 힘든 일을 더 많이 해야 했어요. 하루는 새 어머니가 콩쥐에게 나무 호미를 주며 말씀하셨어요. “얘 콩쥐야! 어른 가서 뒷산에 있는 밭의 풀을 뽑고 오너라.” “네, 어머니.” 그 밭은 둘과 풀이 아주 많았어요. 그래서 나무 호미는 그새 부러졌 버렸어요.

After that, Kongjui had to do even more hard work. One day, the stepmother gave Kongjui a wooden rake and said, “Hey Kongjui! Quickly go up to the mountain fields, pluck out the grass and come back.” “Yes, Mother.” In that field there were lots of rocks and grass, so pretty soon the rake was broken.

할 수 잆이 콩쥐는 손으로 풀을 뽑았어요. 콩쥐는 손이 너무 아팠어요.  그 때 어디선가 황소가 나타났어요. “콩쥐 아가씨! 제가 이 풀을 다 뽑아 드릴게요.” 황소는 순식간에 풀을 다 뽑아 주었어요. “어머! 어떻게 이런 일이? 황소야 고마워.”

Without any other method, Kongjui resorted to pulling the grass out by hand.  Kongjui’s hand hurt a lot. At that time, a bull appeared from somewhere. “Miss Kongjui! I will pull out the grass for you.” The bull quickly pulled out all the grass for her. “Wow! How did this happen? Bull, thank you.”

콩쥐는 기쁜 마음으로 집으로 갔어요. “어머니 풀을 다 뽑고 왔어요.” “뭐냐? 다 뽑았다고? 어디 가 보자.” 밭으로 간 새 어머니는 깜짝 놀랐어요. ‘아니, 저것이 나무 호미로 돌밭에 있는 그 많은 풀을 어떻게 다 뽑았지?’ 놀란 새어머니는 혼젓말로 중얼거리며 돌아갔어요.

Kongjui went back home happily. “Mother, I have pulled out all the grass and come back.” “Whay? It was all pulled out? Lets go see it.” The stepmother who saw the field was shocked. ‘No, how can you pull out all of the grass in the field which has rocks with that rake?’ the shocked stepmother said to herself while returning back to the house.

다음 날 새 어머지는 팥쥐를 데리고 나들이를 가며 말했어요.  “콩쥐야! 너는 이 독에다 물을 가득 채워 놓아라!” “네, 어머니.” “헤헤헤, 콩쥐야 약오로지? 메롱!”

The next day, the stepmother took Patjui out, and while they were leaving for the outing, she said, “Kongjui! Fill this jar full of water!” “Okay mother.” “He he he, Kongjui’s a sucker!” said Patjui while sticking out her tongue.

콩쥐는 물을 열심히 길어다 부었어요. 그런데 참 이상했어요. 독 안에 물이 고이지 않는 거예요. “참 이상하네…….” 독 안을 자세히 들여다 보니 밑바닥이 깨어져 있었어요. “이 일을 어떻게 하면 좋아…….”

Kongjui worked hard for a long time to fill up the jar. But, something was alittle strange. The jar wasn’t filling up. “That's strange....” When she looked at the jar’s inside in detail, she saw that the bottom was broken. “How can I do this chore well now....”

순간 그 광경을 지켜보고 있던 두꺼비가 말했어요. “콩쥐 아가씨! 제가 깨어진 곳을 막아 줄 테니 물을 길어 오세요.” “두꺼비야, 고마워.” 두꺼비가 깨어진 곳을 막아 주고 콩쥐가 물을 길어다 붓자 독 안에 물이 가득 찼어요.

At this moment, a toad, who had been watching spoke to her. “Miss Kongjui! I will block the broken places of the jar for you so you can pour the water in.” “Thank you toad.” The toad blocked the broken place in the jar and Kongjui added in the water to the jar until it was filled.

나들이에서 돌아온 새 어머니는 콩쥐를 혼낼 생각으로 물었어요. “독 안에 물은 다 채웠냐?” “네, 어머니.” “뭐? 다 채웠다구?” 독 안을 들여다 본 새 어머니는 깜짝 놀랐어요. ‘아니, 어떻게 깨어진 독에 물이 찼지???…….’

When they returned from the outing, the stepmother who was thinking of scolding Kongjui, asked her, “Did you fill the jar completely?” “Yes mother.” “What? You filled it all?” The stepmother, who looked in the jar, was really surprised. ‘No, the jar was broken how did she???....”

그렇게 세월은 흘러 콩쥐와 팥쥐도 자라서 시집 갈 나이가 되었어요. 하루는 새 어머니가 말씀하셨어요. “팥쥐야. 내일 잔치에 갈 준비를 해야겠다. 잔치에 온 처녀 중에 원님의 며느릿감을 뽑는다는구나.” “엄마, 그게 정말이세요?” “그렇다는구나. 너는 특별히 예쁘게 보여야 한다.”

The years passed like this, and eventually Kongjui and Patjui became the age to marry. One day, the stepmother said, “Patjui, you need to get ready for the party tomorrow. From amoung the young ladies who come to the party, the govenor will pick a daughter in law. ” “Mother, is that true?” “Yes, therefore you should be especially pretty for tomorrow.”

잔칫날이 되어 새 어머니가 콩쥐에게 말했어요. “콩쥐야! 너는 마당에 널어 놓은 벼를 다 찧어 놓고 방에 짜다만 옷감을 다 짜고 오너라!” “어머니, 그걸 언제 다…….” “아니, 요것이 못하겠다는 말이냐?” 그 때 팥쥐가 말했어요. “헤헤헤, 콩쥐야 약오르지?”

The day of the party came and the stepmother told Kongjui, “ Kongjui! Peel all the rice from the plants drying in the yard and make the clothing!” “Mother, when all of these....” “No, are you saying that you can’t do even this much?” At that time, Patjui said, “He he he, Kongjui is a sucker.”

새 어머니와 팥쥐는 잔치에 가고 콩쥐는 마당에 널어 놓은 벼를 찧을 준비를 하였어요. 그 때 참새들이 날아들었어요. “워어이! 참새들아 안돼!” “짹 짹 짹, 콩쥐 아가씨 걱정마세요. 저희들이 벼의 껍질을 다 까 드리겠어요.” 벼는 순식간에 하얀 쌀이 되었어요.

The stepmother and Patjui went to the party, and Kongjui went to the yard to prepare the seeds for pounding. At that time, a bunch of sparrows appeared. “Wah! Sparrows don’t!” “Chirp chirp chirp, Miss Kongjui, don't worry. We will peel the shells off the rice for you. ” The rice instantly became white.

콩쥐는 쌀을 담아 놓고 옷감을 짜기 시작 했어요. 콩쥐도 빨리 해 놓고 잔치에 가고 싶었거든요. 그런데, 짜야 할 실은 너무 많았어요. 순간, 콩쥐는 돌아가신 부모님이 생각났어요. “어머지! 아버지! 흑흑흑…….”

Kongjui put in the rice and then began to weave the clothing. Kongjui wanted to quickly finish the work because she wanted to go to the party. But, the strings she needed to weave were numerous. Soon, thoughts of her deceaced parents arose. “Mother! Father!”

     그때 선녀가 나타나 말했어요. “콩쥐 아가씨! 얼른 잔치에 갈 준비를 하세요.” “어머! 당신은?…….” “아가씨를도와 드리겠어요.” 선녀는 콩쥐에게 예쁜 한복 한 벌과 꽃신 한 켤레를 주고 짜다만 옷감도 다 짜 주었어요.

Then, a fairy appeared. “Miss Kongjui! Please quickly come get ready to go to the party.” “Oh dear! Who are you?... .” “I will help you Miss Kongjui.” The fairy then gave Kongjui a pretty dress, a pair of fancy shoes, and finished all of the weaving for her.

콩쥐는 예쁜 한복을 입고 꽃신을 신은 채 잔치가 열리는 곳으로 갔어요. 많은 사람들이 콩쥐의 예쁜 모습을 보고 한 마디씩 하였어요. “어머! 참 예쁘다.” “하늘에서 내려온 선녀같네요.”

Kongjui went to the place where the party was held wearing her pretty dress and fancy shoes. Many people saw Kongjui’s pretty attire and started to praise her. “Wow! Look how pretty she is. She’s like a angel that came down from the sky.”

그 때 원님의 아이들이 콩쥐에게 다가왔어요. “참 아름다우시군요. 어디에 사시는 누구신지?” “저어…….” 콩쥐는 아무말도 하지 못하고 얼굴만 빨개졌어요. 더욱 많은 사람들이 콩쥐가 있는 곳으로 모여들었어요.

At that time, the Govenor’s son went closer to Kongjui. “What a beautiful lady. Who are you and where do you live?” “Me....” Kongjui couldn’t say even a word and her face had become red. Many other people had flocked to where Kongjui was.

그 때 새 어머니와 팥쥐의 목소리가 들렸어요. “도대체 누가 그렇게 예쁘다는 거야?” 순간, 콩쥐는 새 어머니와 마주칠까 겁이 났어요. “죄송합니다만 저는 이만…….” 허겁지겁 달려 나오는 콩쥐를 원님의 아들이 따라오며 외쳤어요. “이름만이라도 알려 주시오.”

Then, she heard her stepmother and Patjui’s voices. “Who the heck could be that pretty?” Instantly, Kongjui became afraid of meeting with her stepmother. “I’m  very sorry but I....” Kongjui hastily ran off, but the Govenor’s son followed her and called out, “Just let me know you’re name at least.”

하지만 콩쥐는 뒤를 돌아보지도 못한 채 달려가다 그만 꽃신 한 짝이 벗겨져 버렸어요. “어머! 이 일을 어떻게 하지?” 콩쥐는 꽃신 한 짝을 남긴 채 가 버리고 원님의 아들은 꽃신 한 짝을 주워서 원님께로 들고 갔어요.

But Kongjui ran away without even looking back, and while running lost one of her fancy shoes. “Oh no! What should I do?” Kongjui abandoned her shoe, and the son of the Govenor picked up the shoe and carried it back to his father.

“아버님! 이 꽃신의 임자와 결혼하겠습니다.” 원님은 신하들을 시켜 온 고을을 뒤져서 꽃신의 임자를 찾아오게 하였어요. 신하들은 고을 전체를 돌다가 콩쥐의 짐에도 왔어요.

“Father! I want to marry the owner of this shoe!”  The Govenor order his servents to go to the town and find the owner of the fancy shoe. The men searched through the whole town for the owner, and they also went to Kongjui’s house.

신하들이 수줍은 듯 보고 있던 콩쥐에게 말했어요. “아가씨도 한번 신어 봐요.” 그러자 새 어머니가 말했어요. “쟤는 신어 볼 필요도 없어요.” “하지만 원님께서는 모든 아가씨들에게 다 신겨 보라고 하셨소. 자 신어 보시오.”

The servants talked to Kongjui, who was watching silently, saying, “Miss you must also try these shoes on.” Then the stepmother said, “Theres no need for her to try them on.” “But we have ben ordered by the magistrate that all of the young ladies must do it. Now, please try them on.”

콩쥐가 꽃신을신가 신하들이 소리쳤어요. “허어. 꼭 맞는군. 이제야 임자를 찾았어.” 그제서야 콩쥐는 방에 잘 두었던 예쁜 한복을 입고 나머지 꽃신 한 짝을 신고 나왔어요. “저-저것이 언게…….” 그렇게 하여 콩쥐는 원님의 아들과 결혼하여 행복하게 잘 살았습니다.

When Kongjui tried on the shoe, all of the servants screamed. “Aha. This is exactly right. We have found the owner.” Kongjui left the room, and came back wearing her pretty dress and fancy shoes. “I-well when...” Thus the govenor’s son and Kongjui were married and they lived happily ever after. 


*This story has lots of similarities to Cinderella, but the difference is that to me this story seems more believable. Instead of Kongjui getting married to a prince, she gets married in the end to the Govenor's son. It would seem more farfetched if all of the sudden a prince decided to come to some random village's party and pick a bride there, so I think that this story was nicely balanced. Much like cinderella this story tells us to be good and strive to live ones life no matter what gets you down, because in the end if you are good you will win in the end (and get to marry the prince!). The hard part about this story was translating the sound effects (ex 흑흑흑= crying) and some of the titles (ex 원님= govenor)  because in english we do not sound effect words and the title words are not always 100% equivalent. Choosing the right title gives the story a completely different feel, so I tried to stay as authentic to the original as possible. 

솥 안에 든 거인 The Giant In The Pot- Korean Fairy tale

This story is a classical Korean fairy tale, which tells the story of a boy who defeats a giant in order to rescue his kidnapped father. The original Korean story that I used for translations was found in a book by  학습반 전래동화-story #7, and the author & illustrator of this version of the tale are  그쓴이- 송재찬 (Song Jaechan) and 그린이- 주영삼 (Ju Yeongsam) all rights go to them for the book! the translations are my own....

솥 안에 든 거인 

The Giant in the Pot 

——————————————————————————————                      먼 옛날, 어느 산 골에 세  식구가 있었습니다.

아버지와 어머니, 그리고 마음씨 착한 아들은 넉넉하지는 않아지만 행복하게 살았어요. 어느 날 아버지가 산으로 나무를 하러 갔습니다.

그런데 날이 저물어도 아버지가 돌아오시지 않았어요.

어머니와 아들은 몹시 적정이 되었습니다.

A long time ago, in a mountain valley lived a 3-member family. The family was made up of a father, mother, and their gentle kind-hearted son. Even though they were not well off, they lived happily. One day the father went out to the mountain to get trees. But, the day passed and it became dark, and the father had still not returned. The mother and son became terribly worried about him.

“어머니, 아버지가 왜 아직도 안 돌아오실까요?”

“글쎄 말이다. 늦어도 너무 늦으시는구나. 오다가 길을 잃어버리셨나? 얘야, 등불을 들고 산으로 가보자. 아버지를 찾아봐야겠다.”

어머니와 아들은 등볼을 들고 집을 나섰습니다. “아버지!” “여보!”

큰 소리로 부르면 찾았지만 어디에도 아버지는 보이지 않았습니다.

“Mother, why hasn’t father come back yet?”

“I don't know, although it’s late, he’s terribly late. He must have lost his way somewhere? My darling, pick up the lamp and let’s go to the mountain. We need to go search for your father. The mother and the son left the house with the lamp. “Father!” “Honey!” They made a lot of noise looking for him but he wasn't anywhere.

이튿날도 아들은 혼자서 하루 종일 산을 헤맸지만 아버지를 찾을 수 없었습니다.

아들은 너무나 지쳐서 너무 그늘에세 쉬다가 깜박 잠이 들었습니다. 그런데 꿈 속에서 머리가 허연 노인니 나타나 말했어요.

“너는 참 효성이 지극한 아들이구나. 네가 너무 착해서 아버지를 찾도록 해 주겠다. 벼룩 한 말과 빈대 한 말, 그리고 바늘 한 말을 구해 오너라. 그것들을 가지고 다니면 아버지를 찾을 수 있을 게다.

The next day too the son roamed around the mountain alone but he was unable to find his father. The son became very exhausted and went into the shade and suddenly fell asleep. But, in his dreams, a white haired old man appeared and said, “You are someone who love your parents a lot aren’t you. Because you are such a good son, I will help you find your father. Get and come back with a bag of fleas, a bag of bedbugs and a bag of needles. If you carry those with you on your quest you will be able to find your father.

그게 정말이세요?

깜짝 놀라서 큰 소리로 묻는데 그만 잠이 깨었습니다.

“이상한 꿈도 다 있네. 벼룩, 빈대, 바늘을 한 말씩 구하라고?”

아들은 혼자 중얼거리며 집으로 향했습니다.

“Is that really true?”

While he asked with a loud voice in astonisment, he awoke from his slumber. “What a strange dream. I must get bags of fleas, bedbugs, and needles?”, the son muttered to himself as he headed home alone.

“어떻게 하면 벼룩과 빈대를 한 말씩 구할 수 있을까?”

곰곰이 생각한 아들은 일부러 벼룩이 득실거리는 거직들을 찾아가 함께 지냈습니다. 또 더러운 동물 우리도 청소하며 벼룩과 빈대를 열심히 구했습니다.

바늘을 구하는 것도 매우 힘든 일이었습니다.

아들은 삯바느질을 하는 아주머지의 일을 도와 주고 난 다음에야 겨우바늘한 말을 얻을 수 있었습니다.

그러는 사이에 여러 달이 흘렀습니다.

“How am I supposed to get a bag of fleas and a bag of bedbugs?” thinking seriously, he deliberately visited homless beggars carrying fleas and spent time with them. He also searched hard for the bed bugs and fleas by cleaning dirty animal’s cages. Finding needles was also a difficult task. The son was barely able to get a needle from the seamstress after helping her work. Meanwhile, several months have passed.

마침내 아들은 아버지를 찾아 길을 떠났습니다. 산 속에서 날이 저물자. 아들은 하룻밤 잘 만한 곳이 없을까 하고 사방을 둘러 보았습니다. ‘그런데 저게 뭐야? 불빛이 잖아. 집인 모양이군. 저기 가서 하룻밤 재워 달라고 해야겠다.’ 아들은  부지런히 불빛을 향해 걸었습니다. 그런데 집에 닿아 보니 불빛이 새어 나오고 있던 그 집에는 아무도 살고 있지 않았습니다. 아들은 대문을열고 집 안으로 들어갔습니다. “여보세요, 여보세요. 아무도 없어요?” 마당에 들어가 소리쳤지만 아무리 불러도 대답이 없었어요. ‘정말 빈 집인 모양이군. 들어가 한 잠 자고 가자.’ 아들은 방 안으로 들어가 누웠습니다.

Finally, the son left on the road to search for his father. As the day was getting darker on the mountain, he looked around thinking if there is anywhere he can spend the night. ‘What’s that? It’s light.  It looks like a home. I will go and ask them if I can rest there for the night. The son walked diligently towards the light. But when he arrived to the house, which was leaking light, it looked like there was no one living there. When he reached the door he opened it and said “Hello, hello. Anybody home?” His voice traveled into the yard, but there was no reply. “I guess it really is an empty home. Well, lets go in and sleep for a bit” said the son who went in and laid down.

막 잠이 들려고 하는데 문 밖에서 쿵쿵거리는 소리가 들려 왔습니다. ‘이게 무슨 소리지?’ 아들은 문 틈으로 밖을 내다보았습니다. ‘저게 뭐야? 으아, 저건 거인이잖아.’ 거인의 몸집이 너무나 커서 마당 안이 꽉 찬 것 같았어요.

When the son was about to asleep, he heard a huge sound of stomps coming from outside the door on the streets.  ‘What sound is this?’ said the son who peeked out through the crack of the door. Oh my, it’s a giant.’ The giant’s body was so big that it looked like it filled the whole courtyard.

“모두들 다 있는지 확인해 봐야겠다.”거인은 뚜벅뚜벅 광으로 걸어갔습니다. 거인이 광문을 열고 사람들의 이름을 부르자 “예!” “예!” 하고 사람들이 큰 소리로 대답하는 소리가 들렸어요. 그런데 사람들 중에는 아들의 아버지도 있었습니다. 아들은 깜짝 놀았어요. 가슴이 막 뛰었습니다. “한 놈도 도망가지 못하고 다 있군. 꼼짝하지 말고 어서 자!” 거인은 다시 문을 닫아 며 큰 소리로 말 했습니다.

“I’m going to go check to make sure everyone is there.”  The giant plodded along walking towards the shed. He opened the barn door and called out the people’s names, which they answered with loud replies “Yes!” “Yes!”. Among the people, the son saw his father was also there. The son was shocked and his heart was beating very fast. “Not one man was able to run away. Don’t budge, go to sleep!” said the giant in a loud voice as he closed the door.

거인은 아들이 있는 맞은편 방으로 가서 벌렁 누웠습니다. 그러더니 드르렁드르렁 코를 골기 시작했어요. ‘아버지를 구해야해. 아버지가 거 광 속에 게신다고.’ 아들은 두 주먹을 불끈 쥐었습니다. “옳지!” 그때 문득 꿈 속에 나타났던 노인의 말이 떠올랐습니다.  “벼룩들아, 저 거인을 꼼짝도 못하게 해 다오.” 아들은 거인이 잠들어 있는 방 안으로 살금살금 들어가, 거인 옆에다 벼룩 주머니를 풀었습니다.

The giant went to the room on the opposite side from where the son was and lay on his back. Then he began to snore loudly. ‘I have to save my father. My father is in the shed’ Thought the son as he squeezed his fists. “Right!” Then, the words of the old man that appeared in his dream came to mind. “Fleas, please let the giant come to a standstill.” The son entered the room where the giant was sleeping stealthily, and unpacked the bag of fleas next to the giant.

“얏! 따끔한 벼룩 부대의 맛을 봐라!” 벼룩들은 톡톡 튀면서 거인을 물어 뜯었습니다. “앗 따가워. 아얏, 아얏!”  거인은 마루로 나오며  나오며 뒹굴었습니다. “빈대들아, 이번에는 너희들 차례다.” 아들은 마루에 빈대에는풀어 놓았습니다. 빈대들은 거인의  몸을 까맣게 뒤덮으면서 마구 물어 뜯었어요. “아이구, 나 죽는다. 사람 살려.” 거인은 몸을 긁으면서 숲 속으로 도망쳤어요.

“Hah! Experience the stinging bite of this troop of fleas!” said the son. As the fleas jumped, they bit the giant viciously. “Ack it stings. Ack, Ack!” the giant came out and rolled around on the floor. “Bedbugs, its your turn now.” The son unpacked the bedbugs onto the floor. As the bedbugs covered the giant’s body so it became completely black, he was viciously bitten. “Oh god, I’m dying. Someone save me!” The giant ran away into the woods as he scratched his body.

“얏, 바늘 부대 나간다.” 아들은 숲으로 도망치는 거인을 향해 이번에는 바늘을 던졌어요. 그러자 이게 웬일일까요? 바늘들이 마치 살아 있는 것처럼 빛을 내며 거인을 향해 날아가는 게 아니겠어요? “얏! 얏!” 바늘들은 한꺼번에 거인을 찌르기 시작했습니다. 거인은 비명을 지르며 풀숲에서 뒹굴었어요.

“Hah, now the bag of needle’s turn to come out.” The son threw the bag of needles at the giant fleeing into the forest. And then, wala! As if they were alive, the needles flew towards the giant as they flashed. The needles all at ones started pricking the giant. As the giant yelled out screams, he rolled around on the grass.

“사람 살려!” 거인은 이리저리 도망다니다니가 부엌으로 달려갔습니다. 그리고는 아무도 들어오지 못하게 솥 안에 들어가 몸을 옹크리고 숨었습니다. 아들은 얼른 솥뚜껑을 닫고 그 위에 큰 돌덩이를 많이 올려놓았어요.

“Someone save me!” The giant ran here and there while trying to escape, and then ran into the kitchen. And then he went into the pot that no one was aloud to go in, concealing himself and crouching his body up.  The son quickly closed the lid of the pot and placed a lot of big rocks on top of it.

“어디 뜨거운 맛 좀 봐라.” 아들은 아궁이에 불을 지피기 시작했습니다. “앗, 앗 뜨거워! 살려 줘, 살려 줘.” 거인은 솥 안에서 우레같이 비명을 지르다가. 마침내 까맣게 타버렸습니다.

“Experience the burn of extreme heat.” The son started a fire in the furnace. “”Ack, Ack, hot! Please save me, save me.”  The giant screamed out like thunder from inside the pot. Eventually it burned black.

거인이 족은 것을 두 눈으로 보고 나서 아들은 광으로 달려갔습니다. “아버지! 아버지!” 아들은 광을 열고 아버지와 다른 사람들도 모두 구해 내었습니다. “와, 살았다. 살았어!” 광에 갇혔던 사람들은 서로 얼싸안으며 좋아했습니다.

After watching the giant’s death with his own eyes the son ran to the shed. “Father! Father!” the son opened the door to the shed and brought out his father along with all the other people. “Wah your alive. Your alive!” The people trapped in the shed embraced each other and rejoyced.

아들은 다른 광도 열어 보았습니다. 거기에는 거인이 훔쳐 온 양식과 보물들이 꽉 차 있었어요. 아들은 거인의 재물을 모든 사람들과 똑같이 나누어가졌습니다. “고맙습니다.정말 고맙습니다.” 거인에게서 풀려난 사람들은 아들에게 머리를 조아렸습니다. 아들은 아버지를 모시고 집으로 돌아가 어머니와 함께 행복하게 살았습니다.

The son also opened another shed. It was filled with all the food and treasures that the giant had stolen. The son divided the treasure evenly between all of the people. “Thank you. Really, thank you so much.” The people released from the giant bowed their heads to the son. The son took his father back home and lived with the mother happily ever after. 

*This story tells the importance of the common theme filial piety, with the son trying to find his father at all costs. It also shows us the son's quick and resourceful thinking outwits the evil giant, and thus that good will prevail through hard work over evil.  It's funny because after talking to my Korean tutor she said that this was not a famous tale in korea, and that she herself had never heard of it. I thought that it was a good, generic type fairy tale story though and it was fun to translate. 

흥부와 놀부 Heungbu and Nolbu

This story is called 흥부와 놀부 Heungbu and Nolbu, and I got the original Korean text from the Parrot Fairy Tale Series by SaeSaem publishing company (지혜와 슬기 주머니 14 새샘 명작 동화) all rights reserved to them!


This story is about two brothers Heungbu and Nolbu. Heungbu, the younger brother is kind while Nolbu, the older brother, is cruel. After their parents death Nolbu kicks Heungbu out of the house and ignores him when asked for help. In the story Nolbu learns what it means to be compassionate and generous. 

흥부와 놀부

Heungbu and Nolbu

옛날에 흥부와 놀부라는 두 형제가 살고 있었어요. 동생인 흥부는 마음씨가 착했는데, 형인 놀부는 욕심이 많은 심술꾸러기였어요. 놀부는 항상 궁리를 하였죠. “오늘은 어떤 일로 사람들을 골려 주시?”

Once upon a time there were two brothers, Heungbu and Nolbu. The younger brother Heungbu had a kind heart, but the older brother Nolbu was very greedy and crancky. Nolbu was always planning. “How can I play tricks on people today?”

‘장독을 새총으로 깨뜨리기’, ‘우는 아이 때리기’, ‘호박에다 말뚝박기’, ‘다 된 밥에 재 뿌리기’ ……. 놀부의 심술은 날마다 더하여 부무님은 항상 걱정이었어요.

‘Use a slingshot to break pots’, ‘hit a crying baby’, ‘pile drive all of the pumpkins’, ‘Spoil something when all is going well’.... Nolbu’s grumpyness got worse everyday, which made his parents always worried.

하지만 흥부는 착한 일을 하여 칭찬받을 때가 많았어요. 그래서 놀부는 흥부를 더욱 미워하였어요. 둘은 자라서 어른이 되었고, 결혼을 하였습니다. 놀부는 자식이 하나였는데, 흥부는 자식이 많았어요.

But, Heungbu’s kind work received a lot of praise. So Nolbu hated Heungbo more. Time passed and they grew up into adults, and they married. Nolbu had one child, but Heungbu had many.

놀부는 밥을 먹을 때마다 흥부를 구박하였어요. “흥부야, 네 아이들 때문에 우리 집 양식 다 떨어지겠다, 이놈아.” 그러던 어느 날, 부모님이 돌아가셨어요. “흥부야! 이제부터 우리 집 재산은 모두 내 것이다. 그러니 너는 네 가족을 데리고 당장 나가거라!” “갑ㄱ자기 그러시면 저 어린 것들을 데리고 어떻게…….”

Every time while they were eating, Nolbu assaulted Heungbu. “Heungbu, Because of your kids all of our food will run out, this man.” One day, Heunbu and Nolbu’s parents passed away. “Heungbu! From now on all of our house’s property is mine. So take your family and get out right now!”

“If you say such things so suddenly, how can I manage with my little children... .”

흥부의 가족은 먹을 양식도 없이 쫓겨났어요. “여보! 어떻게 이럴 수가 있어요?” “다 내가 못난 탓이오.” “아버지! 이제 우리는 어디로 가는 거예요?”

Heungbu’s family was expelled from the house without any food. “Dear! How can this be?” “This is all my fault” “Father! Where will we go now?”

흥부의 가족은 어느 하름한 빈집에서 남의 집 일을 해 주며 어렵게 살아갔어요. 그런데 올해는 흉년이 들어 흥부의 가족은 먹을 것이 없었어요. “배가 고파요! 흑흑흑…….” 흥부는 아이들이 불쌍해서 놀부를 찾아갔어요.

Heungbu’s family went to a shabby looking empty house, and worked for others living difficultly. But this year a famine came and Heungbu’s family had nothing to eat. “I’m hungry!” Because Heungbu felt sorry for his children he went to go find Nolbu.

“형님! 그동안 평안하셨습니까? 못난 동생이 약식을 얻으러 왔습니다.” 동생이라구? 난 너같은 동생 둔 적이 없어. 썩 나가지 못해!” “아이구! 형님 다음에 꼭 갚을게요.” 흥부가 계속 사장하자 놀부는 몽둥이로 흥부를 때렸어요.

“Brother! Have you been well? Your foolish little brother has come to get food.” “Brother? I don’t have any brother like you. Leave right now!” “Oh dear, brother I will pay you back next time.” As Heungbu kept begging, Nolbu took a bat and hit Heungbu.

흥부는 할 수 없이 돌아서 나오다 부엌으로 갔어요. “형수님! 밥 한 그릇만 주세요.” “아침부터 웬 거지야? 옛다, 밥!” 놀부의 아내는 밥을 푸던 주걱으로 흥부의 뺨을 때렸어요.  “형수님, 밥알을 좀 더 묻혀서 이 쪽도 때려 주세요.” “아니, 뭐야?” 놀부의 아내는 밥알을 싹 딱아내고 흥부의 다른 쪽 뺨을 때렸어요.

While the helpless Heungbu turned around, he came out and stopped by the kitchen. “Sister-in-law please give me one container of rice.” “What the heck is the begger from this morning doing here? Here you are, rice!” Nolbu’s wife hit Heungbu’s cheek with the rice spatula. “Sister-in-law, I need more rice so please put some more rice on the spatula and hit me on the cheek.” “What the hell?” She wiped the rice off the spatula and hit im on the other side of the cheek.

흥부는 힘없이 집으로 돌아왔어요. 그 모습을 보고 아이들은 울음을 터뜨렸어요. “아앙~ 아버지가 빈손으로 왔어요! …….” 그렇게 힘든 한 해를 보내고 새봄을 맞이하였어요.

Heungbu, with no strength, returned home. Looking at his expression the children cried. “Waha, Father returned empty-handed!... .” They spent a hard time like that and then a new spring came.

제비들이 흥부의 집 처마에다 둥지를 짓자 흥부는 판자를 대 주었어요. 둥지에서는 새끼들이 자라고 있었어요. 하루는 제비들이 자지러지게 울었어요. 둥지를 보니 커다란 구렁이가 제비들을 잡아먹으려 하고 있었어요. “에잇!” 흥부가 막대기로 구렁이를 쫓아 주었어요.

Swallows had made a nest in Heungbu’s house’s eaves, and Heungbu put a plank to secure the nest. There were baby swallows living in the nest. One day the baby swallows living in the nest were crying. Looking at the nest, there was a big snake grabbing onto the baby swallows in order to eat them. “Hey!” Heungbu batted away the snake with a rod. 

그 때, 제비 한 마리가 둥지에서 떨어졌어요. “저런! 다리가 부러졌어!” 흥부의 자족은 제비의 다리를 정성껏 치료해 주었습니다. 며칠이 지나자 제비는 하늘을 잘 날 수 있게 되었어요.

At that time, one of the swallows fell from the nest. “Oh, the swallow’s leg is broken!” Heungbu’s family sincerely gave treatment to the swallow. Some days later the swallow could fly in the sky again.

가을이 되자 제비들은 강남으로 날아갔어요. 흥부네 제비는 그동안의 일을 제비 나라의 임금님께 말씀드렸어요. “오오! 정말 고마운 분들이군! 은혜를 꼭 갚도록 하여라!”

When it became fall, the swallows flew to Gangnam. The swallow who was at Heungbu’s house told the whole story to the swallow country’s king. “AwAw! These must be really good people. You should repay the favor they did for you right away!”

다시 봄이 되자 제비들이 날아왔어요. “지지배배 지지배배” 제비 한 마리가 흥부의 가족 앞에 박씨 하나를 떨어뜨렸어요. “어머! 제비가 박씨를 물고 왔어요!” 흥부의 가족은 이상히 여기며 박씨를 잘 심었어요.

When it became spring again, the swallows flew back. “Chirp Chirp” one of the swallows dropped a seed infront of Heungbu’s family. “Oh dear! The swallow came holding a seed in it’s mouth!” Heungbu’s family was surprised and planted the seed.

어느새 박씨는 싹이 트고, 하루하루가 다르게 자라서 넝쿨이 온 지붕을 덮고 둥그린 박이 열렸어요. “여보! 저 박 좀 봐요. 너무 탐스러워요.” “그렇군요. 오늘은 박을 한번 타 봅시다.” 흥부가 박 세 덩이를 따 와서 톱질을 사작하였어요.

Before they knew it, the seed sprouted, and each day as it was growing bigger and bigger. The vine covered the roof and the round gourd opened. “Honey! Look at that gourd. It's very ripe.” “I see. Today lets get look at the gourds.” Heungbu picked three gourds and started to saw them.

“톱질하세 톱실하세 슬근슬근 톱질하세.” 순가, 신기한 일을 벌어졌어요. “어머! 박 속에서 쌀이?” “와아! 쌀이다.” 두 번째 박에서는 금은보화가 나왔어요.

“Saw, saw, let’s saw.” At that moment, a strange thing happened. “Oh dear! Inside the gourd is rice?” “Aha! It’s rice.” In the second gourd, treasures appeared from inside of it.

세 번째 박에서는  비단이 쏟아져 나왔어요. “어어! 어떻게 이런 일이? …….” 흥부의 가족은 순식간에 부자가 되었어요. 흥부는 동네의 가난한 사람들에게 쌀을 나눠 주고 금은보화와비단을 팔아서 좋은 집도 지었어요.

In the third gourd, silk poured out from inside. “Oh oh! How can this happen?... .” Heungbu’s family instantly became wealthy. In Heungbu’s neighborhood, his family divided out rice to the poor, sold the treasures and silk, and used that money to build a house.

그 소식을 듣고 놀부가 찾아왔어요. “흥부야! 이리 나와봐라!” “형님. 그동안 평안하셨는지요?” “평안이고 뭐고 너 어디서 도둑질했어?” “형님, 제가 어떻게 도둑질을 하겠어요. 사실은…….”

Nolbu heard this news and came to find Heungbu. “Heungbu! Come and see me!” “Brother. Have you been well during this time?” “Well, and where did you steal this stuff from?” “Brother, how could I steal? The truth is... .”

흥부는 모든 얘기를 해 주었어요. “정말 그랬단말이지? 알겠다. 이놈아.” 놀부가 가려는데 흥부가 불렀어요. “형님! 이 금은보화와비단을 가지고 가십시오.” “암! 그래야지.”

Heungbu told him the whole story. “Is it really like you said? I get it man.” Nolbu was leaving but Heungbu called out, “Brother! Take these treasures and this silk with you as you go.” “Sure! I will”

이듬해 봄이 되어 놀부의 집에도 제비들이 날아와 둥지를 지었어요. 놀부는 제비의 둥지만 지켜보고 있었어요. “저놈의 제비가 떨어져 다리가 부러져야 하는데…….” 기다리다 못한 놀부는 제비의 다리를 일부러 부러뜨렸어요. “째액! 째액!” “여보! 얼른 약와 헝겊을 가져오시오.” “호호호, 우리도 이제 부자가 되겠군요.” “제비야. 강남 갔다올 때 박씨 하나만 물고 오너라.”

In the following year, it became spring and the swallows also flew to Nolbu’s house and made a nest. Nolbu only was watching the swallow’s nest. “That guy’s swallow, that swallow should fall down and break its leg... .” Nolbu who couldn't wait, broke the swallow’s leg on purpose. “Chirp! Chirp!” “Honey! Quickly bring the medicine and bandages.” “Hahaha we will also become rich.” “Swallow. Bring us back one seed from Gangnam.”

이듬해 봄, 강남 갔던 제비가 돌아왔어요. 놀부의 집에도 박씨 하나를 물어다 주었어요. 놀부는 박씨를 심고 잘 가꾸었어요. 박 넝쿨은 무럭무럭 자라서 박이 탐스럽게 열렸어요. 놀부는 박 세 덩이를 따 와서 타기 시작하였어요. “톱질하세 톱질하세 금은보봐 많이 나와라!”

The next year’s spring, the swallow who went to Gangnam came back. They also brought one seed to Nolbu’s house too. Nolbu planted the seed and it grew. While the vines grew rapidly the gourds became ripe and desirable. Nolbu picked three gourds and started sawing. “Saw, saw, saw, lots of treasure come out!”

  (뚜욱! 쾅!) “으악! 이게 뭐야? 사-사람살려!” “네 이놈! 네 잘못을 네가 알렸다!” “아이구! 무슨 말씀을 하시는 건지?” 놀부의 박에서 나온 도깨비들은 놀부를 마구 대리고 도깨비방망이로 놀부의 집과 재물을 다 없애 버렸어요. “아이구! 나는 망했네.”

(Thump! Bang!) “Ack! What is this? S-Someone help!” “Yes, you! I know what you’ve done wrong!” “Oh no! What is this that you’re talking about?” Goblins that came out of Nolbu’s gourd violently beat him and with a magic club destroyed Nolbu’s house and property all together.

놀부의 가족은 초라한 모습으로 흥부를 찾아갔어 요. “흥부야! 흑흑흑…….” “형님! 이게 어찌 된 일입니까?” 놀부는 울면서 모든 이야기를 하였어요. “걱정마세요. 형님, 저희 집에서 함께 살아요.” “흥부야! 그동안 내가 나빴어. 용서하다오. 흑흑흑…….”

With a shabby apperance, Nolbu’s family went to find Heungbu. “Heungbu!” “Brother! What happened?” While crying Nolbu told Heungbu the whole story. “Don’t worry. Brother, come live together in our house.” “Heungbu! I was wrong all this time. Please forgive me.”

그 이후로 놀부는 착한 사람이 되어 흥부의 가족과 잘 살았습니다.

Since then Nolbu became a kind person and he lived with Heungbu’s family happily ever after.


*This story taught the lesson of treat others the way you want to be treated, and that you should appreciate what you have. Nolbu is always mean to others and looking for a way to get more wealth, but in the end suffers from his actions and learns his lessons. Heungbu is kind and always helps others and is therefore rewarded for his good actions, teaching the kids who read this story the importance of "doing the right thing". Around the world helping others is a common notion, but in Asia culture helping your family when they are in trouble is particularly stressed. The fact that Heungbu always lets Nolbu, his older brother, take advantage of him, shows this undying support and respect that he has for Nolbu even though Nolbu doesnt reciprocate Heungbu's love. The role of the younger brother is that of always deffering to whatever the older one says, which is why Nolbu was able to kick Heungbu out of the house without much of a fight even though they were both legitimately owners of their fathers things.  

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 
——————————————————————————————

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.