The Magic Gem. Kim So-Un

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      by Kim So-un illustrations by Jeong Kyoung-Sim

      TUTTLE PUBLISHING

       Tokyo • Rutland,Vermont • Singapore

      Cultural Background

      The Magic Gem is a Korean folktale that has been handed down by word of mouth from one generation to the next. It has been told by grandparents to their grandchildren, huddled on the heated floors of Korean homes in the bitterly cold days of mid winter, with snow-laden winds raging outside; repeated in the yards of Korean homes to children seated on straw mats in the cool of a summer evening; and shared by farmer folk as they rested from their work in the fields in the shade of a nearby tree.

      The author, Kim So-un, first heard this tale when he was a child. He hopes that a wider audience will now enjoy this story, and that readers will feel a kindred spirit with the people of ancient Korea. Kim So-un is also the author of Korean Children’s Favorite Stories and The Tigers of the Kumgang Mountains.

      Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd, with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436, USA and 61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12 Singapore 534167.

      Text © 2006 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd

       Illustrations © 2006 Jeong Kyoung-Sim

       All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

      LCC Card No: 200602910

       ISBN: 978-1-4629-0875-2 (ebook)

      First printing, 2006

      Printed in Singapore

      10 09 08 07 06

       5 4 3 2 1

      DISTRIBUTED BY:

      North America, Latin America & Europe

       Tuttle Publishing,

       364 Innovation Drive,

       North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436, USA

       Tel: (802) 773 8930 Fax: (802) 773 6993

       Email: [email protected]

       Website: www.tuttlepublishing.com

      Asia Pacific

       Berkeley Books Pte Ltd,

       61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12

       Singapore 534167

       Tel: (65) 6280 1330 Fax: (65) 6280 6290

       Email: [email protected]

       Website: www.periplus.com

      Japan

       Tuttle Publishing,

       Yaekari Building 3F, 5-4-12 Osaki,

       Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032

       Tel: (03) 5437 0171 Fax: (03) 5437 0755

       Email: [email protected]

      TUTTLE PUBLISHING^® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

      Once upon a time there was an old fisherman who lived with his wife in a small hut on the bank of a large river. One day, as usual, he went to the river to fish as he was too old to work. All day long he cast his line, but he did not catch a single fish. He thought of returning home empty-handed, but he would not give up and threw his line into the water one last time.

      This time there was a big tug and, when he pulled out his line, he found that he had caught a huge carp. The old man was overjoyed. But, as he put the carp into his basket, he noticed that the fish’s eyes were full of tears.

      On top of that, the carp was opening and shutting its mouth, as if it were trying to say something. The fisherman was suddenly struck with pity for the poor fish.

      “Oh, you’re trying to say ‘Let me go,’ aren’t you?” he said. “Yes, I understand. I’ll let you go.”

      So, the gentle old man set the fish free in the river. He then slung his empty wicker basket on his shoulder and set off for home. He knew that he and his wife would have nothing to eat for supper, and would be hungry again, yet he felt at peace.

      The next morning the old man returned to the river to fish. Suddenly a beautiful young girl stood before him and bowed politely. The old man was taken aback and asked: “Who are you?”

      The young girl bowed again, and replied: “I am a messenger from the Palace of the Dragon King. The carp you saved yesterday is really the prince of the Dragon Palace. Thanks to your mercy, he returned home safely.

      The King of the Dragon Palace was deeply moved when he heard how you spared his son’s life, and he wishes to repay you. He invites you to visit him and sent me to take you back to the palace. Please come with me.”

      The lovely young girl mumbled some strange words as though chanting a magic spell. Suddenly the waters of the river parted in two, and before the fisherman’s eyes there appeared a bright yellow path leading down underneath the water, the likes of which he had never seen before.

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