folk tales

Article by Gil "hannaone"
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The Woodcutter and the Heavenly Maiden 


The elements of a tragic Korean drama can be found in the folk tale "The Woodcutter and the Heavenly Maiden." This story was passed down through oral tradition prior to being recorded in written form.

The Tale

Once, there lived a woodcutter in the mountains with only his elderly mother as his companion. One day, while he was chopping wood, a deer suddenly emerged from the woods and collapsed at his feet.

"Please, help me," pleaded the deer. "A hunter is pursuing me and without your aid, I fear for my life." The woodcutter allowed the deer to seek refuge among the freshly cut logs. As the hunter inquired about a fleeing deer, the woodcutter gestured towards the opposite end of the woods.

After the hunter fled and the coast was clear, the deer emerged from the wood pile. "I am grateful to you for saving my life," he expressed. "I am indebted to you and I will return the kindness. There is a hidden lake on the mountain where three heavenly maidens come down to bathe under the full moon. When they undress, make sure to conceal the clothes of the youngest maiden. Keep them hidden until she bears you three children."

Therefore, when the subsequent full moon arrived, the woodcutter made his way to the private lake. As foretold by the deer, three maidens descended from the Heavenly Kingdom to take a bath. Following the deer's guidance, he concealed the youngest maiden's garments and patiently observed from behind a tree.

Upon completing their bath, the celestial maidens emerged from the water and began dressing. However, the youngest among them could not locate her clothes. Despite her relentless search, she was unable to find them and tears welled in her eyes at the thought of being unable to return to the Heavenly Kingdom without them.

Once the two elder maidens had disappeared into the sky, the woodcutter emerged from his hiding spot. Approaching the distressed maiden, he kindly inquired about her troubles and offered her his shirt for comfort. He then extended an invitation for her to join him at his home.

Unable to refuse, the celestial woman accompanied the lumberjack and became his spouse. Soon after, they welcomed a child into their lives. Despite their joy, each day she would express her sorrow for her missing garments. The next year, they were blessed with another child, and the woodcutter felt compassion for her plight.

As she lamented her lost garments yet again, expressing her despair over never being able to return to Heaven, he disregarded the deer's caution and handed them to her. With haste, she donned the clothes and flew into the sky with a child cradled in each arm. And so it was that the woodcutter's wife was gone forever.

The woodcutter was devastated. Upon encountering the deer once more in the forest, he inquired, "Why did you give back her garments before she bore her third child?"

The woodcutter expressed, "Her sorrow was too much for me to bear. I tried to uplift her, but I overlooked your caution."

"Return to the lake on the next full moon," the deer advised. "The celestial maidens no longer come down, but they will lower a bucket with a long chain to fetch water. It will descend three times. Allow it to drop twice, but on the third time, pour out the water and enter inside. It will carry you up to the Heavenly Kingdom."

With gratitude, the woodcutter followed the deer's instructions and joined his family in Heaven. He resided there contentedly for many years until he noticed his mother's absence. "I have spent too much time here. I must descend to the mortal realm and pay her a visit," he informed his wife. Despite assuring her of his return, the heavenly maiden was overcome with distress.

"Please," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "Anything but that. You may catch a glimpse of her and take comfort in knowing she is thriving, but once you depart for the mortal realm, there's no coming back."

"I have a responsibility as a son," stated the woodcutter. "Rest assured, I will make it a short trip and come back soon."

"Then I shall grant you passage on a majestic flying horse," declared the celestial maiden. "You may journey to see your mother, but remember, it is imperative that you remain on the horse at all times. Once your foot touches the mortal ground, there will be no turning back. I implore you, promise me that you will not set foot on the earth."

The woodcutter made a vow and descended to the earth on the back of a mystical horse, which gracefully touched down at his mother's doorstep.

"Aigu!" she exclaimed upon spotting him. "Where have you been all these years of absence?"

The woodcutter shared his journey to the Heavenly Kingdom to reunite with his loved ones. He expressed that he missed her and wanted to visit. However, he mentioned that he could not step down from the horse and would need to depart soon.

The woodcutter's mother wept as she spoke. "During your absence, I have prepared meals for you every day and set the table. As time passed, I feared the worst, but I never lost hope. And now, you are finally here. Please come inside and partake in one last meal that I have cooked for you before you depart forever."

"Dear Mother," stated the woodcutter, "Once my feet touch the earth, I can never ascend to Heaven again."

"I have your favorite dish ready, pumpkin soup. Would you like me to bring you a bowl so you can enjoy it while riding?"

The woodcutter couldn't deny his mother's request. Upon her return with the pumpkin soup, he hastily devoured it, only to utter cries of agony as the scalding liquid scorched his mouth. In turn, his horse was also affected and in its pain, bucked the woodcutter off before swiftly returning to the Heavens without him. There was no way for him to follow suit.

According to legend, the woodcutter's death was attributed to a broken heart. As the story goes, his spirit transformed into a rooster that can be heard every morning with its familiar cry of "Pagkuuuuuk! Pagkuuuuk!" Some believe this sound resembles the words "Pumpkin soup! Pumpkin soup!" as though the rooster is lamenting its inability to return due to the aroma of pumpkin soup.

The Lesson

The tale teaches us to have patience and remain steadfast in following through with promises and commitments. The woodcutter's rash decision to return his wife's garments resulted in his permanent separation from his family in Heaven. Similarly, the woodcutter's promise to his wife not to set foot on the earth was broken, leading to his ultimate demise.

Furthermore, it is a reminder of the consequences of succumbing to temptation and giving into our desires without considering the potential repercussions. The woodcutter's desire for companionship led him to take a leap of faith with the celestial maiden, but ultimately caused him great sorrow.

It also serves as a cautionary tale against taking one's loved ones for granted. This highlights the importance of cherishing our relationships and making time for those we hold dear.

Ultimately, "The Tale of the Woodcutter and the Heavenly Maiden" serves as an allegory for the fragility and preciousness of life. It reminds us to be mindful of our actions and promises, as they can have lasting consequences beyond what we may anticipate.

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