A Korean Tale (With A Smooth And Sweet Voice)

Embark on a magical journey with 'The Dutiful Daughter,' a heartwarming sleep story set in ancient Korea. Follow the touching tale of Sim Ching, a girl born from a dream, blessed with beauty and goodness. When her father faces a desperate situation, fate intertwines with a wealthy merchant's quest for redemption. Discover how love, sacrifice, and unexpected bonds weave together in this enchanting story. Let the soothing narration carry you to dreamland, as you immerse yourself in a world of hope, courage, and the promise of stars.

Story by Katharine Pyle

Transcript

The Beautiful Daughter,

A Korean story.

In Korea,

There lived a rich merchant and his wife who longed for children but remained childless.

They prayed every day,

Hoping for a child to be granted to them.

After 16 years of marriage,

The wife had a wonderful dream.

She dreamt of a garden filled with beautiful fruits,

Flowers,

And singing birds.

Suddenly,

A star fell from the sky into her lap.

When the wife woke up,

She excitedly shared her dream with her husband.

I am certain,

She said,

That this dream can mean only one thing,

That we are about to have a child.

A child who will be as beautiful and extraordinary as a star.

The merchant found it hard to believe their good fortune,

But it indeed came true.

They welcomed a daughter into the world,

And she was so beautiful that she amazed everyone who saw her.

Although the couple had hoped for a son,

Their disappointment vanished in the joy and pride they felt for their daughter's beauty,

Intelligence,

And goodness.

Unfortunately,

While Sim Ching,

So was the girl named,

Was still a child,

Her mother passed away.

Her father was devastated and became completely blind.

He had to rely on his servants to handle his business affairs,

But they were dishonest and lazy,

Squandering or stealing his money.

Eventually,

He became so poor that he could barely provide enough food for himself and his daughter.

One day,

The blind merchant,

Consumed by grief,

Wandered away from home and accidentally fell into a deep pit.

He couldn't climb out and feared he would die there.

However,

He heard footsteps above and called out loudly for help.

The footsteps belonged to a greedy and dishonest priest who often walked by on his way to the temple.

When he heard the voice from the pit,

He approached the edge and looked down,

Seeing the blind man trapped inside.

Who are you?

Asked the priest.

And how did you end up in this pit?

I am a poor blind man,

Once a wealthy merchant,

Replied the man.

I lost my sight and my wealth,

And because I can't see,

I fell into this pit.

Please show mercy and extend your hand to pull me out.

The priest refused,

Afraid that helping the blind man would put him in danger.

Instead,

He proposed a deal.

If the man promised to give him 150 bags of rice for the temple,

The priest would fetch a rope and lower it down,

Allowing them to escape without risk.

The priest asked for the rice not because he genuinely wanted to offer it in the temple,

But because he intended to keep it for himself.

He believed the blind man,

Once rich,

Might know wealthy people who would give him rice for the temple if he asked.

When the poor man heard the priest's demand for 150 bags of rice,

He cried out in grief and disbelief.

How could I promise you such a thing?

He cried.

Only a very wealthy person could make such a gift to the temple,

And I am so poor that I can't even provide enough food for myself and my daughter.

The priest exclaimed,

You have a daughter.

Yes,

Replied the blind man,

And she is incredibly beautiful.

Her fairness surpasses anyone in the land.

She possesses not only beauty,

But also goodness and wit.

Listen carefully,

Urged the priest.

If you swear to give me the rice,

Not only will I rescue you from the pit,

But I foresee a future where your daughter attains the highest position in the land.

Wealth and honor will be bestowed upon you,

And your sight shall return.

The priest made these claims to entice the blind man into promising him the rice.

The poor man insisted he had no means to make such an offering.

But the priest persisted,

Pleading and threatening until the blind man finally gave his word.

The priest hurriedly fetched a rope and successfully pulled the blind merchant out of the pit.

Remember,

He warned,

Exactly one month from now my servants will come for the rice.

You must have it ready,

Whether obtained through begging,

Borrowing,

Or even stealing.

If you fail,

You shall face a severe punishment for breaking our agreement and be thrown into a dreadful prison.

Leaving for the temple,

The priest left the blind man feeling sorrowful.

The priest was fearful and dejected.

Upon entering their home,

The daughter immediately sensed her father's distress and implored him to share the cause.

Reluctantly,

He revealed the entire story,

Fearing to frighten her.

Her relentless questioning compelled him to disclose the truth.

Sim Ching was horrified upon learning about her father's promise to the priest.

Alas,

How can we possibly gather the rice for him?

She exclaimed.

We barely have enough for our own dinner today,

Thanks to the kindness of our neighbors.

Tears streamed down the poor man's face.

What you say is true,

He sobbed.

I would have been better off perishing in the pit than facing the certain imprisonment that awaits me for failing to provide the 150 bags of rice.

Determined,

The blind man set out to beg,

Sharing his sorrowful tale and pleading for assistance.

However,

The villagers themselves were impoverished and could barely feed their own families.

Time slipped away,

And the day arrived when the priest's servants were expected to demand the rice.

Yet,

The blind man hadn't even managed to collect a single bag,

Let alone 150.

Father and daughter sat together,

Consumed by sorrow.

The blind man mourned his impending beating and imprisonment,

For he had learned enough about the priest's cruelty and greed to expect no mercy.

In another nearby city,

There resided a wealthy merchant who owned numerous ships engaged in foreign trade.

His prosperity and arrogance led him to proclaim himself the prince of the sea,

Demanding others address him as such.

This offended a powerful water spirit residing beneath the sea where the merchant's ships sailed.

Seeking retribution,

The water spirit conjured storms that wreaked havoc upon the vessels.

Ships were destroyed,

Wrecked on reefs,

Or forced back to their ports.

The series of misfortunes left sailors fearful,

And the merchant worried about his impending ruin.

In his trouble,

He sent for a number of wise men and magicians and asked them why he was now so unlucky and what he could do to bring back good fortune.

The wise men and magicians studied their books and consulted together for a long time,

And then they came to the merchant and said,

We have found why you are so unlucky.

Your pride has offended a powerful water spirit,

And it is he who is wrecking your ships or driving them back into port.

There is only one way in which to turn aside his anger.

If a young and beautiful maiden can be found who will willingly offer herself as a sacrifice to him,

Then he will be satisfied and will punish you no further.

Otherwise,

He will certainly destroy every vessel you send out,

And so in the end you will be ruined.

Now indeed,

There is no hope for me,

He cried,

For I am very sure there is not,

In the whole of Korea,

A maiden who would be willing to be sacrificed to this water spirit,

However great the reward I might offer.

For indeed,

Of what use would any reward be to her,

If in order to gain it,

She must be drowned in the sea?

However,

His head steward,

Who had charge of his affairs,

Begged him at least to send out a proclamation and to offer a reward to the family of any maiden who would consent to the sacrifice.

It may be that such a one will be found,

Said he,

Someone who values the fortunes of her parents even above her own life.

The merchant finally agreed to the wishes of his steward,

And messengers were sent forth to read the proclamation aloud in every city,

Town,

And village in the country.

They went this way and that,

East,

West,

North,

And south,

And finally one of them came to the place where the blind man and his daughter lived.

The day the messenger came to the village was the very day when the servants of the wicked priest were to come and demand the hundred and fifty bags of rice from the blind man.

The merchant's messenger took his stand not far from the blind man's house,

And from there he read aloud the proclamation as to the sacrifice and the reward that would be paid to the parents of any maiden who would be willing to be thrown to the water spirit.

The people of the village gathered about him in a great crowd to listen,

But after they had heard what he said,

They began to make a great noise with cries and laughter.

Some parents there may be,

They cried,

Who would be wicked enough to sacrifice their daughters for the sake of the reward,

But what girl would ever go willingly to such a fate?

And the messenger himself tells us that unless the maiden went willingly,

The sacrifice would be useless.

Qin Qing heard the noise outside,

The voice of the messenger,

And the laughter of the crowd,

And as she was of a very curious nature,

She went to the door to hear what was going on.

The man was already turning away,

And Qin Qing asked the woman who was standing near what the man had been saying.

The woman told her,

Laughing as she spoke,

How could anyone suppose that any maiden would consent to be thrown to this monster in order that her family might have the reward,

Cried the woman.

But Qin Qing ran after the man and caught him by the sleeve.

Wait,

Cried she,

Do not go until you have told me something.

You say your master will richly reward the family of any maiden who will willingly give herself to this water spirit.

Would he give as much as 150 bags of rice to such a family?

That and more,

Replied the messenger.

My master is very rich,

And the reward will be generous.

Then I will go with you and be the sacrifice,

Said Qin Qing.

Permit me only to go and bid farewell to my father,

And then I will be ready.

The messenger was rejoiced that he had been able to secure the maiden for his master and gladly consented to wait until she had spoken with her father.

But when Qin Qing went back into the house and told her father what she intended to do,

He was in despair.

He wept aloud and rent his clothes.

Never,

Never will I consent to such a sacrifice,

Cried he.

But his daughter comforted him.

Do you forget,

Said she,

What the priest promised you?

Did he not tell you that if you offered up this rice to the temple,

All would be well with us,

And that I would be raised to the highest place in the kingdom?

Let us have faith and believe that the gods of the temple can save me at the last even though I be thrown into the sea.

As her father listened to her,

He grew quieter and at last gave his consent for her to go.

The neighbors who had heard what she meant to do gathered about to bid her farewell and could not but weep for pity even while they praised her for her dutifulness toward her father.

Qin Qing at once set out with the messenger,

Who was in haste to bring her before his master.

Indeed,

He feared that if she thought too long of what she had consented to do,

She might repent of her bargain.

When he reached the merchant's house and told him he had found a maiden for the sacrifice,

His master could scarcely believe him.

Does she understand what is required of her and is she willing,

He asked.

The messenger assured him that she understood perfectly and rejoiced at the thought of securing the reward for her father.

Qin Qing was now brought before the merchant and when he saw her beauty and youth and her modest gentle air,

He was filled with pity for her.

He would even have commanded that she should be taken back again to her father,

But to this Qin Qing would not consent.

No,

Said she,

I have come here to do a certain thing.

I have promised and I do not wish to break my word.

All I ask is to be assured that the bags of rice will certainly be sent to my father and that at once.

Let it then be as you desire,

Said the merchant,

And be assured that my part of the bargain shall be kept as faithfully as yours.

He then ordered that 150 bags of rice should be loaded on as many mules and sent to the blind man at once,

That Qin Qing might herself have the comfort of seeing them set forth.

This was done and after the train of mules had departed,

Qin Qing was taken to a chamber where magnificent robes and veils and jewels had been laid ready for her.

Her attendants dressed her and hung the jewels on her neck and arms,

And when all was done,

She was so beautiful that even the attendants wept to think she must be sacrificed.

A barge had been made ready and hung about with garlands,

And in it sat musicians to make sweet music while the rowers rode to where the sacrifice was to be made.

And now Qin Qing would have been afraid,

But she fixed her thoughts upon her father and on how he would now be saved from the cruelty of the priest,

And then she became quite happy and was no longer frightened.

When the barge came to the place under which the water spirit lived,

Qin Qing leaned over the side of the boat and looked down into the water.

It was very deep and green,

And it seemed to her that beneath she could see shining walls and towers,

As though of some great castle,

And that the spirits of the water were beckoning to her to come.

Lower and lower she leaned until,

As though drawn by some power beneath,

She sank over the side of the vessel and down and down through the water until she was lost to the sight of those above her.

Then the rowers took the barge back to the shore and told the merchant the sacrifice had been accepted.

The merchant was glad that now again his ships might sail in safety,

But at the same time he felt pity for Qin Qing,

Believing she had been drowned.

But such was not the case.

After she had sunk down and down through the waters,

For what seemed to her a long distance,

She came to the land where the water spirit is king.

All about her were things strange and beautiful.

There were waterweeds so tall they were like trees waving high above her,

And through them,

Like birds,

Darted the shining fishes.

There were water flowers of colors she had never seen before in shining shells,

And before her rose a castle made of mother of pearl and studded with precious stones that shone and glittered like stars in the light that came down through the water.

While she was looking at it,

The doors of the castle swung open and a train of attendants came out to meet her.

These attendants were all dressed in green and many of them would have been very handsome except that they themselves were green.

Their faces,

Their hands,

Their hair,

And eyes,

Everything about them was green.

They spoke to Qin Qing in a strange language,

But soon she understood them and knew they had come to bring her before their king who was waiting for her.

Qin Qing felt no doubt but that this king was the water spirit himself.

She was very much frightened,

But still she did not hesitate but went with them willingly,

For it was for this purpose she had come hither.

The attendants led her through one room after another until they came to the place where the water spirit sat upon a crystal throne.

He too was green,

But his crown was of gold and his garments were set all over with pearls and precious stones.

The king looked at Qin Qing kindly and bade her have no fear.

I intend you no harm,

Said he,

And indeed I wished for no sacrifice.

My only wish was to punish the rich merchant for his pride,

And so it was that I set him a task that I thought impossible for him to perform.

But because of your dutifulness and your love for your father,

He has been able to make the sacrifice.

Now you must stay here patiently for a year and teach the seamades the ways of the world above,

And at the end of that time you shall return to the earth and receive the happiness you deserve.

Qin Qing listened to him wondering,

And when he had made an end of speaking,

She gladly agreed to serve for a time in the palace and to teach the sea people all she knew.

So for a twelve month Qin Qing stayed there and was very happy,

For though the ways and manners of the sea people were strange to her,

They themselves were kind and gentle,

So that she soon lost all fear of them.

At the end of the twelve months,

The king sent for Qin Qing,

And when she had come before him,

He said,

Qin Qing,

For a year you have served us both faithfully and well,

And now the time has come for you to return to the upper world.

But in that world there are many dangers,

And you have no one to protect you.

I have,

Therefore,

Caused a great flower to be prepared for you.

When you enter into this flower,

The leaves will fold about you and hide you,

So that none may suspect you are within it.

The leaves will afford you food and drink as well as shelter.

In this way you can live protected and in safety until fate sends you a husband to love and guard you.

After speaking thus,

The water spirit led Qin Qing into another room,

And there showed her the flower that he had caused to be prepared for her.

This flower was very large and of a beautiful rose color,

And the leaves were of some rich thick substance that had a most delicious smell and was good to eat.

The juice of the leaves also afforded a delicious drink.

Qin Qing,

As she examined it,

Knew not how to express her wonder and admiration.

The king bade her step into the flower.

She did so,

And at once the leaves closed about her so that she was completely hidden,

And at the same time the most delightful music breathed softly from the flower.

It now floated softly up and up through the roof of the palace and through the waters above until it reached the surface of the sea.

There it rested,

Rocking gently with the motion of the waves.

Now it so happened that the place where the flower floated on the sea was not far from the palace of the young king of that country.

The morning it arose through the waters,

The king was looking from a window across the sea toward a pleasure island where he sometimes went.

Suddenly,

Between himself and the island,

He saw something glittering in the sunlight out upon the waters.

He could not make out what the object was,

And he ordered that some of the castle's servants should row out to it,

See what it was,

And if possible bring it back with them.

This was done,

And when the rowers returned,

They brought the flower with them and carried it into where the young king was awaiting them.

When the king saw the flower,

He was filled with wonder and admiration.

Never before had he seen such a blossom.

He examined it on all sides and exclaimed over its size and beauty.

It must be some magic,

Said he,

That has created such a flower.

A room shall be built for it,

And there I will keep it,

And if indeed it has been made by magic,

As I suspect,

It may be that in time some fruit will come from it that will be even more beautiful than the flower itself.

The room that was now prepared for the flower was so magnificent that no other apartment in the palace could compare with it.

The walls were of gold,

Overlaid with paintings,

And hung with silken embroidered hangings.

The floors were set with precious stones.

There were fountains and couches heaped with soft cushions,

And from the ceiling hung seven alabaster lamps that were kept burning both night and day.

When the room was finished,

The king caused the flower to be carefully carried into it and placed in the center upon a raised dais covered with embroidered velvet.

After this,

No one was allowed to enter the room except himself,

And he carried the key of it hung on a jeweled chain about his neck.

Every day he spent long hours with the flower admiring its beauty,

Enjoying its delicious perfume,

And listening to the delicate music that sometimes breathed out from among its leaves.

All the while,

Sim Cheng lay hidden in the center of the flower without the king's want suspecting it.

All day the leaves were closed about her,

And only at night did they open to allow her to come forth.

The first time they unfolded,

She was very much surprised to find herself in a room of a palace instead of out upon the sea as she had supposed.

Wondering,

She looked about her,

And then she stepped from the flower and began timidly to examine the apartment to which she had been brought.

The beauty of it delighted her.

She rested among the soft cushions and bathed in the fountains and dressed her hair.

But toward morning she re-entered the flower and the leaves closed about her so that she was again hidden from view.

For some time life went on in this manner.

All day Sim Cheng slept in the flower,

And only at night did she come forth.

And as the king only visited the room in the daytime,

He never saw her nor even guessed that a living maiden was enclosed by the leaves of the flower he admired so greatly.

But it so happened that one night the king could not sleep,

And he took a fancy to visit the flower and see it by the light of the lamps.

He therefore made his way along the corridors,

And fitting the key into the lock,

He turned it without having made a sound.

What was his surprise when he opened the door to see a maiden of surpassing beauty sitting beside a fountain and amusing herself by catching the water in her hands?

When Sim Cheng saw the king,

She gave a cry and would have run back into the flower to hide.

But the king called to her gently,

Bidding her stay.

I will not harm you,

Said he.

Do but tell me who you are and how you have come here.

It must be you are some spirit or fairy,

For no human being could be as beautiful as you.

I am no spirit,

Nor am I a fairy,

Answered Sim Cheng,

But only the daughter of a poor blind beggar.

And as to how I came here,

I know not.

I was placed inside that flower by a water spirit,

But who has brought the flower here or why,

I cannot tell.

The king then told her of how he had seen the flower floating on the sea,

And how he had had it brought to the palace,

And had ordered this room to be built for it.

After he had made an end of speaking,

Sim Cheng told him her history from the time her father had become blind and fallen into the pit,

To the hour when the water spirit had bade her enter the flower and the leaves had closed about her.

The young king listened and wondered.

Yours is indeed a strange story,

Said he,

And this mischievous priest shall be sought out and punished as he deserves.

And yet it may be his promises shall all come true,

And you shall indeed be exalted to the highest place in the kingdom.

He then told Sim Cheng he loved her and desired nothing in the world so much as to make her his wife.

To this Sim Cheng,

Joyfully consented for the young king,

Was so handsome and gracious,

And spoke so well and wisely that she could not but love him with all her heart even as he loved her.

All night they sat and talked together,

And in the morning he opened the door of the chamber and led her forth and called the courtiers and nobles together and told them she was to be his bride.

Then there was great rejoicing,

And everyone who saw Sim Cheng wondered at her beauty and loved her for her gentle and gracious manner.

Soon after she and the king were married,

And they loved each other so dearly that Sim Cheng would have been perfectly happy except for the thought of her old father and his griefs and sorrows.

Immediately after she was married,

She sent messengers to the village where she had lived,

Bidding them find her father and bring him to her,

But the old man had disappeared,

And no one knew what had become of him.

Then the queen had a great feast prepared and sent word throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom that all who were both poor and blind were bidden to the palace to eat of it.

All would be welcome,

And none should be turned away.

Then from far and near the blind and poor came flocking to the palace,

Scores and hundreds of them.

The tables for the feast were laid in a great hall,

And the young king and queen sat on raised thrones at one end of it.

All who came to the feast were obliged to pass before this throne before they might take their places at the table,

And as each one passed,

The queen looked at him eagerly,

Hoping to recognize her father,

But none of all the multitude was the one she sought.

At last everyone was seated.

The attendants were about to close the doors when another beggar,

The last of all,

Came stumbling into the hall.

He was so feeble and so old that he could scarcely make his way to the throne,

But no sooner did the queen see him than she knew him as her father.

Then she gave a great cry and came down from the throne and threw her arms about him and wept over him.

It is I?

Oh my father,

It is your daughter Sim Ching,

She wept.

Then her father knew her voice and cried aloud with joy.

Oh my daughter,

I had thought you were dead,

He cried,

And now you are and now you are alive and I can feel your arms above me.

As he spoke the tears of joy ran down his cheeks and these tears washed away the mists of sorrow that had clouded his eyes and he found he could see again.

Then there was great rejoicing and the king called the old man father and made him welcome and in due time he who had been blind and now could see was raised to great wealth and honor and so the words of the priest that he had spoken without believing came true.

But as for the priest himself the king had him sought for and when he was found he was thrown into prison and punished as he deserved for his greed and cruelty.