The Dutiful Daughter
Korean Fairy Tale
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Retold by The Legendary Connection
TLC#00125
Once upon a time in Korea, there was a wealthy merchant and his wife who deeply wished for a child. Every day, they hoped and prayed for this blessing. Though they had been married for sixteen years and were no longer young, their wish remained the same.
One night, the wife had a wonderful dream. She walked through a beautiful garden full of colorful flowers, singing birds, and ripe fruits. Suddenly, a bright star fell from the sky and nestled gently against her heart.
When she woke, she told her husband about the dream. “I believe this dream means we’re about to receive a gift from heaven—a child who will shine like a star,” she said, full of hope. The merchant wasn’t sure, but he wanted to believe. Soon after, their dream came true, and they welcomed a beautiful daughter named Sim Ching. She was so lovely and kind that everyone who met her was amazed.
Sadly, Sim Ching’s mother passed away while she was still a child. Her father was heartbroken, and his sadness made him go completely blind. Because he could no longer manage his business, he relied on his servants, who were dishonest and greedy. Over time, they stole so much from him that he and Sim Ching became poor and could barely afford to eat.
One day, in despair, the blind man wandered away from home and accidentally fell into a deep pit. Unable to climb out, he feared he might die there. But just then, he heard footsteps passing by and called out for help.
The footsteps belonged to a greedy, dishonest priest. Hearing the cries, the priest approached the pit and looked down. “Who are you, and how did you fall in here?” he asked. The merchant replied, “I’m a blind, poor man. I lost my sight, and my wealth, and now I’m trapped in this pit. Please, have mercy and help me out.”
The priest smirked. “Why should I risk getting pulled in myself? But I’ll tell you what: if you promise to give me one hundred and fifty bags of rice, I’ll bring a rope to pull you out.”
The priest didn’t actually want the rice for any offering; he wanted to keep it for himself. He thought, “If this man was once rich, he must still know some wealthy people who might help him.”
The merchant cried, “I can barely feed myself and my daughter. How could I promise so much rice?”
The priest raised an eyebrow. “Ah, so you have a daughter? Is she beautiful?”
“Yes,” said the merchant. “She’s as good as she is beautiful, and everyone says there’s no one like her.”
The priest thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll make a deal with you. Promise me the rice, and not only will I pull you out, but you and your daughter will be blessed with great fortune, and your sight will be restored.” Though the merchant didn’t believe him, he was desperate and finally agreed. The priest returned with a rope, pulling the blind man out of the pit.
“Remember,” the priest said, “in one month, I’ll send for the rice. If it’s not ready, you’ll face terrible punishment.” The blind man returned home, full of worry. When Sim Ching saw his sadness, she begged him to tell her what had happened. After many questions, he told her about his promise to the priest. Sim Ching was frightened, but her father was too sorrowful to offer any hope.
A few days later, a proclamation echoed through the village. A powerful Water Spirit was furious at a wealthy sea merchant who had become too proud. The Water Spirit had threatened to destroy his ships unless he sacrificed a willing, young maiden. Desperate, the merchant offered to reward any family whose daughter agreed to this sacrifice.
Sim Ching heard the news and, though her heart pounded with fear, she thought of her father’s promise to the priest. If she offered herself, her father could finally fulfill his promise. Sim Ching caught up with the messenger and said, “If your master will promise my father one hundred and fifty bags of rice, I’ll volunteer.”
The messenger gladly took Sim Ching to his master, the merchant. The next day, Sim Ching left her father to be taken to the sea. Before she went, she comforted him, saying, “We must have faith that everything will be well.”
A barge took Sim Ching out to sea. As she leaned over the edge, she saw a glimmering underwater world and felt herself drawn downward. Soon, she found herself in the magical kingdom of the Water Spirit. Here, everything was bright and wondrous: tall seaweed-like trees, colorful fish, and a grand palace made of pearls and precious stones.
The Water Spirit greeted her kindly, saying, “I didn’t want any sacrifice. I simply wanted to humble a proud merchant. Because you came willingly to save your father, you’ve proven yourself brave and loyal. Stay here a year, and I’ll send you back with blessings and happiness.”
Sim Ching agreed and stayed with the Water Spirit, teaching sea maidens about the world above. After a year, the Water Spirit called her to his throne. “Now, you may return,” he said, “but for your safety, you’ll travel inside this special flower. It will protect you until you find the happiness you deserve.” Sim Ching entered the large, magical flower, which carried her gently to the sea’s surface and drifted toward the land.
One day, a young king spotted the flower from his palace. Curious, he brought it inside, captivated by its beauty. He placed it in a splendid room, visiting it each day, enchanted by its scent and soft music. Every day the young kings would ponder the mystery of the beautiful flower.
Every night Sim Ching would come out of the flower, then return to the flower every morning. So things went for a while, until one evening, the king could not sleep. So he decided to go and see the flower. When he opened the door, he was astonished to find her there. Awed by her beauty, he asked who she was, and Sim Ching shared her story.
Touched by her courage and loyalty, the king said, “You deserve a place of honor. Will you stay here with me, as my queen?”
Sim Ching joyfully agreed. She married the king, and they lived happily. But Sim Ching missed her father. The king, seeing her sad, sent word throughout the kingdom, inviting all poor, blind men to a grand feast, hoping to find him.
Many blind men came for the feast, but then finally, Sim Ching’s father arrived. When she saw her father, Sim Ching ran to him and threw her arms around him. Her father’s heart was so full of joy that his blindness disappeared. He could see the beautiful face of his precious daughter once again.
The king, Sim Ching, and her father lived happily ever after, with kindness and love guiding their days. As for the greedy priest, he was found and thrown into prison for his cruelty and greed. And so, Sim Ching’s courage brought joy not just to her family but to everyone who knew her story.
https://gutenberg.org/cache/epub/66919/pg66919-images.html#THE_DUTIFUL_DAUGHTER
