Long ago there lived a rich man who had a son but no daughter. He longed to have a daughter, and so he spent much money consulting fortunetellers and visiting temples to pray. After a few years his prayers were rewarded, and a girl was born. Her parents treasured her like a precious jewel. She grew up a healthy child and never suffered a day’s illness.

When she was about 5 years old, a strange affliction fell upon the household. They possessed many hundred heads of cattle, but one cow died every night. The bodies showed no sign of disease nor any trace of wounds. The herdsmen reported these mysterious deaths to their master, who ordered that a strict watch be kept at night.

A herdsman hid in a dark corner of the cow shed and waited. In the middle of the night, his master’s daughter came stealthily into the shed and went up to a cow. She greased her hand with sesame oil and slipped it into the belly of the cow. Then she withdrew her hand, and the watching herdsman saw that she was holding the cow’s liver. She ate the liver with great relish, while the cow fell down dead on the spot.

The herdsman was horrified to see this incredible sight. In the morning he went to his master and told him what he had seen. His master, however, refused to believe him. ‘Nonsense! What a disgraceful suggestion!’ he cried. ‘My daughter would never dream of doing such a thing. You shall pay dearly for this falsehood.’ So he had the herdsman put to death. Then he ordered another herdsman to keep watch and find the true cause of these cattle deaths. This servant too saw the girl take the liver from a cow and eat it. But when he reported it to his master, he too was disbelieved and put to death. A third herdsman brought exactly the same report, and yet his master would not believe. So every night one of the cattle died, and then horses and pigs as well, while the herdsmen who reported what they had seen were put to death. In the end there were no more herdsmen, for no one in the village would accept employment on the rich man’s farm.

So the rich farmer sent his only son to keep watch. He hid one night in the shed, and saw his sister come in and take the liver from a cow and eat it. He went and told his father, but his mother, who was nearby, scolded him and said, ‘Why must you speak so ill of your sister? Everyone is jealous of her. I can’t stand it any longer.’ And the father drove his son from the house, while lavishing all his affection on his daughter.

 

To be continued …

 

 

 

Ondoru Yawa, told by Zo Gyong-Gu; Onyang (1925). Taken from Folk Tales From Korea, Pg. 171 (Published by Hollym International — www.hollym.com).