Heungbu and Nolbu - Korean Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale of "Heungbu and Nolbu"

Once upon a time, there were two brothers named Heungbu and Nolbu. Despite being siblings, they were as different as night and day. Heungbu was kind, polite, and respectful towards his father, while Nolbu was rude, mean, and disliked by many people.

One day, the father of the two brothers fell ill and called his sons to his bedside. He told them that his last wish was for them to remain loyal to each other and help each other as siblings. After their father passed away, Heungbu grieved his loss, while Nolbu was happy to learn that he would inherit all of their father's wealth and property, including the house they lived in.

As the new owner of the house, Nolbu did whatever he pleased. He ordered Heungbu and his family to move out, refusing to let them stay even temporarily. Forced to leave their home, Heungbu and his family were left with no choice but to live on the streets before finally settling on the mountainside where they built a small hut. The family worked on farms, but they did not earn enough and often had to skip meals.

Heungbu could not bear to see his children suffering from hunger and went to his brother's home to ask for help. Nolbu refused to provide any assistance, even after seeing his brother's children crying from hunger. When Heungbu asked his sister-in-law for boiled rice, she cruelly refused and even hit him with a wooden spoon.

Some time passed, and spring arrived in the town. A pair of swallows built their nest on Heungbu's hut, and soon, five baby swallows were hatched. One of the babies fell out of the nest and broke its legs on the hard ground, causing it to chirp incessantly. Heungbu took pity on the injured swallow and bandaged its legs, then put it back into the nest. When winter came, the five swallows had grown into adults and flew away to the south.

During the winter, Heungbu's family struggled to survive but managed to get through it. In the spring, another pair of swallows arrived and built their nest on the hut, bringing joy to the family once again. One day, one of the swallows dropped a gourd seed in front of Heungbu, who planted it and tended to it with care. By the end of the summer, the vine had produced many gourds growing all over the hut.

As the gourds continued to grow, Heungbu decided to play a game with his children, asking them to make a wish before he opened each gourd. To their surprise, the first gourd poured out silver and gold coins, while the second gourd released a stream of rice grains. When Heungbu opened the third gourd without making a wish, it revealed a group of workers who declared that they were there to help build a new home for Heungbu's family. Within a few days, a beautiful home was built, thanks to the magical gourd.

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When Nolbu saw the wealth that his brother Heungbu had gained, he became envious and suspicious. He accused Heungbu of stealing and demanded to know the truth. Heungbu denied the accusations and told Nolbu the story of how he helped the swallows.

Nolbu, however, was not convinced and decided to try his luck with the swallows as well. He found a pair of swallows on the roof of his house and, without any compassion, he broke the legs of one of the baby swallows. He bandaged up the bird and placed it back in the nest, hoping that the swallows would return the favor and bring him wealth.

During the winter, the swallows flew away and returned in the spring, dropping a gourd seed in front of Nolbu. He was ecstatic and immediately planted the seed, watering it every day with great care. Soon, four gourds grew and ripened on the vine, and Nolbu eagerly called his family to share the good news.

When he opened the first gourd, it was filled with smelly animal dung. Disappointed but undeterred, he opened the second one, only to be greeted by dozens of poisonous snakes that crawled out. Nolbu was terrified but he remained hopeful, thinking that the third gourd would be the charm. He opened it up and a swarm of goblins came rushing out, beating him up.

Nolbu was desperate to get what he wanted, so he went ahead and opened the last gourd. A flood of water came gushing out, destroying his home and all of his family's belongings. Nolbu was left with nothing but regret and disbelief, realizing that his greed had caused him to lose everything.

He went to his brother's house with tears in his eyes, ashamed of his past behavior. Heungbu welcomed him with open arms and forgave him, offering him a place to stay. Despite Nolbu's greed and envy, Heungbu still considered him family and was willing to help him.

Touched by his brother's kindness, Nolbu had a change of heart and let go of his greed. He and his family moved in with Heungbu and his family, and they all lived together happily for many years.

The Story "Heungbu and Nolbu"
- Korean Fairy Tale -

The Moral Lesson of the Heungbu and Nolbu

Written during the Joseon Dynasty era, "Heungbu and Nolbu" is considered one of the most popular fairy tales in Korea and North Korea, often told to children every night before bed.

The moral lesson of the story is that kindness, generosity, and forgiveness are important virtues that can lead to happiness and prosperity, while greed and selfishness can lead to misery and ruin.

The tale teaches us to value family bonds and to help others in need, even if they have wronged us in the past. For instance, Heungbu welcomes his brother Nolbu into his home despite Nolbu's past mistreatment.

Furthermore, the narrative highlights the significance of not harming innocent creatures, as Nolbu's mistreatment of the swallows leads to his downfall.

In contrast, Heungbu's selflessness and willingness to help others, even when it is inconvenient for him, is rewarded with fortune and the love of his family. The story shows us that greed can blind us to the harm we cause to others and ultimately lead to our own downfall.

Moreover, the story emphasizes the power of forgiveness and familial love. Despite Nolbu's past mistreatment of Heungbu, Heungbu forgives him and welcomes him into his home when he has lost everything, proving that forgiveness and familial love can overcome even the greatest of mistakes.

In summary, the moral lesson of "Heungbu and Nolbu" is that greed leads to downfall, while kindness and selflessness are rewarded, and forgiveness and familial love have the power to overcome even the greatest of wrongs.

The story shares many similarities with Vietnam's "The Golden Star Fruit Tree" fairy tale, both serving as valuable lessons for those who are greedy and who lose the bond of siblinghood in their families.