A Purse Full of Tales Folk Tales from Korea

by Kim, Chan Young; Carter, David; Shelley, John

• ISBN13: 9781843916536
• ISBN10: 1843916533
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2019-06-01
• Publisher: Hesperus Minor

Summary

This book is a collection of folk tales from both North and South Korea, in which readers will encounter traditional Korean dragons, heavenly maidens, dokkaebis (goblins), bluebirds and many eccentric characters such as naughty children, greedy men and strange old people. Many of the tales involve Shamanistic, Buddhist and Taoist cosmology, transporting readers into a surrealistic fantasy world. As in folk tales from other cultures, a considerable number of protagonists in this book face distressing situations and eventually overcome them. These sequences are usually depicted through humor, jest and wit, which will have readers smile in recognition. Korean folk tales have not been widely translated into English, and this book provides an opportunity for readers to develop a good insight into the unique properties of Korean folk tales.

Author Biography

Chan Young Kim has translated Korean literary works and a large range of Korean cuisine for various newspapers and magazines. David Carter was a professor, writer, translator and freelance journalist whose books include East Asian Cinema. 

Table of Contents

Preface
1. A Purse Full of Tales
2. The Woodcutter and the Heavenly Maiden
3. The Sun and the Moon
4. The Disobedient Tree Frog
5. The Lazy Man Who Became an Ox
6. A Poor Father's Legacies
7. The Grateful Magpies
8. The Golden Axe and the Silver Axe
9. The Spring of Youth
10. Rose and Lotus
11. The Fly and the Sparrow
12. The Good Brother and the Bad Brother
13. How the Hare Escaped from the Tiger
14. The Forgetful Dokkaebi
15. The Good Girl and Her Stepsister
16. A Bride for One Grain of Millet
17. The Serpent Bridegroom
18. From Corn Cakes to Riches
19. The Cat in a Palanquin
20. The Mud Snail Lady
21. Why the Sea Is Salty