Heungbu and Nolbu
“Heungbu and Nolbu” is a brother story from Heungbujeon, a classic Korean folk novel of the Joseon dynasty that was later adapted into pansori sung drama. The kind younger brother Heungbu saves a swallow with a broken leg and is rewarded with a magic gourd, while the cruel elder brother Nolbu tries to copy him for riches and is punished instead. A lesson that kindness is rewarded, it is a traditional tale every Korean child knows.
Long ago in Korea, two brothers lived side by side. Nolbu was rich and greedy, while his younger brother Heungbu was poor but kind.
Heungbu's little house was old and small, but it was full of laughter. His children shared their rice cakes and sang songs together every night.
One spring day, Heungbu heard a tiny cry under the eaves. A baby swallow had fallen from its nest and hurt its little leg.
All summer, Heungbu fed the swallow little bits of rice and kept it warm by the fire. Its leg healed, and when autumn came, the bird flapped its wings and flew away.
Next spring, something wonderful happened — the swallow came back! It circled above Heungbu's head and dropped a shiny gourd seed at his feet.
Heungbu planted the seed, and a giant golden gourd grew in his garden. When the family opened it, gold coins, jewels, and white rice poured out like a waterfall!
Heungbu did not keep the treasure for himself. He shared the rice and coins with his neighbors, and the whole village feasted and celebrated together.
But greedy Nolbu was burning with jealousy. He caught a swallow and hurt its leg on purpose, hoping the bird would bring him a seed too.
The swallow brought Nolbu a seed, and he grew a giant gourd. But when he opened it eagerly, out jumped cheeky little goblins who gobbled his food and danced around the house in a merry mess!
Nolbu learned his lesson at last. He said sorry to the swallow and shared his rice with Heungbu, and the two brothers became true friends.
