Korean Through Folktales

[Chapter 3] The Story of ShimCheong 제 3 과 심청전 _______________________ _________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 59 Go t o Table of Contents Korean Through Folktales images on the Internet first. Then follow the links for each to learn more about it. They will help enhance your appreciation of the story you are about to read, as well as the other stories in this book! 1) 효 Filial piety The main theme of the story introduced in this chapter, 심청전 The Story of ShimCheong , is filial piety. The central character 심청 epitomizes a paragon of noble filial piety as she chooses to sacrifice her life for the well-being of her blind father. Traditional Korean values show the heavy influence of Confucius’ teaching and tenets; and one of the main tenets of Confucianism is filial piety. The concept of filial piety, 효 in Korean, is interwoven in the fabric of Korean life to this day. Here are a few terms that include the term 효 : 효성 reverence and respect for one’s parents 효도 efforts and actions showing reverence, respect, and love for one’s parents 효녀 filial daughter (‘ 심청 ’ is often accompanied by this word in front: ‘ 효녀 심청 ’) 효자 filial son 효부 filial daughter-in-law 2) 쌀 Rice An everyday traditional Korean meal is comprised of a bowl of cooked rice 밥 and side dishes, and possibly soup or stew. Side dishes, soup, or stew may vary; but the cooked rice is an indispensible part of any meal. It is one of the main staples of the Korean diet. Rice-related lexicon, proverbs, and idioms all reveal the depth of interest in rice and its close proximity to daily life in Korean culture. On the word list below for different forms of rice, you’ll notice that each word is entirely different from the others: 모 rice seedling