Heungbu and Nolbu - Korean

My clothes were patched and my children’s bellies were often empty, but my heart was always full of hope. My name is Heungbu, and though my older brother Nolbu lived in a grand house with storehouses overflowing with rice, he cast my family out with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Our story, a tale many in Korea know as Heungbu and Nolbu, is one of hardship, a little bit of magic, and the simple truth that kindness costs nothing but is worth everything. Long ago in a small village, two brothers inherited their family's fortune. The older brother, Nolbu, was known for his greed and hot temper. He kept the entire fortune for himself and his own family, forcing his kind-hearted younger brother, Heungbu, and his large family out of their home. Destitute, Heungbu struggled to feed his many children, working odd jobs and often facing Nolbu’s scorn when he asked for help. Despite his poverty, Heungbu never lost his gentle nature, always sharing what little he had and treating every person and creature with compassion. His brother, however, grew richer and more selfish, his heart as barren as the fields in a drought.

One spring day, as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, I saw a snake attacking a swallow’s nest under the eaves of my small hut. One of the baby swallows fell to the ground, its leg broken in the struggle. I carefully chased the snake away and picked up the tiny, trembling bird. With great care, my wife and I cleaned the wound and splinted the delicate leg with a piece of string and a soft reed. We fed the swallow until it was strong enough to fly again. The bird healed and joined its family, and by autumn, they all migrated south for the winter. The following spring, the same swallow returned. It circled my hut three times before dropping a single, dark seed into my yard. Grateful for the gift, my wife and I planted the seed. To our astonishment, it grew at a miraculous rate, producing three enormous gourds. When the gourds were ripe, the family gathered to cut them open. As the first one split, it filled our tiny hut with gold, silver, and precious jewels. From the second gourd came fine silks and tools, and from the third emerged skilled carpenters who built us a magnificent new house. News of my incredible fortune reached Nolbu, whose heart burned with jealousy. Determined to get even richer, Nolbu found a swallow's nest, caught a bird, and deliberately broke its leg. He then crudely tied a bandage on it and let it go, expecting the same reward. The swallow flew away, and just as Nolbu hoped, it returned the next spring with a gourd seed.

Nolbu greedily planted the seed, which also grew into three massive gourds, even larger than mine. Convinced his reward would be twice as great, he and his wife eagerly sawed into the first gourd. But instead of treasure, out poured a host of fearsome goblins, known as dokkaebi, who brandished clubs and began smashing everything in his house. From the second gourd came debt collectors who demanded payment and seized all of his remaining possessions. Terrified, Nolbu opened the last gourd, hoping for relief, but it unleashed a flood of mud that ruined his fields and home. In an instant, Nolbu lost everything. Humbled and destitute, he had no choice but to go to his younger brother and beg for forgiveness. Seeing my brother’s genuine remorse, I welcomed Nolbu and his family into my home without a moment's hesitation. I shared my fortune, and the two families lived together in peace and harmony from that day on. This story has been told for generations in Korea to teach an important lesson: that true wealth comes from a kind heart, while greed only leads to ruin. It reminds us of the importance of compassion and the incredible power of forgiveness. The tale of Heungbu and Nolbu continues to inspire plays, books, and art, a timeless reminder that our choices shape our destiny and that kindness, like a tiny seed, can grow into something truly wonderful.