The Story of Kofu

A classic Korean novel. A folk tale that had been loved and sung as pansori ("Pak Da-ryeong") was fictionalized in the 18th century. Author unknown. The story is about the greedy and heartless older brother Nol-bu and his honest but incompetent younger brother Heung-bu. Heung-bu, who had been driven out of the house by his older brother and lived a life of extreme poverty, helps a swallow that has broken its leg. As thanks, the swallow gives him a gourd seed, which when ripened produced an endless supply of treasures, and Heung-bu suddenly became wealthy. The envious older brother breaks the swallow's leg and heals it, but this time a horde of strange characters emerge from the gourd and eat up the family fortune. The story is similar to the Japanese "Tongue-Cut Sparrow," but the novel's depictions of the desire for wealth, the hollowing out of Confucian morality, and the various appearances of the outcasts highlight the social conditions of the late Joseon dynasty.

[Akira Tanaka]

"'Pak Da-ryeong' written by Shin Jae-hyo, translated and annotated by Kang Han-young and Tanaka Akira (included in 'Pansori', Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

朝鮮の古典小説。パンソリ（『朴打令』）になって愛唱されていた民間説話が、18世紀に至って小説化されたもの。作者不詳。強欲無情な兄ノルブと、正直だが無能力な弟フンブの物語。兄に家から追い出され、極貧生活を送っていたフンブが、足を折った燕(つばめ)を助ける。そのお礼にと燕のくれた瓢(ひさご)の種子は、実ると宝物をいくらでも生み出し、フンブはにわかに富者になる。うらやましがった兄は、燕の足を折ったうえ治してやるが、こんどの瓢からは奇怪な人物がぞろぞろ出てきて、家産を食いつぶしてしまう。日本の『舌切り雀』に似た物語だが、この小説が描く富への欲望、形骸(けいがい)化した儒教道徳、さまざまな賤民(せんみん)の姿態などは、李朝(りちょう)後期の社会相を浮き彫りにしてくれる。

［田中　明］

『申在孝著、姜漢永・田中明訳注「朴打令」（『パンソリ』所収・平凡社・東洋文庫）』

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