I was a little surprised when I went to link to an English version of this tale, only to discover that there wasn’t one to be found (at least, not by me), even though I’m sure I’ve encountered the English title before. The Grateful Magpies–or, more literally, ‘The Magpies Who Repaid Their Eunhye’ (은혜 갚은 까치)–is amongst the most iconic Korean folktales. In fact, Shin Joo makes an allusion to it in EP02 of TotNT. You could even call it ‘textbook,’ since it appears in many Korean language learning materials.
As one would expect of a popular folktale, there are many, many versions–some of them involving different animals (pheasant, carp, tiger, serpent, frog, toad, etc.) or varying slightly in other ways–but the central theme of the tale remains the same: the repayment of eunhye. You can think of eunhye as a sort of positive karmic debt; something owed for a good turn, or a debt gladly repaid. The tale might also be considered a parable for this reason.
I’m just translating (and somewhat paraphrasing) the version I happen to have on hand, so if you’re familiar with the tale, you may or may not recognise parts of it, but in any case...
The Fable
Long ago, there lived a young scholar who was not only skilled at brushwork but also excelled at archery. Aspiring to serve king and country, the scholar set out from his home in the countryside and made for Hanyang in order to sit the civil service exam.
While passing through a forest, he heard the cry of a magpie coming from somewhere nearby. Upon following the sound, the scholar came upon a massive snake attempting to swallow a magpie’s nest whole. The mother magpie was crying out in distress, unable to save her babies. Swiftly, the young scholar loosed an arrow, felling the snake and saving the fledglings’ lives. Satisfied that all was well, the scholar shouldered his bow and continued on his way.
Before long, night fell. Searching for a place to rest for the night, the scholar spotted an old temple along the road and ventured inside. As soon as he did, woman emerged and showed the scholar in. Though the scholar thought it suspicious to find a woman alone at a temple so deep in the mountains, he was tired so he unpacked his things and soon fell asleep.
The scholar slept for some time before he became aware of a pressure about his chest and a feeling of constriction about his throat. Starling awake, he was alarmed to find a massive snake’s head before him. The snake opened her mouth and spoke:
“The serpent you slew this day was my husband. I am wroth at his death and shall exact his revenge.”
Overcome with terror, the scholar begged for his life; he had meant no ill. The serpent considered him.
“Very well, should the temple bell ring thrice before daybreak, I will spare your life. But who would come and ring that bell in this forsaken place in the dead of night? Know that you will inevitably become my prey.”
The scholar was held fast and could do nothing but await the death she promised as the hours crept past. But the night was silent as the grave. The scholar feared the snake spoke truly, that he would meet his end. At last, the eastern sky began to pale. Just as he was about to give up all hope...the bell began to toll. A moment later the sound came again, and then a third time, echoing through the temple grounds. The snake let out a terrible cry.
“I would end you, human, but a promise is a promise so there’s naught to be done. I shall spare your life, so be gone!”
The snake wept bitterly as she unwound herself from about him, transformed into a dragon, and ascended to the heavens. Soon, she had disappeared from sight. The scholar, who had returned from the very brink of death, donned his clothes, packed his things, and thanked the Buddha for his life. On his way out of the temple, however, he happened to pass the belfry and was met with an unexpected sight.
On the floor of the belfry lay dozens of magpies, their heads bloodied, their small bodies still with death. The bell was wet with blood. All at once, the scholar understood. The parents of the baby magpies he had saved the previous day had rallied their fellows and worked together to ring the bell, saving his life. Deeply saddened by their noble sacrifice, the scholar buried the magpies in a sunny spot and resumed his journey to Hanyang.
Final Notes
The conclusion to the story actually varies; in some tales, the scholar goes to Hanyang and passes the exam, while in others he decides to become a Buddhist monk instead, in order to bring peace to the souls of the magpies who had died to save him. While the magpie version of this tale is perhaps the most widely recognised today, some suggest that the version involving pheasants–The Pheasants Who Repaid Their Eunhye (은혜 갚은 꿩) also sometimes called The Legend of Mt Chiak (치악산의 전설)–is more likely to be the original since it includes concrete place names and the like.
It should be noted that, though the magpies in the tale die, death is not the only way (or even the most common way) to repay one’s eunhye. It simply involves doing the person who did you a kindness a kindness in return.
Update (2021/11/30): KBS World now have an English version of the tale up on their website, for anyone curious to read a slightly different version.
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