Seori Tales

Seori Tales — Korean Folktales for Children

Kongjwi and the Flower Shoe

A Korean Folktale of a Black Ox, a Kind Toad, and One Lost Flower Shoe

Original Korean title: 콩쥐팥쥐 · Ages 4-8 · about 3 minutes to read aloud

Korea's Cinderella, and the easiest entry point for a child who already knows the European one. The stepmother and the impossible chores are familiar; the black ox, the flock of sparrows and the kind toad who plugs a leaking jar are not. Good for asking how two countries told the same story differently.

On a golden morning a girl in a patched green hanbok scatters grain for a flock of sparrows beside a well, a toad watching from a sunny stone, under a blossoming plum tree.

Long ago in Korea, under a plum tree, lived a girl named Kongjwi, who was kind to every living thing.

One day her father brought home a new wife and her daughter, Patjwi. The new stepmother looked at Kongjwi… and did not smile.

"Weed the stony field with this wooden hoe," said the stepmother. But at the very first stone — CRACK! — the hoe broke in two.

A great black folk-art ox with mist at its hooves plows the stony field while Kongjwi rests one hand on its cheek in wonder, warm light breaking through the grey sky.

Then out of the mountain mist stepped a great black ox. "You are kind, Kongjwi. Rest," it said — and it plowed the whole field for her.

"Fill the big jar before dark," said the stepmother. But the jar had a hole, and the water ran out as fast as Kongjwi poured it in.

"Never fear, Kongjwi!" croaked a friendly voice. A fat old toad sat down on the hole inside the jar — and up rose the water, right to the top!

One morning, drums sounded — the great festival! "Peel every grain of this rice first," said the stepmother. And off she went with Patjwi.

A joyful swirl of hundreds of sparrows streams down around laughing Kongjwi as white rice piles up like snow in the farmhouse yard.

Then the sky rustled — sparrows! Hundreds she had fed all winter swooped down and peeled every grain with their quick little beaks.

And down a sunbeam came a sky maiden, smiling. "Kindness comes back, Kongjwi." She held out a beautiful hanbok — and two little flower shoes.

Off to the festival ran Kongjwi, quick as a swallow. But hopping across the stream — oh! — one little flower shoe slipped off and floated away.

Down the road came the magistrate, the village chief, with his grand parade. On the water glowed one little flower shoe. "Whose shoe is this?"

At the festival, every girl tried the shoe. Patjwi pushed and pulled and hopped on one foot — but the little shoe would not fit her, not even a bit.

Then Kongjwi stepped quietly forward — and the flower shoe slipped onto her foot like a blossom coming home. And from her sleeve, she drew its twin.

So Kongjwi was loved through all the land — and at her feast she filled every bowl herself, even Patjwi's. For kindness, shared, only grows.

About This Story

Kongjwi and Patjwi (say KONG-jwee and PAHT-jwee) is one of Korea's best-loved folktales — often called Korea's Cinderella, told with flower shoes instead of glass slippers. Kongjwi's name means "bean," and Patjwi's means "red bean."

Instead of a fairy godmother, Kongjwi is helped by friends she was kind to first: a black ox, a toad who plugs the leaky jar, and a cloud of sparrows.

Her flower shoes (kkotsin) are traditional Korean silk shoes with upturned toes and flower embroidery — worn on the happiest days.

The big brown jar is an onggi, an earthenware jar Korean families still use.

In older tellings the story goes on much longer, and Patjwi's tricks are punished harshly. In our telling, Kongjwi does what she has done all along — she is kind first, and shares her feast with everyone.

It is the tale's oldest promise: kindness comes back — sometimes on small wings, sometimes on four hooves, and sometimes in one little flower shoe.

Korean Words in This Story

  • Kongjwi — the kind girl's name; kong means "bean."
  • Patjwi — her stepsister's name; pat means "red bean."
  • Kkotsin — flower shoes: silk shoes with upturned toes and flower embroidery.
  • Hanbok — traditional Korean clothes, worn every day and on happy days alike.
  • Onggi — the big brown earthenware jar Korean families keep in the yard.
  • Bagaji — a water dipper made from half a dried gourd.
  • Wonnim — the magistrate, the chief of a village or county.
  • Say them out loud together!

Say them out loud together.

What it is about

Korea's Cinderella — kindness returned by unlikely friends.

Questions worth asking

  • An ox and a toad help Kongjwi. Who has helped you when you did not expect it?
  • How is this story like Cinderella? How is it different?

More of these, for all seven tales, in the parents and teachers guide.

More Korean folktales