(Translation) 2019 龜兔之說
| Primary Source | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Title | |
| English | Kui t’o chi sŏl[Story of a tortoise and a hare] | |
| Chinese | 龜兔之說 | |
| Korean(RR) | 구토지설(Gutojiseol) | |
| Text Details | ||
| Genre | ||
| Type | ||
| Author(s) | 金富軾(Kim Busik) | |
| Year | 1145 | |
| Source | 三國史記(Samguk sagi) | |
| Key Concepts | ||
| Translation Info | ||
| Translator(s) | Participants of 2019 JSG Summer Hanmun Workshop (Intermediate Training Group) | |
| Editor(s) | ||
| Year | 2019 | |
Original Script
Translation
Student Translation : Kristina Kaltenbach
Once, the dragon king’s daughter of the eastern see had an illness in her heart. The healer said: „Obtain a hare liver and combine it with herbs and then you can cure the disease.” But in the middle of the sea there were no hares, Nothing could be done about it.
There was one turtle who spoke to the Dragon king: "I can get it." It succeeds to come ashore, saw a hare and said: "In the middle of the sea there is an Island, there are clear springs, white stones, luxuriant forests and beautiful fruits and the cold and the heat cannot reach there, hawks and falcons cannot invade. If you get there you can live with peace and without trouble."
So the turtle carried the hare on its back and went about 2 or 3 li.
The turtle turned back to the hare and said: "Now the dragon king's daughter is affected by disease; she needs a hare liver for medicine. Therefore I didn't mind the hardship; I carried you and came here and that's it."
The hare replied: "Alas, I am a godly descendant, I can take out my five organs, I can wash them and put them back inside. Temporarily I had put them under the bottom of a rock and hearing your sweet talk I came (with you) quickly but my liver is still there. Why don't we go back and get the liver? Then you get that which you seek and eventhough there is no liver I can still be alive, how is that not suitable for both of us?"
The turtle believed it and returned. As soon as they landed on the shore the hare escaped and entered into the bushes.
It said to the turtle: "How stupid you are, how is there one who can be alive without a liver?"
The turtle, pitiful and silently, retreated.
- Discussion Questions:
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