Book Description

Korea – the “Land of the Morning Calm” – has folklore second to none. Korea’s symbol is the tiger, who appears in Korean folklore in many disguises, from a mother to an old man offering hospitality. Indeed, a familiar figure in Korean folklore is the ordinary person who is alarmed to discover that a person in the same room is really a tiger in disguise! Stories of that kind have entertained and instructed Koreans for thousands of years. And the stories still have much to teach people today, no matter where one lives. Here are thirty-five Korean folktales, retold for a modern, Western audience. They reflect the unique – and sometimes cynical – viewpoints of people in one of the world’s oldest civilizations. But one need not be familiar with Korea already to enjoy and learn from these stories. From Alaska to Zanzibar, human nature and behavior are pretty much the same. So readers everywhere will find useful knowledge in these ancient tales ... such as how to recognize a tiger in disguise! Stories retold here have been changed in certain ways to appeal to a modern, Western audience caught up in today’s business culture. For a guide to sources of original stories in English translation, please see the list of readings at the end of the book. You will meet some new personalities here. You also will encounter, in Korean costume, some old friends you have known under different names for many years, including one beloved figure from American folklore whom you probably never expected to find in the Land of the Morning Calm! And never far away is a tiger in disguise! So as you read this book, on the subway or bus or wherever, you may find yourself wondering: is that a tiger in disguise sitting next to you?