The Blind Man's daughter 1/2

The blind man's daughter

 

Many years ago there lived a poor blind man called Shim. He and his wife were childless, and never a day went past when the couple did not pray to the spirits for the blessing of a child. It was only after many years that their prayers were granted, and Shim’s wife gave birth to a beautiful daughter whom they named Shimchong. But sadly, the mother died soon after giving birth, and poor blind Shim was left to bring up the child alone, and as best he could.

The years went by, and Shimchong grew into a beautiful young woman, devoted to her father.

One day, Old Man Shim was walking out alone when he fell into a deep ditch that brought water to the fields. Every time he tried to scramble out, he slid back again into the mud. He had started to think that he would die in that ditch, and he was bemoaning his fate when he heard a voice speak to him from above.

“Old man,” said the voice, “We have heard you complain many times about your blindness. If you will give 300 sacks of rice to the temple as an offering to Lord Buddha, then we monks will pray for you to be able to see once again.”

The old man cried out: “Good monks ! only save me now and return me safely to my daughter, and I will gladly offer you whatever you ask to give to Lord Buddha!”

And no sooner had he spoken, than he felt gentle but firm hands lift him up and out of the ditch - to the blind old man it seemed that those hands had reached down from heaven itself.

Shim was so grateful for his rescue that he thanked the monks again and again, and swore that he would bring the 300 sacks of rice to the temple.

It was not until later, when he was already home and dry, that he realised that he had no chance of keeping his promise to the monks.

“Oh Shimchong,” he said to his daughter, “What shall I do? We are so poor that I could not offer three bowls of rice, let alone 300 sacks? Now what a terrible fate will befall us? For I have offended Lord Buddha himself !”

And father and daughter both began to weep, for neither of them could think of any way to pay their debt to the temple.

That night, as Shimchong lay awake, unable to sleep, her mother appeared to her and said:

“Go down to the harbour tomorrow. There you will find a merchant looking for a young girl. Go with him, and he will provide the 300 sacks of rice.”

And it so happened that the Dragon King of the East Sea was angry with a rich merchant, and he had sent storms to sink the merchant’s ships on the way to China. After losing ship after ship in this way, the merchant had consulted the high priest of the Dragon King’s temple, and he told the merchant that he must take a beautiful young maiden out to sea and sacrifice her to the Dragon King.

The merchant offered a great quantity of gold to any family that would give up their daughter to the Dragon King of the East Sea - but none would enter into such a terrible deal. And then Shimchong appeared at the harbour, and she went to the merchant and offered herself in return for 300 sacks of rice to be sent to her father. The merchant could not believe his luck. 300 sacks of rice was nothing to him - a low price indeed !

And although the merchant sent 300 sacks of rice to the temple, and although the monks did indeed pray for the return Old Man Shim’s sight, nothing happened. And now not only was he poor and blind, but he had lost his daughter too - and he was utterly alone.

Shimchong borded the merchant’s ship, and the ship put out to sea. At first the waters were calm, and then the Dragon King began to thrash his tail and the waves started to toss the ship to and fro.

The merchant told Shimchong to put on her bright coloured wedding dress, and then he brought her out of the hold and up onto the deck.

 

blind_mans_daughter.lite-01.lite.mp3

 

blind_mans_daughter.lite-01.lite.mp3

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