Korean Folk and Fairy Tales, Suzanne Crowder Han

[Publisher’s blurb.] A representative sampling of Korean stories which have been passed down from generation to generation through spoken and written traditions. Dragons, ghosts, ogres, tigers, demonic foxes, supernatural spouses and, of course, people with all their human frailties are among the characters that populate Korean folk tales.

Through them are revealed perceptions of life and notions about power, money, justice, love and interpersonal relations that, through the ages, have become ingrained in the Korean pysche. Passed on from generation to generation, the tales reflect the deep-rooted beliefs and customs of ancient Koreans and the creeds and codes by which they lived.

Korean Folk & Fairy Tales is thus a window through which to gain some understanding of present-day Korean culture. It includes fables, anecdotes, fairy tales, pourquoi tales, and tales of the bizarre. Some of the tales are known in many versions and some can be traced back to classical examples set down centuries ago. Some are peculiar to Korean and some are international in currency. Some are charming, some gruesome, and some humorous. Together they provide much insight into the Korean ethos.