Shim Cheong- Korean HeroHero"Filial Daughter"

Shim Cheong's Childhood

The Shim Cheong-jeon tells the story of Shim Cheong, a girl born to the blind beggar Shim Hakgyu and his wife, Lady Gwak. When Shim Cheong's mother dies shortly after giving birth, the blind father is left to raise the infant alone. Unable to nurse the baby, Shim Hakgyu carries her from house to house, begging for breast milk from nursing mothers. Despite this desperate beginning, Shim Cheong grows into a devoted daughter who cares for her helpless father, cooking his meals and guiding him through the village.

The Promise to the Temple

One day, Shim Hakgyu stumbles into a ditch and is rescued by a Buddhist monk from Mongeun Temple. The monk tells him that if he donates three hundred seok of rice to the temple and prays to the Buddha, his sight will be restored. Overjoyed at the prospect of seeing, Shim Hakgyu rashly promises the donation, though he has no means to pay.

When Shim Cheong learns of her father's impossible promise, she resolves to find a way to fulfill it. She hears that sailors bound for the treacherous waters of Indang-su are seeking a young woman to sacrifice to the sea god to ensure safe passage. Shim Cheong sells herself to the sailors for three hundred seok of rice, which she sends to the temple on her father's behalf.

The Sacrifice at Indang-su

When the ship reaches the whirlpool of Indang-su, Shim Cheong prays, bids farewell to the world, and throws herself into the churning waters. She does not drown. The sea receives her, and she sinks through clear water into the Yonggung, the Dragon Palace, where Yongwang the Dragon King welcomes her as an honored guest.

Rebirth in the Lotus

Moved by Shim Cheong's sacrifice, Yongwang places her inside a giant lotus flower, which rises to the surface of the sea. A king discovers the lotus floating on the water and brings it ashore. When the flower opens, Shim Cheong steps out alive. The king takes her as his queen.

As queen, Shim Cheong never forgets her father. She hosts a grand feast for all the blind people in the kingdom, hoping her father will attend. When Shim Hakgyu arrives and hears his daughter's voice, the shock and joy cause his eyes to open for the first time.