Korean Folktale : Jijang Bosal and the Returned Child

🌸 Korean Folktale Series 58

“Jijang Bosal and the Returned Child”

(지장보살과 돌아온 아이 · Jijang Bosal-gwa Doraon Ai)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

Long ago, in a quiet mountain village, there lived a poor couple who had long wished for a child. After many prayers, their wish was finally granted, and a baby boy was born. They named him Haneul, meaning “sky,” hoping his life would be bright and boundless.

The boy grew gentle and kind, always sharing what little he had with others. But one harsh winter, a terrible fever spread through the valley, and Haneul fell ill. Despite their desperate care, he passed away in his mother’s arms.

The grief was unbearable. His mother wept every night, calling his name beneath the cold moon. One evening, she climbed the mountain to the old temple of Jijang Bosal (Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva)—the merciful guardian of lost souls. There, she fell to her knees before the statue and cried,

“Please, merciful Bosal, let me see my child once more. I cannot live without him.”

The temple was silent except for the faint sound of wind in the pines. Yet as her tears touched the floor, a gentle voice seemed to echo through the hall:

“A mother’s love reaches even the deepest realms.”

A soft light filled the temple. The mother saw a vision of a vast river shrouded in mist—the River of Souls. On the other side stood little Haneul, smiling brightly, holding a flower that never withered.

Jijang Bosal appeared beside him and spoke,

“Your mother’s love has reached heaven and earth. I grant you one night to return and bring her peace.”

That night, the mother awoke to find her son standing at the doorway, warm and real. They held each other tightly and spoke until dawn. Before sunrise, Haneul said,

“Do not cry anymore, Mother. I am happy where I am. Live with kindness, and we will meet again beyond the river.”

As the first light of day touched the hills, the boy vanished like morning mist, leaving behind a single lotus petal on his mother’s hand.

From that day on, she visited the temple each year, not to beg, but to thank Jijang Bosal for the mercy that heals even the deepest sorrow.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

▪️ Love transcends life and death.
▪️ Compassion can bridge even the worlds of the living and the departed.
▪️ Faith and gratitude turn grief into peace.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

▪️ The truest love asks not for return, but for peace.
▪️ Memories kept with gratitude become light, not burden.
▪️ Even loss can blossom into understanding through compassion.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

Japan — The Tale of Jizō Bosatsu
A story of a mother whose prayers allow her child’s soul to find peace through Jizō, the guardian of children and travelers.

China — Meng Po and the Bridge of Forgetfulness
Souls preparing for rebirth drink the tea of forgetfulness, reminding the living to let go with love.

India — The Buddha and Kisa Gotami
A grieving mother learns that death touches all beings and finds peace through the Buddha’s compassion.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Love does not end—it transforms into light that guides us.”

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📌 Note
This is creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission. Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.