Korean Folktale : The Tale of the Rabbit’s Liver

🐇 Korean Folktale Series 41

“The Tale of the Rabbit’s Liver”

(토끼의 간 이야기 · Tokki-ui Gan Iyagi)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

Long ago, beneath the deep blue sea, there lived the Dragon King, ruler of the underwater palace. One day, he fell gravely ill, and none of his doctors could find a cure. Then a wise old turtle stepped forward and said,

“Your Majesty, legend says that the liver of a rabbit can heal any sickness.”

The Dragon King’s eyes brightened. “Then bring me this rabbit at once!”

The turtle, loyal but slow, swam up to the land. There, he found a small, clever rabbit hopping by a stream. Bowing politely, the turtle said,

“Dear Rabbit, the Dragon King invites you to his palace! He has heard of your wit and wishes to make you his royal guest. There will be endless food and treasures waiting for you.”

The rabbit, flattered and curious, agreed and climbed onto the turtle’s back. Together they descended into the shimmering sea, where coral glowed and fish danced around them.

But when they arrived, the Dragon King’s servants surrounded the rabbit. The turtle whispered nervously, “Forgive me, friend, but your liver is needed to save our king.”

The rabbit’s eyes widened—but only for a moment. Then he smiled slyly and said,

“Oh dear, if only you had told me sooner! I left my liver hanging to dry on a tree. If you take me back to land, I’ll gladly fetch it for Your Majesty.”

The Dragon King, desperate to live, ordered the turtle to return with the rabbit. As soon as they reached the shore, the rabbit leapt off the turtle’s back and laughed,

“You foolish creatures! Who could possibly leave their liver behind?”

And with a joyful hop, he vanished into the forest.

The turtle returned to the sea, ashamed but wiser, while the Dragon King sighed deeply and said,

“Even beneath the waves, there is no cure for foolishness.”

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

• Wit and quick thinking can turn even hopeless situations into survival.
• Greed and deceit often lead to humiliation and regret.
• True wisdom lies in understanding before acting.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

• Cleverness guided by calm can overcome strength guided by fear.
• In times of danger, keeping one’s composure is the key to wisdom.
• The power of the mind often saves where force cannot.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

• 🇨🇳 China — The Turtle and the Monkey
  A clever animal tricks another into releasing it from danger through quick wit.
• 🇯🇵 Japan — The Story of Urashima Tarō
  A fisherman visits the Dragon Palace and learns that not all gifts from the sea are blessings.
• **🇮🇹 Italy — The Fox and the Cat (Aesop’s Fable) **
  A tale showing that cleverness and adaptability often outsmart brute force.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Wisdom swims faster than strength when danger rises.”

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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.