Korean Folktale : The Wooden Groom and the Spirit Bride

🌲 Korean Folktale Series 51

“The Wooden Groom and the Spirit Bride”

(나무신랑과 처녀 귀신 이야기 · Namu Sinlang-gwa Cheonyeo Gwishin Iyagi)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

Long ago, in a small mountain village shrouded in mist, there lived a kind young man named Dong-min, a skilled woodcarver who made toys for children and tools for farmers. Though poor, he lived with a pure heart, greeting even the trees he worked with:

“Forgive me, old friend, for shaping your form. May you continue to live through my hands.”

One year, strange rumors spread through the village—of a ghostly maiden who appeared every night near the old willow tree by the river. People said she had died before her wedding and now wandered the world, unable to find peace.

One evening, Dong-min saw her as he passed by the river. She was dressed in white, her eyes filled with sorrow rather than anger. He knelt and said softly,

“If you have been left without a groom, let me carve one for you—a companion to comfort your lonely heart.”

The spirit smiled faintly and vanished into the mist.

The next day, Dong-min chose the finest wood from the forest and spent seven nights carving a wooden groom, shaping its face with gentleness and care. When the statue was finished, he placed it beneath the willow and whispered,

“May this bring you peace, wherever your soul may wander.”

That night, as moonlight poured over the river, the villagers saw a radiant glow near the willow. The ghost appeared, wearing a calm smile for the first time. She placed her hands on the wooden figure and said,

“My heart is no longer alone. Your kindness has freed me.”

As dawn broke, both the ghost and the statue dissolved into soft petals that floated down the river.

From that day on, the willow grew greener and fuller than ever. The villagers built a small shrine nearby, calling it “The Bride’s Willow (Cheonyeo Salim)”, where lovers and newlyweds came to pray for lasting love.

It was said that when the wind rustled through its leaves, one could hear a gentle whisper—

“Love born from compassion never fades.”

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

• True compassion can heal even sorrow beyond life.
• Love without desire becomes the purest form of kindness.
• Every act of sincerity leaves peace in the world.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

• When we comfort others without seeking reward, we heal ourselves.
• Acts of kindness outlast even time and death.
• Peace is born where understanding replaces fear.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

•  Japan — The Spirit Bride of Lake Biwa
  A ghost is freed when a man fulfills the wedding she was denied in life.
•  China — The Wooden Lover’s Tale
  A kind craftsman creates a statue that soothes a restless spirit.
•  France — The Phantom Bride of the Abbey
  A maiden’s ghost finds peace after a man honors her forgotten vow.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Kindness offered to the forgotten brings peace to both worlds.”

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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.