Korean. Boy. Crab. Flower. Rain. Huh?

January 28, 2007 11:29 AM

I was given a wee bookmark from my friend with an image from an apparently well-known Korean folktale. My friend, (who is Korean) doesn't know the folktale. Neither do I. But I have a burning desire to find out.

The image is of a boy kneeling on an oversized crab, reaching up to grab a big flower. It also appears to be raining. Looking at it, I thought it might be a folktale about selflessness, as the crab is helping the boy reach the flower, even though the crab would not benefit from the flower. Sort of like "The Giving Tree." The bookmark itself is unremarkable, kind of a metal gold thing. I know that it is the work of a Korean artist, but not who, so that doesn't help me track down the original folktale. Also, I'm not at all convinced that my friend who gave me the bookmark isn't pulling my leg, because she is cheeky like that. But if not, I'd like to find the folktale before she does!

posted by typewriter to society & culture (7 comments total)

Perhaps its an offshoot of the Japanese story "The Battle of the Monkey and the Crabs?"
In that story a monkey was grabbing persimmons for a crab.
posted by forforf at 2:25 PM on January 28, 2007

Ummm. Not sure. The tone of the piece is very gentle. Perhaps this one will go under stumped. Or I am the victim of my friend's sense of humour!
posted by typewriter at 7:24 PM on January 28, 2007

I've heard/read a lot of Korean folk tales, and I don't think it's one of them. If it is, it's not a mainstream one.

Do you have a photo of the bookmark?
posted by suedehead at 8:12 PM on January 28, 2007

Could it be The Little Crab (Kogani no Hasami) by Hiroshi Yasuda?

"The Little Crab - A little crab is allowed to go out alone in the ocean for the first time, but is warned by his mother not to use his claws mischievously. This story tells about the little crab's adventures, which begin when he disobeys his mother and end when he helps others. The themes of this story are personal responsibility and the importance of choosing to use one's abilities to be helpful, not harmful."
posted by obiwanwasabi at 9:40 PM on January 28, 2007

Yes, I'm not familiar with this folk tale whatsoever. So in the case it is Korean it must be a very obscure or local one. Was there any writing on the bookmark? If it does have writing and you can post a picture and I can try to see what it says?
posted by kkokkodalk at 10:31 PM on January 28, 2007

The Little Crab looks promising as a start!
On the envelope the bookmark came in says Gana Art, which led me to their site. Once I get a picture (it's so small, and I have a crappy camera) I'll send it off to them to see if I can find the artist/subject. I'll post update here, if anyone is interested in obscure Korean folktales rendered in a line drawing on a fake gold bookmark, well, the info will be here. Hee.
posted by typewriter at 5:45 AM on January 29, 2007

My friend is a cheeky cheeky liar. But I do adore her for it. I adore that she will exploit my gullible and curious nature to the extent that I go to the internet in search of answers, all the while egging me on.
posted by typewriter at 7:26 AM on March 19, 2007