Kongji and Patzzi

Kongji and Patzzi (Hangul: 콩쥐 팥쥐, also romanized as "Kongjwi and Patjwi") is a traditional Korean romance dating from the Joseon Dynasty. It is the story of humble Kongji's triumph over adversity. The moral of the story is that good people who think positively and work hard will be happy, as in the proverb "heaven helps those who help themselves."

A childless couple was granted with a very beautiful baby girl whom they named Kongji. Her mother died when Kongji was 100 days old. She grew up with her father. The man remarried again when Kongji was fourteen years old. To replace his wife, he found a cruel widow who had a very ugly daughter named Patzzi. Her father died eventually. From that time on-wards, the stepmother and Patzzi treated Kongji very unfairly. They starved her, dressed her in rags and forced her to do all the dirtiest work in the house.

One day, the stepmother forced Kongji to plow a field with a wooden hoe. The hoe soon broke, leaving Kongji in tears, for fear that her step-mother would beat her again. A cow appeared and comforted her. He plowed the field in her place, and sent Kongji home with a basket of apples, a gift from the cow. Her stepmother accused her of stealing the apples and gave the entire basket to Patzzi. And she refused to give Kongji her supper.

The next day, the stepmother gave Kongji enormous pot with a hole in the bottom. She has to fill it with water before she and Patzzi return home from town. Kongji kept bringing baskets of water but the pot was never filled. The water leaks out from the hole. A turtle appeared and blocked the hole for her. With his help, Kongji filled the pot with water. The stepmother was even angrier. She spanked Kongji black and blue.

After a time, the King announced that he is looking for a wife. A dance will be given in his honor, to which every maiden must attend. Kongji and Patzzi are invited. The stepmother was hopeful that Patzzi would be the lucky one, but was afraid that Kongji would spoil her own daughter's chance. Before they left, the stepmother gave Kongji a huge sack of rice to hull, which she must accomplish before they return from the dance. Kongji asked for help from the heavens, and a flock of sparrows appeared and hulled the rice. A fairy came down from heaven and dressed Kongji in a beautiful gown and a delicate pair of colorful shoes. She was transported to the palace by four men in a magnificent palanquin. Kongji hurried towards the dance.

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