The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon
The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon(호랑이와 곶감) is a Korean folktale about a foolish tiger that has the fear of dried persimmon, also known as gotgam,misjudging it as a being that is scarier than itself. [1]
Plot
The tiger overhears the conversation of a mother with a crying baby, and after hearing consistent crying of the baby despite the mention of tigers coming to get the baby, the tiger misunderstands it as babies not fearing tigers. However, the crying of the baby is stopped by mention of the dried persimmon,which makes the tiger think of the fruit snack as a being scarier than the tiger. On the same house,a cow thief sneaks into the house and rides the tiger. The tiger thinking the thief was the dried persimmon,run for his life, and the thief realizing what he rode is a tiger he leaves the scene.[1]
Adaptation
Korean children's writer Ma Hae-song wrote a children's story based on the story called "The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon(호랑이와 곶감)" in 1933.[2]
References
- 호랑이와 곶감 [The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon] (in Korean). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- https://www.ajunews.com/view/20190204142734267