The Folding Wish-Paper A Magical Tale Exploring Desire and Consequences From 8th Century Korea!
This captivating folktale from the Silla dynasty (57 BCE - 935 CE) offers a glimpse into the beliefs and anxieties of ancient Koreans. While its exact origins remain shrouded in the mists of time, “The Folding Wish-Paper” has been passed down through generations, its message resonating with listeners even today.
The story revolves around a young woman named Mina who lives in a small village nestled among the rolling hills of what is now South Korea. Life for Mina is simple but not without its hardships. Her family struggles to make ends meet, and she often longs for something more than her mundane existence.
One day, while wandering through the bamboo forest behind her home, Mina stumbles upon a wise old woman tending to a patch of fragrant herbs. Sensing Mina’s discontent, the woman gifts her a square sheet of paper imbued with magic. She instructs Mina to fold the paper into specific shapes, each representing a different wish, and then release it into the wind.
Intrigued and hopeful, Mina diligently follows the old woman’s instructions. She folds the paper into the shape of a plump rice sack, yearning for her family’s abundance. She then folds it into the image of a handsome scholar, longing for love and companionship. Finally, she crafts the paper into a soaring hawk, dreaming of escaping the constraints of her village life.
With each folded wish, Mina experiences fleeting moments of joy and fulfillment. The rice sack magically replenishes her family’s larder, and a charming scholar appears at her doorstep. Yet, these joys are ephemeral. The abundance vanishes as quickly as it arrived, leaving Mina with empty cupboards once more. The scholar, captivated by Mina’s beauty but uninterested in her humble life, soon departs for the bustling city.
The final wish, symbolized by the soaring hawk, initially grants Mina a sense of freedom. She feels lighter, bolder, and capable of anything. But as she contemplates her newfound liberation, Mina realizes that her desire to escape has blinded her to the true value of her life in the village. Her family, her friends, and the familiar rhythm of her days – these were the things that truly mattered.
Overwhelmed with regret, Mina seeks out the wise old woman. The woman listens patiently to Mina’s tale, then offers a gentle but profound lesson: “True happiness,” she explains, “lies not in chasing fleeting desires but in appreciating the gifts we already possess.”
Mina learns to embrace her life in the village, finding contentment in the simple pleasures of her existence. She continues to fold paper cranes – symbols of peace and longevity – but now with a deeper understanding of their significance.
| Folded Wish | Outcome | Lesson Learned |
|---|---|---|
| Rice Sack | Temporary abundance followed by scarcity | Material wealth alone cannot guarantee happiness |
| Scholar | Fleeting romance leading to heartbreak | True love requires shared values and commitment |
| Hawk | Momentary sense of freedom accompanied by disillusionment | Escaping problems does not solve them; confronting challenges leads to growth |
“The Folding Wish-Paper” beautifully illustrates the universal human desire for something more. However, it also cautions against chasing ephemeral desires without appreciating the richness of our present circumstances. Like Mina, we can learn to fold our own metaphorical paper cranes, focusing on gratitude for what we have and embracing the challenges that shape us into who we are meant to be.