A story to help you sleep. Today’s bedtime story is the old tale of “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.”
Bedtime story folktale the Cowherd and the Weaver girl
Once upon a time, in the celestial kingdom above, there lived a king with a beautiful daughter named Jiknyeo. She was most lovely fairy in all of heaven, known for her exceptional skill in weaving.
The King realized it was time for Jiknyeo to marry, and began searching for a suitable groom.
During the period, the king heard of young man named Gyeonwoo, who was very diligent in tending to his cattle. Observing him secretly, the king found that Gyeonwoo was indeed hardworking and kind.
Pleased with Gyeonwoo, the king arranged for him to meet Jiknyeo. The two fell in love at first sight and soon married, finding immense happiness together.
However, they became so engrossed in their bliss that they neglected their duties. Gyeonwoo stopped tending to his cattle, and Jiknyeo ceased her waving. Learning of this, the king warned them.
“If you continue to neglect your duties for pleasure, you cannot stay together.”
Despite the warning, Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo continued to prioritize their affection over their responsibilities. As a result, the king separated them across the Milky Way, placing one on each end of the heavens.
“If you fulfill your duties diligently, I will allow you to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month.”
Gyeonwoo said to Jiknyeo. “Do not be too sad. We will meet again.”
Thus separated, the couple worked hard all year round, hoping to see each other just for one day.
When the long-awaited day arrived, their hearts swelled with the possibility of reunion. However, a vast river of stars, the Milky Way, flowed between them, preventing their meeting.
They could only gaze across the river, shedding endless tears. Their tears fell to earth, turning into rain that flooded the lands.
Every year on July 7th, the villages and forests endured floods. This year, as the day approached, the animals, worried, gathered to discuss a solution.
Eventually, the magpies and crows decided to build a bridge across the Milky Way. On the seventh of July, the magpies and crows joined together to form a bridge they called the “Magpie Bridge”
(The Magpie Bridge, a bridge formed by magpies and crows in the Korean folktale, allows the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to meet once a year.)
The magpies and crows then led Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo to the Magpie Bridge.
Finally, on the bridge Gyeonwoo and Jimnyeo met and wept tears of joy. These tears fell into the river of stars, turning into sparkles of light.
Each year around this time, the magpies and crows would lose feathers from their heads in their efforts to build the Magpie Bridge.
If it rains this July 7th, perhaps the magpies and crows couldn’t build the bridge?
Or perhaps…
What happened?
This was the story of Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo. (the Cowherd and the Weaver girl)
Good night, everyone.
Seeing the rain around this time each year, one might wonder if the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are still weeping.
This was a story of “the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl”
Watch this story vedio on now.
“The Tale of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd” is a folklore story from East Asia, particularly commemorated on July 7th, known as Qixi Festival in China, Chilseok in Korea, and Tanabata in Japan.
When the couple, Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo, became so enamored with each other that they neglected their duties, the king separated them.
However, this only made them long for each other more intensely.
Their tears fell to Earth and caused flooding, causing great distress among the animals. In response, the animals decided to help by building a bridge across the heavenly river, the Milky Way.
If the bridge remains intact, it shouldn’t rain….
