The Story of Heungbu and Nolbu

In a small village during the Joseon Dynasty, there lived two brothers who were as different as night and day. The elder brother was named Nolbu, and the younger was called Heungbu. Though they shared the same blood and were raised in the same household, their hearts and characters could not have been more opposite.

Nolbu, the elder brother, had inherited the family’s wealth and land when their parents died. He owned large rice fields, a grand house with many rooms, and numerous servants to attend to his every need. However, wealth had made Nolbu greedy, selfish, and hard-hearted. He cared for nothing but accumulating more riches and had no compassion for anyone, not even his own brother.

Heungbu, the younger brother, had received nothing when their parents passed away, as was the custom that the eldest son inherited everything. He lived in a tiny, run-down hut with his wife and many children, barely scraping by on what little work he could find. Despite his poverty, Heungbu possessed a kind heart, generous spirit, and unwavering optimism that helped him face each day with hope.

Every morning, Heungbu would rise early and venture out to find work - sometimes helping farmers in their fields, sometimes carrying loads for merchants, sometimes gathering firewood to sell in the market. His earnings were meager, barely enough to buy a bowl of rice to share among his large family. Often, the children would go to bed hungry, but Heungbu never complained about his fate.

Heungbu’s wife, equally kind-hearted and patient, would stretch their small portions of food as far as possible, adding water to the rice to make thin gruel that could feed more mouths. She would mend their worn clothes countless times and find creative ways to keep their humble home warm and comfortable despite their poverty.

“My dear husband,” she would say when she saw Heungbu’s tired face each evening, “though we have little in material wealth, we are rich in love and family. Our children may be hungry for food, but they are well-fed with affection and kindness.”

Nolbu, meanwhile, lived in luxury but found no joy in his abundance. His large house was filled with expensive furniture, fine clothes, and delicious food, but his heart remained empty and bitter. He spent his days counting his money, demanding higher rents from his tenants, and devising schemes to increase his wealth. He had no friends, for his greed had driven everyone away, and even his own servants feared and disliked him.

As winter approached and work became even scarcer, Heungbu’s family faced their most difficult time yet. The children grew thin from hunger, and their simple clothes provided little protection against the bitter cold. Finally, swallowing his pride, Heungbu decided to approach his wealthy brother for help.

One snowy morning, Heungbu walked across the village to Nolbu’s grand estate. The contrast between the two homes was stark - while Heungbu’s hut was barely standing against the winter winds, Nolbu’s house was warm and well-maintained, with smoke rising cheerfully from multiple chimneys.

Heungbu approached the main gate and bowed respectfully to the servants. “Please inform my elder brother that Heungbu has come to pay his respects,” he said humbly.

When Nolbu heard that his poor brother was at the gate, he was annoyed rather than concerned. “What does that beggar want now?” he grumbled to his servants. “No doubt he’s come to ask for money again. Let him in, but make it quick - I don’t want him tracking mud through my clean house.”

Heungbu was escorted to a side room where Nolbu sat eating a lavish breakfast of rice, meat, fish, and various side dishes. The sight and smell of so much food made Heungbu’s empty stomach ache with hunger, but he maintained his composure and bowed deeply to his brother.

“Honored elder brother,” Heungbu said respectfully, “I hope you are in good health and that your business prospers. I am grateful that you have agreed to see me.”

Nolbu barely looked up from his meal. “Get to the point, Heungbu. What do you want this time? Money? Rice? I suppose you expect me to support your whole lazy family?”

Heungbu’s face flushed with shame, but he pressed on. “Brother, my children are hungry and cold. Winter is harsh this year, and work is scarce. I don’t ask for charity, only perhaps some work I could do for you, or maybe you could lend me a small amount of rice that I could repay when times improve.”

Nolbu slammed his chopsticks down on the table, his face twisted with anger and disgust. “Work? You want work? The only work you’re good for is begging! You’re a disgrace to our family name, coming here like a common beggar. If you had any sense or ambition, you would have made something of yourself by now instead of producing children you can’t feed!”

“Brother, please,” Heungbu said quietly, “I ask only for compassion. We are family, and—”

“Family?” Nolbu interrupted with a harsh laugh. “Family doesn’t come begging at my door! Family doesn’t embarrass me in front of my neighbors! Get out of my house immediately, and don’t come back unless you have something useful to offer me!”

Heungbu stood slowly, his heart heavy with disappointment but not with bitterness. “I understand, elder brother. I’m sorry to have disturbed your meal. May you continue to prosper and find happiness.”

As Heungbu turned to leave, Nolbu called after him with cruel mockery. “Here, take this!” He picked up the bowl of water used for washing rice and threw it at Heungbu’s feet. “That’s all the help you’ll ever get from me!”

The dirty water splashed across Heungbu’s worn shoes and the hem of his coat, but he didn’t react with anger. Instead, he bowed once more and left quietly, his dignity intact despite his humiliation.

Walking home through the snow, Heungbu felt sadness for his brother’s hardened heart rather than anger at his cruelty. “How lonely he must be,” Heungbu thought to himself, “with all his wealth but no love or compassion to warm his heart.”

As spring arrived, Heungbu’s family somehow managed to survive the harsh winter through their mutual support and the kindness of a few neighbors who shared what little they had. Heungbu continued his daily search for work, grateful for each small opportunity to earn a few coins.

One warm morning in late spring, as Heungbu was working in a neighbor’s garden, he heard a commotion coming from the eaves of a nearby house. Looking up, he saw a nest of swallows under the roof, and one of the baby birds had fallen to the ground. The small swallow was chirping pitifully, its tiny leg clearly broken from the fall.

Most people would have ignored the injured bird or perhaps put it out of its misery, but Heungbu’s kind heart was immediately moved by the creature’s suffering. Gently picking up the small swallow, he examined its injured leg with care.

“Poor little one,” he said softly, “you must be in great pain, and your mother must be worried sick about you.”

Looking around, Heungbu found some small twigs and soft grass. With infinite patience and gentleness, he carefully set the bird’s broken leg and bound it with the grass to create a tiny splint. The swallow seemed to understand that he was trying to help and remained still during the procedure.

For the next several weeks, Heungbu cared for the injured bird as if it were one of his own children. He would catch small insects to feed it, give it drops of water from his fingertip, and keep it warm and safe in a small box lined with soft cloth. His own children, despite their hunger, never complained that their father was sharing food with a bird.

“Father,” his youngest daughter asked one day, “why do you take such good care of this little swallow when we ourselves have so little?”

Heungbu smiled and gently stroked the bird’s tiny head. “My dear child,” he replied, “all living creatures deserve compassion when they are suffering. This little bird has no one else to help it, and its life is just as precious as ours. When we show kindness to others, even the smallest creatures, we make the world a better place for everyone.”

As the swallow’s leg healed and it grew stronger, Heungbu knew the time would come to let it return to its family. When the bird was finally able to stand and move normally, Heungbu carried it outside and held it up toward the nest where its anxious parents had been waiting.

“Go home, little friend,” he said with a mixture of joy and sadness. “Your family has missed you, and you belong in the sky where you can be free and happy.”

The swallow seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if reluctant to leave its kind caretaker. Then it fluttered its wings and flew up to reunite with its parents, who welcomed it back with joyful chirping.

Heungbu watched the happy reunion with a warm heart, feeling that his effort had been well rewarded by seeing the bird safely returned to its family. He thought no more about the incident and continued with his daily struggles to provide for his own family.

However, unknown to Heungbu, his act of kindness had been witnessed by the spirits of nature, who were deeply moved by his compassion. The swallow he had saved was no ordinary bird - it was a messenger of the mountain spirits, and his selfless care had earned him a special blessing.

The following spring, exactly one year after Heungbu had healed the injured swallow, the bird returned to his humble home. This time, it carried something extraordinary in its beak - a single seed that seemed to glow with an inner light.

The swallow flew directly to Heungbu, who was working in his small garden plot, and dropped the magical seed at his feet. Before Heungbu could react, the bird spoke in a clear, musical voice that filled his heart with wonder.

“Kind Heungbu,” the swallow said, “you showed compassion to me when I was helpless and in pain. You shared your food when you had little, cared for me when you had your own troubles, and asked for nothing in return. This seed is a gift from the mountain spirits, who were touched by your pure heart. Plant it in your garden, tend it with the same love you showed me, and you will be rewarded beyond your dreams.”

Before Heungbu could respond, the swallow flew away, leaving him holding the mysterious glowing seed. Though amazed by what had just occurred, Heungbu’s humble nature made him wonder if he had simply been dreaming. But the seed in his hand was real, warm to the touch, and unlike anything he had ever seen.

That very day, Heungbu planted the magical seed in the best spot in his small garden. He watered it carefully, protected it from insects and animals, and watched over it with the same devotion he had shown the injured bird.

To his amazement, the seed sprouted immediately and began growing at an incredible rate. Within just a few days, it had become a vine that stretched across his entire garden. The vine continued growing, spreading over his house, then beyond his property, becoming larger and more magnificent than any plant anyone in the village had ever seen.

As the enormous vine matured, it began producing gourds of enormous size - each one as large as a small room. The gourds had smooth, golden surfaces that seemed to glow with their own inner light, and they made soft, musical sounds when the wind blew through them.

Heungbu and his family stared in wonder at these miraculous gourds, uncertain what to do with them. Finally, Heungbu decided to carefully cut one down to see what was inside.

The moment his knife touched the gourd’s surface, it split open on its own with a melodious sound like temple bells. From inside poured an incredible stream of treasures - gold coins, precious gems, bolts of the finest silk, bags of the purest rice, and beautiful furniture crafted from the finest wood.

Heungbu’s family watched in stunned amazement as their humble home was transformed into a place of abundance. But the magic didn’t stop there. As they opened each subsequent gourd, more wonderful things emerged - some contained skilled craftsmen who immediately began improving their house, others released beautiful music that filled the air with joy, and still others produced abundant food that would feed them for years to come.

Word of Heungbu’s miraculous good fortune quickly spread throughout the village and eventually reached Nolbu’s ears. When the greedy elder brother heard that his poor sibling had suddenly become wealthy beyond imagination, he was consumed with jealousy and disbelief.

“This is impossible!” Nolbu raged to his servants. “How could that worthless beggar become rich overnight while I, who have worked so hard for my wealth, remain with only what I had before? There must be some trick or deception involved!”

Unable to contain his curiosity and envy, Nolbu swallowed his pride and went to visit Heungbu’s transformed home. What he saw there amazed and infuriated him in equal measure. The house that had once been a crumbling hut was now a magnificent mansion, surrounded by beautiful gardens and filled with treasures that rivaled those of the royal palace.

Heungbu, despite his brother’s previous cruelty, welcomed Nolbu warmly and invited him to share a meal. The food was exquisite - far better than anything in Nolbu’s own kitchen - and was served on dishes of gold and silver.

“Brother,” Nolbu said, struggling to control his jealousy, “I must know how you achieved this transformation. What business venture brought you such incredible wealth?”

Heungbu, being honest by nature, told his brother the entire story - about the injured swallow, the care he had provided, the magical seed, and the miraculous gourds that had brought such abundance to his family.

As Nolbu listened, his mind began scheming. If a simple act of kindness to a bird could bring such rewards, surely he could duplicate his brother’s success and gain even greater wealth for himself.

“Thank you for sharing this interesting story,” Nolbu said with false warmth. “I’m very happy for your good fortune, brother.”

But in his heart, Nolbu was already planning how he could manipulate the situation to his own advantage. Being clever in a cunning way, he reasoned that if caring for an injured swallow had brought Heungbu such rewards, then deliberately injuring a swallow and then caring for it would surely bring him even greater treasures.

The next day, Nolbu instructed his servants to find a swallow’s nest and capture one of the baby birds. When they brought him a healthy young swallow, Nolbu deliberately broke one of its legs and then began “caring” for it, expecting that this false kindness would earn him magical rewards.

For several weeks, Nolbu tended to the bird he had injured, but his care was grudging and motivated entirely by greed. He fed it only the minimum necessary to keep it alive, and his touch was rough and impatient. Unlike Heungbu’s genuine compassion, Nolbu’s actions were performed with calculation and selfishness.

When the bird’s leg had healed, Nolbu released it, expecting immediate rewards for his “kindness.” He waited impatiently for the swallow to return with a magical seed, growing more frustrated with each passing day.

Finally, after many weeks, a swallow did indeed return to Nolbu’s house, carrying a seed in its beak. Nolbu was overjoyed, certain that his plan had worked and that he was about to become even wealthier than his brother.

“At last!” he exclaimed greedily. “My reward has come! This seed will surely produce even more treasures than Heungbu’s, since I am the elder brother and deserve greater fortune!”

Nolbu immediately planted the seed in his finest garden and tended it with eager anticipation. Like Heungbu’s plant, this vine grew rapidly and produced enormous gourds. But there was something different about these gourds - they were darker in color and made ominous sounds when the wind blew through them.

Ignoring these warning signs in his greed, Nolbu quickly cut down the first gourd. But instead of treasures, what poured out was a stream of disasters. Goblins and demons emerged from the gourd, followed by a flood of dirty water that ruined his fine furniture and belongings.

“What is this?” Nolbu cried in horror. “This must be a mistake! I performed the same kindness as my brother!”

But as he opened each subsequent gourd, worse things emerged. One released a swarm of wasps that stung him mercilessly, another poured out a mountain of debt collectors who demanded payment for imaginary loans, and still another produced officials who accused him of various crimes and confiscated much of his remaining wealth.

The largest gourd, when opened, released a tremendous wind that blew away his house, his remaining possessions, and even his servants, leaving him standing alone in an empty field with nothing but the clothes on his back.

As Nolbu stood amid the ruins of his former prosperity, the same swallow that had brought him the seed perched nearby and spoke to him in a voice filled with stern justice.

“Greedy Nolbu,” the bird said, “you have received exactly what your heart deserved. Your brother’s kindness came from genuine compassion and love for all living creatures. Your actions came from selfishness and manipulation. The spirits of nature cannot be deceived, and false kindness brings only false rewards.”

Nolbu finally understood that his scheme had backfired completely. His attempt to gain wealth through deception had cost him everything he had originally possessed. Humbled and desperate, he had no choice but to go to his brother and beg for help.

When Heungbu saw his elder brother’s pitiful condition, his kind heart was immediately moved to compassion. Despite all of Nolbu’s previous cruelty and his recent attempt at deception, Heungbu welcomed him with open arms.

“My dear brother,” Heungbu said warmly, “what has happened to you? Come into my home and let us care for you.”

Nolbu, tears of shame streaming down his face, confessed everything to Heungbu - his jealousy, his cruel treatment of the swallow, his attempt to manipulate the spirits for gain, and the terrible consequences that had followed.

“I have been a fool and a villain,” Nolbu wept. “I treated you cruelly when you came to me for help, I tried to cheat my way to rewards I didn’t deserve, and now I have lost everything. I don’t deserve your kindness after all I have done.”

Heungbu embraced his repentant brother with genuine forgiveness. “We are family,” he said simply, “and family helps each other in times of need. Your past actions are forgiven. What matters now is that you have learned from your mistakes and are ready to change your heart.”

From that day forward, Nolbu lived in his brother’s house and slowly learned the values of kindness, compassion, and generosity. Heungbu shared his miraculous wealth freely, not only with his brother but with all the poor and needy in their village. The abundance that had come from his genuine kindness seemed to multiply when shared with others.

Nolbu, having experienced both the heights of material wealth and the depths of spiritual poverty, gradually transformed into a person of genuine kindness. He worked alongside his brother to help others, and in time, his change of heart brought him a different kind of wealth - the riches of love, friendship, and inner peace.

The story of the two brothers became a beloved tale throughout Korea, teaching children and adults alike that true kindness comes from the heart and cannot be faked for personal gain. It reminds us that genuine compassion for all living creatures, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is always rewarded by the universe, while selfish greed ultimately leads to loss and emptiness.

The magical swallow continued to visit both brothers from time to time, no longer as a messenger of rewards or punishments, but as a symbol of the connection between all living things and the importance of treating every creature with respect and love.