Long ago in a kingdom on the Korean peninsula, a great king and queen ruled with dignity but carried one sorrow in their hearts. They longed for a son to inherit the throne and continue their royal line. One by one, six daughters were born to them, each healthy and beautiful, yet each arrival deepened the king’s disappointment. When the queen became pregnant for the seventh time, the king could not hide his resentment. He told his ministers that if another girl were born, he would see it as a sign of misfortune for the entire realm.
The queen endured long months of worry until the day of the birth arrived. When the newborn let out her first cry, the midwife announced gently that the child was a girl. The king’s face turned cold. He refused to even look at the infant and declared she must be abandoned to the world. The queen wept but could not defy the decree of her husband. The fragile newborn was placed inside a small woven basket and carried to a distant place beyond the palace walls.
The baby was found by an elderly couple who lived in a simple village near the foot of a mountain. They were poor but kind-hearted and had long wished for a child. When they discovered the baby wrapped in royal cloths, they sensed that she came from noble blood. Instead of seeking reward or recognition, they chose to raise her with love and modesty. They named her Bari, meaning the one who is abandoned.
As years passed, Bari grew into a graceful and compassionate young woman. Though she had no knowledge of her royal lineage, her manners were gentle, and her spirit was filled with quiet wisdom. She helped the elderly couple gather water, harvest crops, and tend to their neighbors in times of illness. People in the village often spoke of her kindness, saying she carried an aura that felt almost divine.
One day, when the sun hung low and the air carried an unseasonal chill, two court envoys arrived in the village. They announced that the king and queen lay gravely ill, stricken by an unknown curse that no healer could cure. The villagers murmured with worry, but Bari felt a strange pull in her heart as if an unseen thread were guiding her. The envoys explained that the only cure was the water of life, hidden deep within the underworld. No one had dared to attempt the journey, for the path was perilous and guarded by spirits beyond mortal comprehension.
While the villagers trembled at the tale, Bari stepped forward. Her adoptive parents tried to hold her back, fearing the dangers she would face, but she gently took their hands and spoke softly. She felt that her life had been leading to this moment. Even without knowing her true connection to the king and queen, she sensed that helping them was her responsibility. After much weeping, the elderly couple finally gave their blessing, trusting in their daughter’s courage.
Bari traveled for many days across mountains and rivers. Eventually she reached a dark ravine said to be the gateway to the underworld. As she descended, the light of the world faded behind her, replaced by a dim glow that shimmered through the cavern walls. Spirits drifted through the tunnels like smoke. Some wept, some laughed, and some reached out with cold hands, begging for comfort. Bari did not shrink away. Instead, she spoke words of compassion to each spirit she passed, soothing their suffering. Her kindness formed a gentle glow around her, protecting her as she ventured deeper.
At last she reached a vast river that flowed like liquid night. On the opposite shore stood an old ferryman, his eyes reflecting the memories of countless souls. He asked why she, a living girl, had come to this realm. Bari explained that she sought the water of life to save two people who were dying. The ferryman studied her face and saw sincerity and courage shining in her eyes. He agreed to guide her across but warned her that she must continue the journey alone.
Beyond the river, Bari followed a narrow path that ended at a towering cliff. At the top of the cliff rested a small pool glowing with silver light. She climbed the jagged rocks with unwavering determination. At last she reached the sacred spring. She knelt and filled her gourd with the shimmering water. As she stood, the guardian spirit of the spring appeared before her in a swirl of golden mist. Instead of forbidding her, the spirit bowed deeply. It revealed that the water was meant for those who showed true filial devotion, and Bari’s heart was the purest it had seen in many ages.
With blessings from the guardian, she made the long return journey. The spirits who had once clung to her clothing now stepped aside in reverence. When she reached the world of the living, the sun’s warmth embraced her like an old friend.
Bari traveled straight to the palace, guided by the faint bond she had always felt. The queen sensed her presence before she even entered the chamber. When Bari knelt beside the royal bed and offered the water of life, the king and queen drank and slowly opened their eyes. At that moment the queen recognized the young woman as the daughter she had lost. Tears flowed, and the king bowed his head with overwhelming regret.
But Bari did not seek apologies. Instead she bowed to them with grace, happy only that she had fulfilled her calling. From that day forward, she became revered as a sacred figure. Some say she later guided countless souls on their journeys between this world and the next, forever known as Princess Bari, the savior of both the living and the dead.
Discover more East Asian Folktales from the lands of dragons, cherry blossoms, and mountain spirits.
Moral Lesson
True devotion is shown through selfless action, and compassion has the power to heal even the deepest wounds of the heart.
Knowledge Check
- Why was Princess Bari abandoned as a baby?
Answer: The king rejected her because he wanted a son and believed another daughter was a burden. - Who raised Princess Bari after she was abandoned?
Answer: A kind elderly couple living in a village near the mountains. - What illness afflicted the king and queen?
Answer: A mysterious curse that no healer in the kingdom could cure. - What was the only cure for the king and queen’s illness?
Answer: The water of life found deep within the underworld. - How did Bari protect herself during her journey through the underworld?
Answer: Her compassion toward the spirits created a protective presence around her. - Why was Bari allowed to take the water of life from the sacred spring?
Answer: The guardian spirit recognized her pure heart and her true filial devotion.
Source
Adapted from National Gugak Center Mythology Archives, 2016.
Cultural Origin
Korean shamanic narrative tradition.
