Lotus (Shim Cheong)
There, there, Cheong, don't cry...
Once upon a time, a blind man named Shim lived in a village.
Please give me some milk for my little Cheong, she is starving.
Oh, poor little girl!
What happened to her mother?
Cheong's mother had died giving birth to her.
She was taken care of by her blind father and the ladies of the village.
Cheong grew up to be a kind and beautiful young lady.
She was skilled at sewing, so she used her talents to make money to support herself and her father.
Cheong, Cheong, my darling, where are you?
Cheong had gone to the market, hoping to sell some of the clothes she had sewn.
Shim was concerned and went out to wait for her.
Oh, my poor Cheong will get soaked to the bone in this hard rain.
Blind Shim wandered down the road in search of Cheong.
Oops! Oh! Help me!
Oh, no! Grab this!!!
Ouch.... Thank you so much...
It must be very hard for you that you can't see.
Oh I've grown accustomed to it.
I just wish I could do more for my daughter, Cheong. She works so hard.
I am always happy when I can give my father something delicious to eat. Oh... is that a guest?
You will have your sight back and your daughter will prosper...
if you give 300 sacks of rice to Mongun Temple...
What? I can have my sight back?
Yes.
Oh! My father will see again!
That's a wonderful offer, but how will we ever get 300 sacks of rice? We are so poor.
I must help my father see again... but where will I get 300 sacks of rice?
Hmmm...
One day, a merchant ship on its way to China made an announcement.
They needed a young girl to volunteer to be sacrificed.
We need to sacrifice a young girl to the sea to calm the waters for our journey.
We are offering 300 sacks of rice in return!
Who nedds 300 sacks of rice when they're dead?
Are they really going to sacrifice someone?
What? 300 sacks of rice?
Is this true? Will you really give us 300 sacks of rice?
Yes, we will.
Then...
I am .. offering myself !
This is excellent! Cheong, why do we have meat in our soup today?
My sewing work is going well. I have been getting lots of jobs.
Have you? This is really delicious!
I have a wonderful daughter.
Chew carefully, father.
Ok, Ok.
Father, when you get your sight back...enjoy seeing the village, find a good woman to marry,
and live happily ever after.
No, if I ever see again, all I want is to look at my beautiful daughter.
But it doesn't matter, I am already the happiest man in the world.
I have a good daughter who cooks delicious food for me! Ha ha ha!
Huh?!
Time to go now, Cheong.
What?
Go where? Cheong!
What's going on? Cheong!!
Cheong!! My little Cheong...
Where are you? What's going on?!
Father..Oh.. father...
Finally Blind Shim discovered the truth - that Cheong had sold herself as a sacrifice.
No! Cheong..! I don't need my sight if I will never see you again!
I don't need prosperity if you are gone! Please! Stay with me! Cheong! Stay with me..!!
Oh... don't go..!! I won't let you..!!
Take care of yourself, father...
No!! Cheong! Don't leave me!!! My daughter, Cheong..!!
Let's go. Hurry up!!
Blind Shim was horrified and heart-broken to lose his daughter like this.
My only daughter..!!
Oh.. don't go..!!!
Oh, look! Cheong is about to be sacrificed for 300 sacks of rice!
I'm so sad...!
Look at those waves! Time to make our sacrifice!
As the ship swayed among the stormy waves, Cheong walked slowly towards the front deck of the ship.
I do not fear death, but I.. I pray that this will help my father see again... Please..! Oh, Father....!!
Oh! Father..!!!
Cheong...oh my Cheong..! oh... my daughter..!!!
Blind Shim was still as blind as ever, but now he grew ill from grief, as he desperately missed his daughter.
A month later, the same merchant ship was making its way back from China with new goods to trade.
Look! What's that?!
How strange! It's an enormous lotus flower! How could a huge lotus bloom in the middle of the ocean?
The merchants cast in their fishing nets and brought the wondrous lotus on board.
They brought the flower to the king and presented it to him.
Oh..!
It's magnificent!
Then, one day...
Who..! who.. are you?!
I sacrifeced myself to the sea to cure my father's blindness, but the sea king has sent me back here.
Oh.. my..!
The king was deeply touched by Cheong's generous heart.
The king fell in love with Cheong's noble nature and lovely face and asked her to marry him.
Oh... father..!!
Why are you distressed, my Queen?
Oh, your Majesty..
I miss my father..!
He is blind and cannot take care of himself. I would like to know if he is alright..
The king announced a feast to feed the blind, hoping to find Cheong's father.
The last day of the feast came, and still Blind Shim did not come.
Oh.. the sun is setting. The feast is almost done and my father is still not here!
Perhaps he really has been cured? I hope so..!
Oh! My father... Father!
Father!
Father! It's me! Cheong!! Father!
No... my daughter is dead..
But I'm not! It's really me, Cheong!!
I was sacrificed, but the sea king gave me back my life when I told him my story.
Could... this be true..? Cheong..!!
My child!! Is it really you?!
Yes!!! Father! Father..!
Oh.. if only I could see you, my darling daughter!
As he said those words.. his eyes opened..!!
Oh..!! It's true! Cheong..!! I can see..!! I can see!! You have returned to me!!!
To this day, people remember Shim Cheong, her love for her father,
and how she sacrificed herself to help him see.