Gyeonmyo jaengju
A clever cat’s wine jug trick teaches mice a lesson in greed.
Gyeonmyo jaengju (견묘쟁주) is a Korean folktale from the 1-24 cycle of collected oral narratives, often categorized as a moral tale about greed and deception. The story follows a clever cat that tricks a group of mice into believing it possesses a magical wine jug, leading to a series of humorous and cautionary events. It is one of several animal trickster tales in Korean folklore, emphasizing wit over brute strength.
- Classification
- Animal trickster folktale
- Cycle
- 1-24 (Korean folklore collection)
- Key characters
- A cat (gyeonmyo), mice, a wine jug
- Theme
- Greed, deception, cleverness
- Moral
- Greed leads to downfall; appearances can deceive
- Region
- Korea (pan-Korean oral tradition)
- Notable variants
- Similar to other East Asian 'cat and mouse' trickster tales
Lore & Background
In Gyeonmyo jaengju, a hungry cat devises a plan to catch mice by pretending to have a magical wine jug that never empties. The cat invites the mice to share the wine, and as they drink, they become intoxicated and vulnerable. The cat then reveals its true intent, catching and eating the mice one by one. However, the story often ends with a twist: one clever mouse escapes and warns others, or the cat’s greed ultimately leads to its own undoing.
Reader's Guide
Gyeonmyo jaengju is the quintessential story of animals repaying the kindness of humans. The Dragon King's son, who shapeshifts into a carp, repays the fisherman's mercy, and later the cat and dog retrieve the stolen treasure to show their gratitude. The tale thus conveys a moral that animals not only appreciate good deeds but also help humans overcome difficulties.
The story corresponds to tale type ATU 560, 'The Magic Ring,' in the international Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index, and variants exist across Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. Folklorist Wolfram Eberhard noted that Chinese and other variants also explain the rivalry between cats and dogs. More than fifteen variations of Gyeonmyo jaengju appear in major Korean folktale collections such as the Hanguk gubi munhak daegye (Compendium of Korean Oral Literature). In the late twentieth century, the tale was introduced in elementary school Korean language textbooks, making it familiar to many in modern-day Korea. The Children's Museum of the National Folk Museum of Korea held an exhibition inspired by the tale from November 20, 2018, to October 12, 2020.
Did You Know?
- The title 'Gyeonmyo jaengju' literally translates to 'The Cat and the Wine Jug' in Korean.
- This folktale is part of a larger cycle (1-24) that includes other animal tales like 'The Tiger and the Persimmon' and 'The Rabbit's Liver.'
- The story is sometimes used in Korean education to teach children about the dangers of trusting strangers and the consequences of greed.
- Horace Newton Allen's *The Enchanted Wine Jug* is a different folktale entirely, not a version of 'Gyeonmyo jaengju.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gyeonmyo jaengju?
Gyeonmyo jaengju (견묘쟁주) is a pan-Korean animal trickster folktale in which a clever cat cons a group of mice by pretending to own a magical wine jug. It belongs to the 1-24 cycle of collected Korean oral narratives and is classified as a moral tale centered on greed and deception.
What happens in the story of Gyeonmyo jaengju?
A sly cat tricks a group of mice into believing it possesses an enchanted wine jug, setting off a chain of humorous and cautionary events as the mice fall for the ruse. The tale ultimately turns against the mice, showing how their greed and gullibility lead to their downfall.
What is the moral lesson of Gyeonmyo jaengju?
The folktale warns that greed makes characters vulnerable to deception and that outward appearances can be deeply misleading. It also champions wit and cleverness over brute strength, a recurring value in Korean animal trickster stories.
Where does Gyeonmyo jaengju come from and how is it classified?
It is a pan-Korean oral tradition tale recorded in the 1-24 cycle of a Korean folklore collection. Scholars categorize it as an animal trickster folktale with a strong moral dimension, fitting alongside other Korean tales where weaker characters are outwitted by cunning ones.
Why is Gyeonmyo jaengju important in Korean folklore?
It exemplifies the broader Korean tradition of animal trickster narratives that use humor to deliver ethical warnings about vices like avarice and naivety. Its place in the 1-24 cycle makes it a recognizable entry point for readers exploring the moral-tale strand of Korean oral literature.
More in Korean folklore 1-24
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