Sham S. Misri
The famous Falling Flower Rock is on the bank of River Keum in
Korea. It was the old capital of Korea at Pakje. It is nature’s most
remarkable memorial for a, departed kingdom. It is the scene of a miracle repeated
every year.
In the year 660 A.D. the kingdom of Korea was invaded and
destroyed by Chinese. The Korean king, Pakje, his sons and his great ministers
were made prisoners and transported to China. Nearly, seventy one, royal wives
and concubines committed suicide by hurling themselves in the River Keum from
this rock.
Perhaps, the nature wanted to remember this mass sacrifice. Seventy
one flowers and only 71 grow on the rock each spring. After they have bloomed
and spread fragrance they fall into the River on the same day each year.
Hundreds of years ago,
Korea was divided into three parts. At that time, the King of Silla in southeast
Korea fought with the King of Pakje in southeast Korea.
“Surrender yourself,” he called out to the King of Pakje. “I promise
that you and your family will be allowed to go free.”
The King of Pakje’s
minister advised him not to listen. “Do not believe anything the King of Silla
says. His words sound fine but if you surrender, you and your family will
surely be killed.”
The King of
Pakje had three thousand women servants in his palace. The leader of them said
to him, “Your Majesty, please leave with your family while you can. There is a
secret door at the back of the palace. If you leave by it, the King of Silla
will not be able to see you. One day you can return to rule your country.”
Although the
King of Pakje did not want to go, his ministers and maid-servants made him do
so.
After he had
left, the brave women servants continued to fight. They fought till last. Then they climbed a
high rock above the nearby Sacha River and jumped into the cold water. As they
all wore white dress, they looked like white flowers falling into the river.
The Korean
people have never forgotten their bravery. The rock from which they jumped is
now called the Falling Flower Rock. Many people still go to visit it from all
over Korea and from other countries too.
Books by the Author(s)
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1 comment:
Rock of Falling Flowers was detailed in a children's storybook by Linda Park titled
A Single Shard, winner of the Newbery Medal.
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