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Nahl Bo, a MythSource painting
Korean

Nahl Bo

01Identity

Nahl Bo in Korean tradition

Nahl Bo is the wealthy elder brother of Hyung Bo, but he wants the same good fortune his younger brother receives after rescuing a swallow. When a swallow nests beneath Nahl’s roof, he breaks its legs on purpose so that he can tend it and earn a reward. The bird heals and flies away; when it returns in spring with a seed from the bird-king, Nahl plants it expecting a harvest like Hyung’s.

The gourds that grow from Nahl’s vine open onto misfortune rather than treasure. Each brings fresh disorder until his home and wealth are lost. The contrast lies in the brothers’ intentions: Hyung helped an injured bird before any reward was promised, while Nahl caused the injury in order to profit. Reduced to asking for help, Nahl turns to the brother he tried to imitate. Hyung welcomes him and shares what he has. Nahl’s tale ends with dependence and reconciliation, not with the riches he had sought.

SourceKorean Tales / Being a collection of stories translated from the Korean folk lore, together with introductory chapters descriptive of Korea: printed pp. 89-115; HYUNG BO AND NAHL BO

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Nahl Bo

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Nahl Bo Imitates His Brother’s Good Fortune

Nahl Bo heard that his younger brother Hyung had become wealthy after rescuing a swallow. The elder brother wanted the same good fortune. When another swallow nested under his roof, Nahl deliberately broke its legs so that he could care for it and claim a reward. He fed the bird and bound its injuries. After it recovered, it flew away. In the spring it returned with a seed from the king of the birds, and Nahl planted it, expecting the same harvest his brother had received.

The vine grew and produced gourds. When Nahl opened them, however, they brought distress and disorder instead of treasure. The troubles grew with each gourd, and Nahl’s home and wealth were lost. He had imitated the outward act of kindness but had injured the bird for personal gain. In the end he went to Hyung and asked for help. Hyung welcomed his elder brother into his home and shared what he had. Nahl’s story therefore ended not with another miraculous prize, but with his dependence on the brother whose generosity he had failed to match.

Nahl Bo Imitates His Brother’s Good Fortune, a MythSource painting of the scene