calendar>>November 1. 2013 Juche 102
Legends about Mt. Kumgang (2)
Pyongyang, November 1 (KCNA) -- White broad bellflower growing in Okryudong Valley in Mt. Kumgang tells about a legend well known among the local people.

Once upon a time, there was an old man surnamed To, who was living in the valley with his daughter, Ra Ji.

They lived a poor life, up to the ears in debt To owed to a rich man for the funeral of Ra Ji's mother three years ago.

The rich man urged To to pay the debt at an early date, while harboring an evil heart for Ra Ji.

One day, the rich man called To and forced him to seal a contract stipulating that the money-lender shall take away To's daughter as his mistress if the debtor failed to pay the debt until the 3rd anniversary of his wife's death.

Upon hearing the news, Ra Ji went to the rich man with the contract document in her hand.

She tore it off in his face, saying she would do as the contract said.

Later, on the way to the rich man's house in a palanquin, she killed herself by throwing her body over a steep cliff.

After her death, there appeared a small grave with a white flower on it near her mother's.

Hence, the villagers began to call the white flower "Toraji" (broad bellflower) after her name and sowed the flower seed all over the mountain from next year.

Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.