Go to Mt. Kumgang!
Once upon a time, very long ago, a God in the sky was looking down to the ground from a cloud far in the distance.
The ground was filled with beautiful green fields and winding rivers. Birds and animals were moving around on the ground and in the sky as they wished, and people were enjoying their life of freedom.
Gratified with these peaceful and bountiful circumstances on earth, the god hit on the idea that he would create a most beautiful and magnificent diamond mountain in the world on the Korean Peninsula.
He assigned this work to the spirit of Mt. Kumgang, who thought and thought over how to fulfil this mission.
Then, an idea flashed in his mind. "If a mountain is decorated with twelve thousand different peaks of strangely shaped rocks, it will be a wonderful sight. I will make it.”
His heart was leaping with joy about this plan, but he found there were no rocks enough to produce twelve thousand peaks around Mt. Kumgang. So, he appealed to all the mountains of Korea to join in this project. "Hey! mountains, please join me! Let’s make a fantastic mount! Come on!”
Mountains throughout Korea were stirred by his call, while spoonbills, cranes and birds flew to the sky all together, warbling, “A mountain with twelve thousand peaks, let’s get together!”
Rocks and strangely-shaped rocks throughout the Korean land started to head for Mt. Kumgang. They came rolling raising thunderous noise from islands, others from the seas and mountains tops.
Among them was a beautiful rock from Mt. Ul in Kyongsang Province. He was late in departure and slow in speed. However, he wanted to arrive there earlier than others.
The sun had already gone. He walked and walked all day and finally reached Mt. Solak in Kangwon Province. “If I go or stay, I can not make it. OK, have a break and sleep. They will reserve a room for me.”
Early on the next morning, he woke up, yawned a big long yawn and started to walk. Then, a messenger of the Kumgang spirit suddenly stood in his way. “Wait, you don’t need to come. The twelve thousand seats have been already filled.”
The Ul rock couldn’t believe his ears. “I can’t go back. I will be made a mock of on Mt. Ul.”
“Why don’t you stay here, Mt. Solak,” said the messenger to the tearful rock.
“That is a good idea. Mt. Solak is less beautiful than Mt. Kumgang, but Mt. Solak is better than Mt. Ul,” added Mt. Solak.
After thinking for a while, Mt. Ul decided to stay there as they said.
There still remained a rock of Mt. Ul, issuing a spring of water. The clear spring is said to be tears of Mt. Ul for Mt. Kumgang.
Do you think the rock is still weeping for his unfulfilled wish?
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