Long ago, there was a poor but kind-hearted woodcutter who lived deep in the forest with his elderly mother. One day, while working, he saw a deer running frantically, chased by hunters. The woodcutter quickly hid the deer in a pile of dry wood, saving its life.
To repay him for his kindness, the deer revealed a secret: “On the full moon, celestial maidens descend to bathe in the lake at the top of Mount Diamond. Hide one of their heavenly robes. Anyone without their robe cannot return to the heavens and will become your wife.” The deer added a warning: “You must not show her the robe until you have three children together, or she will fly away.”
The woodcutter followed the deer’s instructions. When the maidens finished bathing and flew back to the heavens, the youngest stayed behind, crying for her lost robe. The woodcutter comforted her and brought her home. With no other choice, the celestial maiden remained on Earth and married him. They lived happily together, and the maiden loved his honesty and hard work. Over time, they had two children. Confident that their family bond was strong, the woodcutter decided to show her the robe.
The moment she saw it, her longing for the heavens returned with full force. She donned the robe, held their two children, and flew back to the sky, leaving the woodcutter devastated. Desperate, he sought the deer for help. The deer instructed him: “Since the celestial maiden lost her robe, the other maidens no longer come to bathe. They now lower a golden bucket from the sky to fetch water. Wait there and jump into the bucket.” The woodcutter did as told and finally ascended to the heavens, reuniting with his wife and children.
Even in the heavenly realm, the woodcutter still longed for his elderly mother on Earth. The celestial maiden lent him a heavenly horse, Cheon-ma, to visit her, warning him, “Do not touch the ground, or the horse will fly away, and you will never return.” Overjoyed, he arrived home, and his mother prepared a hot bowl of porridge. Accidentally spilling it on the horse’s back, the horse bolted in pain, throwing him to the ground. The woodcutter could no longer return to the heavens. Heartbroken, he gazed toward the sky until he died and transformed into a rooster. That is why roosters today stand tall and crow toward the heavens, as if calling to their celestial love.
This story highlights the virtues of kindness, honesty, and devotion, but also serves as a cautionary tale about breaking promises and the tension between romantic love and filial duty.