With age and wisdom comes humility. This is shown in a simple way in this folktale.
Lee Whang (1501-1570) was one of the most distinguished scholars in Korean history. He was known not only for his scholastic achievement but also for his virtues and wisdom. One day, a young scholor was on his way to Lee Whang's study h receive private instruction. He came to a stream wi no bridge. There were no steeping-stones either. In order to cross the stream, he whould have to take off his socks and shoes and roll up his baggy pants. He thought it was too undignified for a Yang Ban ( a person from the elite class ) to do that. He looked around. Nearby, an old man was gathering wood twigs for fuel. The young scholar beckoned the old man, and said to him, 'You couldn't possibly expect a Yang Ban like me to take off my shoes and socks and get my feet wet, Carry me on your back to the other side of the stream.'
The old man gladly agreed. He let the young scholar get on his back and started crossing the stream. The young scholar asked the old man, 'Do you know the way to 'Do San Suwan'? (This was Lee Whang's private study.)
'Yes, Sir,' answared the old man.
'Then you must know the famous scholar, Lee Whang?'
'D course, I know him very well.'
'How do you know Lee Whang?' the young scholor asked. Beaming with a smile on his wrinkled face, the old man answered, 'I am Lee Whang.'
Can you imagine how the young scholar must have felt? He felt as if he were struck by lightning. He was so embarrassed that he did not know what to do. The young man begged Lee Whang to allow him to get off his back. But, Lee Whang kept going clamply, saying, 'You might as well remain on my back until we cross the stream.' He carried him to the other side.
Koreans told men of virtue and wisdom like Lee Whang in the highest respect. 'Ears of rice humbly bend as the rice ripens,' says a Korean proverb.