"THERE BE DRAGONS", warns the sign over the Sunshine Sanctuary for Sick Dragons, established and ably run by Lady Sybil Ramkin, a wealthy lady of Valkyrian proportions, unstintingly kind to sapiens and animals alike.
Lady Sybil and her husband, Commander of the City Watch, His Grace Samuel Vimes could have run a training webinar for PETA, had they not been fictional characters in Sir Terry Pratchett's famed Discworld series. Sadly, another fictional character, the Dragon King of the South Sea, featured in the Korean Sugungga epic, did not know about the Sunshine Sanctuary when he took ill after a sumptuous banquet. Apparently, the gluttonous affair lasted for three days and "all creatures of the court enjoyed themselves with great quantities of food and wine" (translation by https://www.gordsellar.com). The king, however, had a terrible diarrhea. The most prominent physicians in his kingdom, Drs Clam, Carp, and Catfish, administered all sorts of remedies, but to no avail. Even acupuncture did not help!
Enter a wizard who prescribes a rabbit liver, to be eaten by the King, otherwise His Dragon Majesty will surely die. But who is going to kidnap the poor bunny and drag him before the Dragon? A valiant Crab, perhaps?
This unbelievable performance is pansori, an ancient Korean musical storytelling tradition, sometimes called Korean opera. To continue the story, most sea creatures, uncomfortable on land, shy away from this mission, but a little Terrapin turtle who moves freely between land and sea, volunteers to bring the rabbit back to the underwater kingdom. Rabbit underwater? It's a fantasy, Beautiful People, just like Lady Sybil and her dragons!
Here is a modern rendition of the chase by a contemporary Korean group Leenalchi. The wily rabbit first convinces the turtle that he has his liver hidden somewhere outside his body (ibid.), then leads him through all kinds of dangers, hoping to lose him, but eventually ends up, or, rather, down, in the underwater kingdom. At this point, events develop differently, depending on who is telling - or singing! - the story. I came up with my own ending, and who is to say that I couldn't? Not the Dragon King, who is listening to this long-eared land creature lauding the vegan option!
I have created the above image on LeonardoAI, my latest favorite toy.
As you see, Beautiful People, the Dragon King is well and happy, and so are the turtle and the rabbit. So is my husband AKA The Boss, having tasted my take on a popular Korean street food dish.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 large cucumber, divided into 4
- 2 scallions, sliced
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1/4 medium onion, sliced
- 2 - 3 garlic cloves, squeezed
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sugar
- Hot pepper flakes to taste
- Paprika
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- Salt
PROCEDURE
- Cut pieces of cucumber crosswise, leaving bottom 1/4 uncut. Rub with salt.
- Mix remaining ingredients, except salt.
- Rinse cucumber pieces, blot excess water.
- Fill cut part of each cucumber piece with vegetable mixture, pushing into side cuts and topping off. This makes four portions.
- Let rest for 30 minutes.
While you are waiting, you can watch this amazing in its precision dance, performed by high school kids:
The salad that cured the Dragon King is now ready.
Serve and enjoy!
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