Text: 금강산도 식후경 (“Even the view of Mt. Kumgang should be seen after eating”)

Context: This is a common Korean proverb that translates to “even the view of Mt. Kumgang should be seen after eating.” Mt. Kumgang is a beautiful mountain in Korea; the proverb means that even though the view of the mountain is so beautiful, a meal is what should come first. The participant uses this Korean proverb, especially to his family, to express the importance of eating. Before reaching any destination or doing an activity, the participant makes sure that a meal is enjoyed first. He originally heard this proverb from his father, who started using it after his family escaped North Korea during the Korean War. Despite having very little money when moving to South Korea, his father made sure that they always had a meal, even if that just meant a bowl of rice. Because of this history, the participant uses the proverb often, and believes it is very important to him as a person. 

Analysis: This saying is not only a simple proverb to emphasize the importance of eating, but it reflects Korean cultures and values. In Korean culture, they believe that basic needs come before pleasure, and food is a necessity that must be appreciated before another form of beauty can be. Meals signify family and love in Korea, which is why they are so valued. The importance of the proverb to the participant, specifically, also shows how personal experiences can heavily guide values and beliefs. The participant deeply resonates with this proverb, because he understands how important meals are, from having to survive off of basic necessities only.

This also reminds me of proverbs in other cultures. For example, there is a saying from Napoleon that “an army marches on its stomach.” This is another proverb that expresses the importance of food when it comes to activities. Therefore, there are oicotypes of this proverb present, and they each have a specific connection to that meaning. For example, even though the Korean proverb can be a universal proverb, it is only understood by those who have an awareness of Korean culture, as they must know what Mount Kumgang is. The Napoleon saying was also very relevant to the culture at the time, as Napoleon was an army leader. This shows how oicotypes get created and adapted based on variations in culture. However, the shared experience of hunger and the basic necessity of food is why this proverb disseminates throughout regions.

Text: Everything happens for a reason, not for the best.

Context: The participant is Buddhist and adapted this folk speech from the saying, “everything happens for a reason.” In Buddhism, they believe that karma determines events, not fate. The participant’s daughter is Christian and often uses the saying, “everything happens for a reason” to justify any negative events or struggles that she endures. She came up with this saying in response to her daughter, as she believes that everything has a cause, but that does not mean it is necessarily good. Instead, it means that events all happen due to past actions.

Analysis: As someone who knows little about Buddhism, this perspective on the saying, “everything happens for a reason” is very enlightening and interesting. Karma, to me, was always the idea of “what goes around comes around” but I never thought about it in the sense of past lives. Buddhists believe that consequences depend on actions in your past life, meaning you are responsible for anything that happens to you. I have always believed in the Westernized approach to this, which is that everything truly does happen for a reason. However, the Buddhist approach is much more mindful, and it teaches people that instead of ignoring hardships because they have been determined by a God, they should reflect on their past actions, and think about how they will contribute to the future.

Buddhism, itself, is an institutional religion, but the adaptation of this saying is an example of vernacular religion. It is not traditional in Buddhism, but it is a belief that the participant adopted and created, based on the belief of karma. She became an active bearer of this proverb by adapting it from her culture, and spreading it to others. She says that many people in her family have started using this proverb themselves, and believe it to be true because of how strongly she resonates with it.

Text: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

Context: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is a common statement rooted in Christianity. The participant grew up with Buddhist parents, but she was baptized and went to church, as her parents wanted her to be a part of the religion that the majority of Canada believes in. She was taught this phrase in Sunday School, and understood it to be the Golden Rule. She told me, “I learned from a young age that it is important to treat others with kindness, the same way that you would like to be treated yourself. I took this saying very seriously, as I saw my other family members treating everyone, friends, family, or even strangers, with kindness. This is something that I taught to my children early on, as I believe that it is necessary to be empathetic and moral towards everyone. It is no longer a religious belief to me, but instead a moral saying that I use every day.”

Analysis: The Golden Rule is a saying that I grew up using, but one that I never associated with a religion. To me, it was more of a moral code that I followed. The Golden Rule is very universal, and it has the feature of folklore related to multiplicity and variation. The general, vernacular saying that is most commonly expressed is even a different variation from the original, it is known as, “treat others as you would like to be treated.” For example, in Confucianism, they say “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” and in Judaism, they say “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.” This shows that this idea of moral reciprocity and responsibility is a fundamental human value and it is not specific to one region. However, it is oicotypified because it is expressed differently in different cultures. In Christianity, it is institutionalized as it is taught formally, however, the way that people use it in everyday life is vernacular.