It is said that mother’s care grows flowers even on the rock and her deep affection also melts the iron.

  In 16^th century, Han Sok Bong (Sok Bong - nom de plume) could become a famous calligrapher in Korea under such care and affection of his mother.

  Since his father died early, Sok Bong’s mother could pick up a scanty livelihood by selling rice-cakes. However, she taught her young son alphabets and writing.

  Sok Bong was very fond of writing from his childhood. Valuing her son’s nature, mother sold all the household goods and gave money to him whose then age was 9 to let him learn from a village schoolmaster at a remote place for a period of ten years.

  Seven years later, he returned home at the age of 16.

  Mother was very pleased to see him grown up into a sturdy youngster, but she asked him with a straight face.

  “You left home to study for 10 years but only 7 years have passed.”

  He read her mind and answered with a smile.

  “Master said I had learnt enough and told me to return home and become a filial son to you.”

  “Learnt enough?”

  “Yes, I did,” he said

  “If so, what about having a competition with me to see whose is better after blowing out a candle now?”

  After a while, the candle was lit again in the room.

  Sok Bong looked down her wooden basin and found that rice-cake dough was cut into pieces even in size and thickness.

  Mother saw his handwritings.

  They were not so bad for the writings in darkness but all letters were not even and no strokes were complete.

  She said, “Your skill has much improved, but is yet far from perfect.”

  He dropped his head and made a farewell again to her with a firm decision to succeed.

  He studied several years more.

  Mother’s efforts were not in vain.

  He studied hard and became the best calligrapher at that time.

  With intense love and strong will, Han Sok Bong’s mother fostered his talents and led to a resounding success.