Han and the Golden Bowl

An old woman lived with her granddaughter, Han, in a small cottage. They loved each other. But they were very, very poor.

Among their few dishes was a bowl that they never used. It was dirty and dull from sitting on the shelf.

One day, Han and her grandmother heard loud noises coming from outside.

“Buy my products, buy my products,” a merchant yelled as he pulled his cart down the street. “I have brass and tin for your home.”

He banged and clanged his pots and pans and shook small tin chimes.

“Amma, can we please buy some chimes?” the girl pleaded. “They make such a pretty sound.”

“Han, you know we are too poor to buy anything,” the woman answered. “We don’t have anything to trade.”

“What about that old bowl on the kitchen shelf?” Han asked. “We never use that.”