Doraji, or balloon flower, is a wild flower found in Korea. But this beautiful, violet-blue flower has a sad legend.

Once upon a time, in a remote part of the country, there lived a young girl named Doraji. Unfortunately, she lost her parents when she was little and lived with a man who was her distant relative. The man took great care of Doraji as if she was his own younger sister. Doraji also liked him very much as he was the only person she could depend on. To her, a life without the kind brother was simply unimaginable.

One day, with a solemn face, the man told Doraji that he would leave home for a while. Her heart sank when she heard the news. In a trembling voice, she asked him why. He answered, “You know, it is just difficult for two of us to live in this small town. I’m thinking of going to China. I want to make money in the wider world.” Doraji asked him when he would come back. He said, “Well, it may take about ten years. It will be hard for you to live without me. But hang in there, Doraji. I’m determined to succeed. After making a lot of money, I’ll be back. I promise.” It was heartrending to think that she had to part from her beloved brother, but Doraji couldn’t tell him no. She had no other choice but to give in to his decision. He soon left home and sailed to China.

From then on, Doraji lived in a small Buddhist temple, doing chores and helping the monks. Every day, she would climb up the hill behind the temple to look out over the sea, hoping to see a ship far out at sea bringing her brother back to her.

Ten years passed, but the man never returned. There were rumors that some ships from China sank due to heavy storms. But Doraji didn’t care about the ominous rumors, as she firmly believed that the brother would keep his promise to come back to her. She maintained her routine life in silence, just waiting for his return.

Another ten years passed. Still, he never came back. Doraji became a middle-aged woman. She was still waiting, and her mind remained unchanged. She still strongly believed that the brother would return, though belatedly. The years ran on. Doraji was now an old woman. With Buddhist monks at the temple all gone now, she lived there all alone. Still, she waited for the brother every day.

One day, as always, she ascended the hill behind the temple to look out at the sea in the hopes of catching sight of any ship that might be carrying her brother. Just then, she heard a familiar voice from behind her back. “Doraji, I’m back. It’s your brother!” Her ears pricked up with surprise when she heard the voice. She looked back. But there was nobody in view. She realized she had heard an imaginary voice, and collapsed to the ground, feeling miserable and dejected. She had been waiting for him for all those years, never complaining or losing hope. But at that moment, it felt like all hope was gone. After many long years of patience and loneliness, she could no longer stand even for a moment. Sadly, she perished.

Years later, small, violet-blue flowers blossomed at the site where she died. People believed that the god of the mountain took pity on the poor girl and made her into that flower. Ever since then, the flower has been called Doraji, named after the ill-fated girl who constantly waited for a man who never returned.