A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Old Speckled Back is the gold-eyed toad chosen as the third judge of whether a rescued tiger may eat the priest who freed him. A friend of the priest, he insists on inspecting the trap before deciding, giving the man time to escape. He then rejects the tiger’s claim and hides in a rock crack while taunting him. The tiger fatally abrades his nose trying to reach the toad, who survives to tell several generations of descendants. His success depends on timing and a narrow refuge; no transformation or spell is stated.
Origins & earliest records
Korean tale in an English literary retelling
Records & interpretation
Full relevant tale and collection preface directly read.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Korean Fairy Tales
The Unmannerly Tiger, pp. 3–5
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
William Elliot Griffis, Korean Fairy Tales (1922)
The Unmannerly Tiger. The Unmannerly Tiger, pp. 3–5
Complete chapter directly read; distinct speakers and actions retained. Literary personification and enacted magic distinguished from trickery and the reteller’s cultural generalizations. Original paraphrase of the public-domain-US historical witness.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical English literary retellingGriffis, Korean Fairy Tales (1922), The Unmannerly Tiger, pp. 3–5Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.