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diff --git a/old/51002-8.txt b/old/51002-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2b2506c..0000000 --- a/old/51002-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5962 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Korean Folk Tales, by Im Bang and Yi Ryuk - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Korean Folk Tales - Imps, Ghosts and Faries - -Author: Im Bang - Yi Ryuk - -Translator: James S. Gale - -Release Date: January 22, 2016 [EBook #51002] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KOREAN FOLK TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - KOREAN FOLK TALES - IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES - - - TRANSLATED FROM THE KOREAN - OF IM BANG AND YI RYUK - BY JAMES S. GALE - - - - London: J. M. DENT & SONS, Ltd. - New York: E. P. DUTTON & CO. 1913 - - - - - - - - - TO - MY LITTLE SON - GEORGE JAMES MORLEY - THE DAYS OF WHOSE YEARS - ARE - TWO EASTERN SPRINGS AND AUTUMNS - - - - - - - - -PREFACE - - -To any one who would like to look somewhat into the inner soul of the -Oriental, and see the peculiar spiritual existences among which he -lives, the following stories will serve as true interpreters, born -as they are of the three great religions of the Far East, Taoism, -Buddhism and Confucianism. - -An old manuscript copy of Im Bang's stories came into the hands of the -translator a year ago, and he gives them now to the Western world that -they may serve as introductory essays to the mysteries, and, what many -call, absurdities of Asia. Very gruesome indeed, and unlovely, some -of them are, but they picture faithfully the conditions under which -Im Bang himself, and many past generations of Koreans, have lived. - -The thirteen short stories by Yi Ryuk are taken from a reprint of old -Korean writings issued last year (1911), by a Japanese publishing -company. Three anonymous stories are also added, "The Geomancer," -to show how Mother Earth has given anxiety to her chicks of children; -"Im, the Hunter," to tell of the actualities that exist in the upper -air; and "The Man who lost his Legs," as a sample of Korea's Sinbad. - -The biographical notes that accompany the stories are taken very -largely from the Kuk-cho In-mul-chi, "Korea's Record of Famous Men." - - -J. S. Gale. - - - - - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - I CHARAN 1 - II THE STORY OF CHANG TO-RYONG 18 - III A STORY OF THE FOX 26 - IV CHEUNG PUK-CHANG, THE SEER 29 - V YUN SE-PYONG, THE WIZARD 36 - VI THE WILD-CAT WOMAN 41 - VII THE ILL-FATED PRIEST 44 - VIII THE VISION OF THE HOLY MAN 47 - IX THE VISIT OF THE MAN OF GOD 52 - X THE LITERARY MAN OF IMSIL 54 - XI THE SOLDIER OF KANG-WHA 58 - XII CURSED BY THE SNAKE 60 - XIII THE MAN ON THE ROAD 63 - XIV THE OLD MAN WHO BECAME A FISH 66 - XV THE GEOMANCER 69 - XVI THE MAN WHO BECAME A PIG 73 - XVII THE OLD WOMAN WHO BECAME A GOBLIN 78 - XVIII THE GRATEFUL GHOST 80 - XIX THE PLUCKY MAIDEN 83 - XX THE RESOURCEFUL WIFE 90 - XXI THE BOXED-UP GOVERNOR 92 - XXII THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS 100 - XXIII TEN THOUSAND DEVILS 104 - XXIV THE HOME OF THE FAIRIES 111 - XXV THE HONEST WITCH 125 - XXVI WHOM THE KING HONORS 130 - XXVII THE FORTUNES OF YOO 133 - XXVIII AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HOBGOBLIN 141 - XXIX THE SNAKE'S REVENGE 146 - XXX THE BRAVE MAGISTRATE 150 - XXXI THE TEMPLE TO THE GOD OF WAR 153 - XXXII A VISIT FROM THE SHADES 157 - XXXIII THE FEARLESS CAPTAIN 162 - XXXIV THE KING OF YOM-NA (HELL) 165 - XXXV HONG'S EXPERIENCES IN HADES 171 - XXXVI HAUNTED HOUSES 177 - XXXVII IM, THE HUNTER 182 - XXXVIII THE MAGIC INVASION OF SEOUL 188 - XXXIX THE AWFUL LITTLE GOBLIN 191 - XL GOD'S WAY 194 - XLI THE OLD MAN IN THE DREAM 196 - XLII THE PERFECT PRIEST 198 - XLIII THE PROPITIOUS MAGPIE 200 - XLIV THE 'OLD BUDDHA' 202 - XLV A WONDERFUL MEDICINE 204 - XLVI FAITHFUL MO 205 - XLVII THE RENOWNED MAING 208 - XLVIII THE SENSES 210 - XLIX WHO DECIDES, GOD OR THE KING? 211 - L THREE THINGS MASTERED 213 - LI STRANGELY STRICKEN DEAD 215 - LII THE MYSTERIOUS HOI TREE 217 - LIII TA-HONG 219 - - - - - - - - -BIOGRAPHICAL - - -Im Bang was born in 1640, the son of a provincial governor. He was -very bright as a boy and from earliest years fond of study, becoming -a great scholar. He matriculated first in his class in 1660, and -graduated in 1663. He was a disciple of Song Si-yol, one of Korea's -first writers. In 1719, when he was in his eightieth year, he became -governor of Seoul, and held as well the office of secretary of the -Cabinet. In the year 1721 he got into difficulties over the choice -of the Heir Apparent, and in 1722, on account of a part he played -in a disturbance in the government, he was exiled to North Korea, -where he died. - -(From Kuk-cho In-mul-chi, "Korea's Record of Famous Men.") - - - -Yi Ryuk lived in the reign of King Se-jo, matriculated in 1459, and -graduated first in his class in 1564. He was a man of many offices -and many distinctions in the way of literary excellence. - -"Korea's Record of Famous Men." - - - - - - - - -KOREAN IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES - -I - -CHARAN - - -[Some think that love, strong, true, and self-sacrificing, is not to -be found in the Orient; but the story of Charan, which comes down -four hundred years and more, proves the contrary, for it still has -the fresh, sweet flavour of a romance of yesterday; albeit the setting -of the East provides an odd and interesting background.] - - - -In the days of King Sung-jong (A.D. 1488-1495) one of Korea's noted -men became governor of Pyong-an Province. Now Pyong-an stands first -of all the eight provinces in the attainments of erudition and polite -society. Many of her literati are good musicians, and show ability -in the affairs of State. - -At the time of this story there was a famous dancing girl in Pyong-an -whose name was Charan. She was very beautiful, and sang and danced to -the delight of all beholders. Her ability, too, was specially marked, -for she understood the classics and was acquainted with history. The -brightest of all the geisha was she, famous and far-renowned. - -The Governor's family consisted of a son, whose age was sixteen, -and whose face was comely as a picture. Though so young, he was -thoroughly grounded in Chinese, and was a gifted scholar. His -judgment was excellent, and he had a fine appreciation of literary -form, so that the moment he lifted his pen the written line took on -admirable expression. His name became known as Keydong (The Gifted -Lad). The Governor had no other children, neither son nor daughter, -so his heart was wrapped up in this boy. On his birthday he had all -the officials invited and other special guests, who came to drink -his health. There were present also a company of dancing-girls and a -large band of musicians. The Governor, during a lull in the banquet, -called his son to him, and ordered the chief of the dancing-girls to -choose one of the prettiest of their number, that he and she might -dance together and delight the assembled guests. On hearing this, -the company, with one accord, called for Charan, as the one suited -by her talents, attainments and age to be a fitting partner for his -son. They came out and danced like fairies, graceful as the wavings -of the willow, light and airy as the swallow. All who saw them were -charmed. The Governor, too, greatly pleased, called Charan to him, -had her sit on the dais, treated her to a share in the banquet, gave -her a present of silk, and commanded that from that day forth she be -the special dancing maiden to attend upon his son. - -From this birthday forth they became fast friends together. They -thought the world of each other. More than all the delightful stories -of history was their love--such as had never been seen. - -The Governor's term of office was extended for six years more, and so -they remained in the north country. Finally, at the time of return, he -and his wife were in great anxiety over their son being separated from -Charan. If they were to force them to separate, they feared he would -die of a broken heart. If they took her with them, she not being his -wife, they feared for his reputation. They could not possibly decide, -so they concluded to refer the matter to the son himself. They called -him and said, "Even parents cannot decide as to the love of their son -for a maiden. What ought we to do? You love Charan so that it will be -very hard for you to part, and yet to have a dancing-girl before you -are married is not good form, and will interfere with your marriage -prospects and promotion. However, the having of a second wife is a -common custom in Korea, and one that the world recognizes. Do as you -think best in the matter." The son replied, "There is no difficulty; -when she is before my eyes, of course she is everything, but when -the time comes for me to start for home she will be like a pair of -worn shoes, set aside; so please do not be anxious." - -The Governor and his wife were greatly delighted, and said he was a -"superior man" indeed. - -When the time came to part Charan cried bitterly, so that those -standing by could not bear to look at her; but the son showed not the -slightest sign of emotion. Those looking on were filled with wonder at -his fortitude. Although he had already loved Charan for six years, he -had never been separated from her for a single day, so he knew not what -it meant to say Good-bye, nor did he know how it felt to be parted. - -The Governor returned to Seoul to fill the office of Chief Justice, -and the son came also. After this return thoughts of love for Charan -possessed Keydong, though he never expressed them in word or manner. It -was almost the time of the Kam-see Examination. The father, therefore, -ordered his son to go with some of his friends to a neighbouring -monastery to study and prepare. They went, and one night, after -the day's work was over and all were asleep, the young man stole -out into the courtyard. It was winter, with frost and snow and a -cold, clear moon. The mountains were deep and the world was quiet, -so that the slightest sound could be heard. The young man looked -up at the moon and his thoughts were full of sorrow. He so wished -to see Charan that he could no longer control himself, and fearing -that he would lose his reason, he decided that very night to set out -for far-distant Pyong-an. He had on a fur head-dress, a thick coat, -a leather belt and a heavy pair of shoes. When he had gone less than -ten lee, however, his feet were blistered, and he had to go into a -neighbouring village and change his leather shoes for straw sandals, -and his expensive head-cover for an ordinary servant's hat. He went -thus on his way, begging as he went. He was often very hungry, and -when night came, was very, very cold. He was a rich man's son and had -always dressed in silk and eaten dainty fare, and had never in his -life walked more than a few feet from his father's door. Now there -lay before him a journey of hundreds of miles. He went stumbling along -through the snow, making but poor progress. Hungry, and frozen nearly -to death, he had never known such suffering before. His clothes were -torn and his face became worn down and blackened till he looked like -a goblin. Still on he went, little by little, day after day, till at -last, when a whole month had gone by, he reached Pyong-an. - -Straight to Charan's home he went, but Charan was not there, only -her mother. She looked at him, but did not recognize him. He said he -was the former Governor's son and that out of love for Charan he had -walked five hundred lee. "Where is she?" he asked. The mother heard, -but instead of being pleased was very angry. She said, "My daughter is -now with the son of the new Governor, and I never see her at all; she -never comes home, and she has been away for two or three months. Even -though you have made this long journey there is no possible way to -meet her." - -She did not invite him in, so cold was her welcome. He thought to -himself, "I came to see Charan, but she is not here. Her mother refuses -me; I cannot go back, and I cannot stay. What shall I do?" While -thus in this dilemma a plan occurred to him. There was a scribe in -Pyong-an, who, during his father's term of office, had offended, -and was sentenced to death. There were extenuating circumstances, -however, and he, when he went to pay his morning salutations, had -besought and secured his pardon. His father, out of regard for his -son's petition, had forgiven the scribe. He thought, "I was the means -of saving the man's life, he will take me in;" so he went straight -from Charan's to the house of the scribe. But at first this writer -did not recognize him. When he gave his name and told who he was, the -scribe gave a great start, and fell at his feet making obeisance. He -cleared out an inner room and made him comfortable, prepared dainty -fare and treated him with all respect. - -A little later he talked over with his host the possibility of his -meeting Charan. The scribe said, "I am afraid that there is no way -for you to meet her alone, but if you would like to see even her face, -I think I can manage it. Will you consent?" - -He asked as to the plan. It was this: It being now a time of snow, -daily coolies were called to sweep it away from the inner court of -the Governor's yamen, and just now the scribe was in charge of this -particular work. Said he, "If you will join the sweepers, take a -broom and go in; you will no doubt catch a glimpse of Charan as she -is said to be in the Hill Kiosk. I know of no other plan." - -Keydong consented. In the early morning he mixed with the company -of sweepers and went with his broom into the inner enclosure, where -the Hill Kiosk was, and so they worked at sweeping. Just then the -Governor's son was sitting by the open window and Charan was by -him, but not visible from the outside. The other workers, being all -practised hands, swept well; Keydong alone handled his broom to no -advantage, knowing not how to sweep. The Governor's son, watching the -process, looked out and laughed, called Charan and invited her to see -this sweeper. Charan stepped out into the open hall and the sweeper -raised his eyes to see. She glanced at him but once, and but for a -moment, then turned quickly, went into the room, and shut the door, -not appearing again, to the disappointment of the sweeper, who came -back in despair to the scribe's house. - -Charan was first of all a wise and highly gifted woman. One look -had told her who the sweeper was. She came back into the room and -began to cry. The Governor's son looked in surprise and displeasure, -and asked, "Why do you cry?" She did not reply at once, but after -two or three insistent demands told the reason thus: "I am a low -class woman; you are mistaken in thinking highly of me, or counting -me of worth. Already I have not been home for two whole months and -more. This is a special compliment and a high honour, and so there -is not the slightest reason for any complaint on my part. But still, -I think of my home, which is poor, and my mother. It is customary on -the anniversary of my father's death to prepare food from the official -quarters, and offer a sacrifice to his spirit, but here I am imprisoned -and to-morrow is the sacrificial day. I fear that not a single act of -devotion will be paid, I am disturbed over it, and that's why I cry." - -The Governor's son was so taken in by this fair statement that he -trusted her fully and without a question. Sympathetically he asked, -"Why didn't you tell me before?" He prepared the food and told her to -hurry home and carry out the ceremony. So Charan came like flaming fire -back to her house, and said to her mother, "Keydong has come and I have -seen him. Is he not here? Tell me where he is if you know." The mother -said, "He came here, it is true, all the way on foot to see you, but -I told him that you were in the yamen and that there was no possible -way for you to meet, so he went away and where he is I know not." - -Then Charan broke down and began to cry. "Oh, my mother, why had you -the heart to do so cruelly?" she sobbed. "As far as I am concerned -I can never break with him nor give him up. We were each sixteen -when chosen to dance together, and while it may be said that men -chose us, it is truer still to say that God hath chosen. We grew into -each other's lives, and there was never such love as ours. Though he -forgot and left me, I can never forget and can never give him up. The -Governor, too, called me the beloved wife of his son, and did not once -refer to my low station. He cherished me and gave me many gifts. 'Twas -all like heaven and not like earth. To the city of Pyong-an gentry and -officials gather as men crowd into a boat; I have seen so many, but -for grace and ability no one was ever like Keydong. I must find him, -and even though he casts me aside I never shall forget him. I have not -kept myself even unto death as I should have, because I have been under -the power and influence of the Governor. How could he ever have come so -far for one so low and vile? He, a gentleman of the highest birth, for -the sake of a wretched dancing-girl has endured all this hardship and -come so far. Could you not have thought, mother, of these things and -given him at least some kindly welcome? Could my heart be other than -broken?" And a great flow of tears came from Charan's eyes. She thought -and thought as to where he could possibly be. "I know of no place," -said she, "unless it be at such and such a scribe's home." Quick as -thought she flew thence, and there they met. They clasped each other -and cried, not a word was spoken. Thus came they back to Charan's -home side by side. When it was night Charan said, "When to-morrow -comes we shall have to part. What shall we do?" They talked it over, -and agreed to make their escape that night. So Charan got together -her clothing, and her treasures and jewels, and made two bundles, and -thus, he carrying his on his back and she hers on her head, away they -went while the city slept. They followed the road that leads toward -the mountains that lie between Yang-tok and Maing-san counties. There -they found a country house, where they put up, and where the Governor's -son became a sort of better-class servant. He did not know how to do -anything well, but Charan understood weaving and sewing, and so they -lived. After some time they got a little thatched hut by themselves in -the village and lived there. Charan was a beautiful sewing-woman, and -ceased not day and night to ply her needle, and sold her treasures and -her jewels to make ends meet. Charan, too, knew how to make friends, -and was praised and loved by all the village. Everybody felt sorry -for the hard times that had befallen this mysterious young couple, and -helped them so that the days passed peacefully and happily together. - -To return in the story: On awaking in the morning in the temple where -he and his friends had gone to study, they found Keydong missing. All -was in a state of confusion as to what had become of the son of the -Chief Justice. They hunted for him far and wide, but he was nowhere -to be found, so word was sent to the parents accordingly. There was -untold consternation in the home of the former governor. So great a -loss, what could equal it? They searched the country about the temple, -but no trace or shadow of him was to be found. Some said they thought -he had been inveigled away and metamorphosed by the fox; others that he -had been eaten by the tiger. The parents decided that he was dead and -went into mourning for him, burning his clothing in a sacrificial fire. - -In Pyong-an the Governor's son, when he found that he had lost Charan, -had Charan's mother imprisoned and all the relatives, but after a -month or so, when the search proved futile, he gave up the matter -and let them go. - -Charan, at last happy with her chosen one, said one day to him, "You, -a son of the gentry, for the sake of a dancing-girl have given up -parents and home to live in this hidden corner of the hills. It is a -matter, too, that touches your filial piety, this leaving your father -and mother in doubt as to whether you are alive or not. They ought to -know. We cannot live here all our lives, neither can we return home; -what do you think we ought to do?" Keydong made a hopeless reply. "I -am in distress," said he, "and know not." - -Charan said brightly, "I have a plan by which we can cover over the -faults of the past, and win a new start for the future. By means of -it, you can serve your parents and look the world in the face. Will -you consent?" - -"What do you propose?" asked he. Her reply was, "There is only one -way, and that is by means of the Official Examination. I know of no -other. You will understand what I mean, even though I do not tell -you more." - -He said, "Enough, your plan is just the thing to help us out. But -how can I get hold of the books I need?" - -Charan replied, "Don't be anxious about that, I'll get the books." From -that day forth she sent through all the neighbourhood for books, to be -secured at all costs; but there were few or none, it being a mountain -village. One day there came by, all unexpectedly, a pack-peddler, who -had in his bundle a book that he wished to sell. Some of the village -people wanted to buy it for wall-paper. Charan, however, secured it -first and showed it to Keydong. It was none other than a special work -for Examinations, with all the exercises written out. It was written -in small characters, and was a huge book containing several thousand -exercises. Keydong was delighted, and said, "This is enough for all -needed preparation." She bought it and gave it to him, and there he -pegged away day after day. In the night he studied by candle-light, -while she sat by his side and did silk-spinning. Thus they shared -the light together. If he showed any remissness, Charan urged him -on, and thus they worked for two years. To begin with, he, being a -highly talented scholar, made steady advancement day by day. He was -a beautiful writer and a master of the pen. His compositions, too, -were without a peer, and every indication pointed to his winning the -highest place in the Kwago (Examination). - -At this time a proclamation was issued that there would be a special -examination held before His Majesty the King, so Charan made ready -the food required and all necessaries for him to go afoot to Seoul -to try his hand. - -At last here he was, within the Palace enclosure. His Majesty came -out into the examination arena and posted up the subject. Keydong took -his pen and wrote his finished composition. Under the inspiration of -the moment his lines came forth like bubbling water. It was finished. - -When the announcement was made as to the winner, the King ordered -the sealed name of the writer to be opened. It was, and they found -that Keydong was first. At that time his father was Prime Minister -and waiting in attendance upon the King. The King called the Prime -Minister, and said, "It looks to me as though the winner was your son, -but he writes that his father is Chief Justice and not Prime Minister; -what can that mean?" He handed the composition paper to the father, -and asked him to look and see. The Minister gazed at it in wonder, -burst into tears, and said, "It is your servant's son. Three years ago -he went with some friends to a monastery to study, but one night he -disappeared, and though I searched far and wide I have had no word of -him since. I concluded that he had been destroyed by some wild animal, -so I had a funeral service held and the house went into mourning. I -had no other children but this son only. He was greatly gifted and -I lost him in this strange way. The memory has never left me, for it -seems as though I had lost him but yesterday. Now that I look at this -paper I see indeed that it is the writing of my son. When I lost him -I was Chief Justice, and thus he records the office; but where he has -been for these three years, and how he comes now to take part in the -examination, I know not." - -The King, hearing this, was greatly astonished, and at once before all -the assembled ministers had him called. Thus he came in his scholar's -dress into the presence of the King. All the officials wondered at this -summoning of a candidate before the announcement of the result. The -King asked him why he had left the monastery and where he had been -for these three years. He bowed low, and said, "I have been a very -wicked man, have left my parents, have broken all the laws of filial -devotion, and deserve condign punishment." The King replied, saying, -"There is no law of concealment before the King. I shall not condemn -you even though you are guilty; tell me all." Then he told his story to -the King. All the officials on each side bent their ears to hear. The -King sighed, and said to the father, "Your son has repented and made -amends for his fault. He has won first place and now stands as a -member of the Court. We cannot condemn him for his love for this -woman. Forgive him for all the past and give him a start for the -future." His Majesty said further, "The woman Charan, who has shared -your life in the lonely mountains, is no common woman. Her plans, -too, for your restoration were the plans of a master hand. She is -no dancing-girl, this Charan. Let no other be your lawful wife but -she only; let her be raised to equal rank with her husband, and let -her children and her children's children hold highest office in the -realm." So was Keydong honoured with the winner's crown, and so the -Prime Minister received his son back to life at the hands of the -King. The winner's cap was placed upon his head, and the whole house -was whirled into raptures of joy. - -So the Minister sent forth a palanquin and servants to bring up -Charan. In a great festival of joy she was proclaimed the wife of the -Minister's son. Later he became one of Korea's first men of State, -and they lived their happy life to a good old age. They had two sons, -both graduates and men who held high office. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -II - -THE STORY OF CHANG TO-RYONG - - -[Taoism has been one of the great religions of Korea. Its main -thought is expressed in the phrase su-sim yon-song, "to correct the -mind and reform the nature"; while Buddhism's is myong-sim kyon-song, -"to enlighten the heart and see the soul." - -The desire of all Taoists is "eternal life," chang-saing pul-sa; -that of the Buddhists, to rid oneself of fleshly being. In the Taoist -world of the genii, there are three great divisions: the upper genii, -who live with God; the midway genii, who have to do with the world -of angels and spirits; and the lower genii, who rule in sacred places -on the earth, among the hills, just as we find in the story of Chang -To-ryong.] - - - -In the days of King Chung-jong (A.D. 1507-1526) there lived a beggar -in Seoul, whose face was extremely ugly and always dirty. He was -forty years of age or so, but still wore his hair down his back like -an unmarried boy. He carried a bag over his shoulder, and went about -the streets begging. During the day he went from one part of the city -to the other, visiting each section, and when night came on he would -huddle up beside some one's gate and go to sleep. He was frequently -seen in Chong-no (Bell Street) in company with the servants and -underlings of the rich. They were great friends, he and they, joking -and bantering as they met. He used to say that his name was Chang, -and so they called him Chang To-ryong, To-ryong meaning an unmarried -boy, son of the gentry. At that time the magician Chon U-chi, who -was far-famed for his pride and arrogance, whenever he met Chang, in -passing along the street, would dismount and prostrate himself most -humbly. Not only did he bow, but he seemed to regard Chang with the -greatest of fear, so that he dared not look him in the face. Chang, -sometimes, without even inclining his head, would say, "Well, how -goes it with you, eh?" Chon, with his hands in his sleeves, most -respectfully would reply, "Very well, sir, thank you, very well." He -had fear written on all his features when he faced Chang. - -Sometimes, too, when Chon would bow, Chang would refuse to notice him -at all, and go by without a word. Those who saw it were astonished, -and asked Chon the reason. Chon said in reply, "There are only -three spirit-men at present in Cho-sen, of whom the greatest is -Chang To-ryong; the second is Cheung Puk-chang; and the third is Yun -Se-pyong. People of the world do not know it, but I do. Such being -the case, should I not bow before him and show him reverence?" - -Those who heard this explanation, knowing that Chon himself was a -strange being, paid no attention to it. - -At that time in Seoul there was a certain literary undergraduate -in office whose house joined hard on the street. This man used to -see Chang frequently going about begging, and one day he called him -and asked who he was, and why he begged. Chang made answer, "I was -originally of a cultured family of Chulla Province, but my parents -died of typhus fever, and I had no brothers or relations left to -share my lot. I alone remained of all my clan, and having no home of -my own I have gone about begging, and have at last reached Seoul. As -I am not skilled in any handicraft, and do not know Chinese letters, -what else can I do?" The undergraduate, hearing that he was a scholar, -felt very sorry for him, gave him food and drink, and refreshed him. - -From this time on, whenever there was any special celebration at his -home, he used to call Chang in and have him share it. - -On a certain day when the master was on his way to office, he -saw a dead body being carried on a stretcher off toward the Water -Gate. Looking at it closely from the horse on which he rode, he -recognized it as the corpse of Chang To-ryong. He felt so sad that -he turned back to his house and cried over it, saying, "There are -lots of miserable people on earth, but who ever saw one as miserable -as poor Chang? As I reckon the time over on my fingers, he has been -begging in Bell Street for fifteen years, and now he passes out of -the city a dead body." - -Twenty years and more afterwards the master had to make a journey -through South Chulla Province. As he was passing Chi-i Mountain, he -lost his way and got into a maze among the hills. The day began to -wane, and he could neither return nor go forward. He saw a narrow -footpath, such as woodmen take, and turned into it to see if it -led to any habitation. As he went along there were rocks and deep -ravines. Little by little, as he advanced farther, the scene changed -and seemed to become strangely transfigured. The farther he went the -more wonderful it became. After he had gone some miles he discovered -himself to be in another world entirely, no longer a world of earth -and dust. He saw some one coming toward him dressed in ethereal green, -mounted and carrying a shade, with servants accompanying. He seemed -to sweep toward him with swiftness and without effort. He thought to -himself, "Here is some high lord or other coming to meet me, but," -he added, "how among these deeps and solitudes could a gentleman come -riding so?" He led his horse aside and tried to withdraw into one -of the groves by the side of the way, but before he could think to -turn the man had reached him. The mysterious stranger lifted his two -hands in salutation and inquired respectfully as to how he had been -all this time. The master was speechless, and so astonished that he -could make no reply. But the stranger smilingly said, "My house is -quite near here; come with me and rest." - -He turned, and leading the way seemed to glide and not to walk, while -the master followed. At last they reached the place indicated. He -suddenly saw before him great palace halls filling whole squares of -space. Beautiful buildings they were, richly ornamented. Before the -door attendants in official robes awaited them. They bowed to the -master and led him into the hall. After passing a number of gorgeous, -palace-like rooms, he arrived at a special one and ascended to the -upper storey, where he met a very wonderful person. He was dressed in -shining garments, and the servants that waited on him were exceedingly -fair. There were, too, children about, so exquisitely beautiful that -it seemed none other than a celestial palace. The master, alarmed -at finding himself in such a place, hurried forward and made a low -obeisance, not daring to lift his eyes. But the host smiled upon him, -raised his hands and asked, "Do you not know me? Look now." Lifting his -eyes, he then saw that it was the same person who had come riding out -to meet him, but he could not tell who he was. "I see you," said he, -"but as to who you are I cannot tell." - -The kingly host then said, "I am Chang To-ryong. Do you not know -me?" Then as the master looked more closely at him he could see -the same features. The outlines of the face were there, but all the -imperfections had gone, and only beauty remained. So wonderful was -it that he was quite overcome. - -A great feast was prepared, and the honoured guest was -entertained. Such food, too, was placed before him as was never seen -on earth. Angelic beings played on beautiful instruments and danced -as no mortal eye ever looked upon. Their faces, too, were like pearls -and precious stones. - -Chang To-ryong said to his guest, "There are four famous mountains -in Korea in which the genii reside. This hill is one. In days gone -by, for a fault of mine, I was exiled to earth, and in the time of -my exile you treated me with marked kindness, a favour that I have -never forgotten. When you saw my dead body your pity went out to -me; this, too, I remember. I was not dead then, it was simply that -my days of exile were ended and I was returning home. I knew that -you were passing this hill, and I desired to meet you and to thank -you for all your kindness. Your treatment of me in another world is -sufficient to bring about our meeting in this one." And so they met -and feasted in joy and great delight. - -When night came he was escorted to a special pavilion, where he -was to sleep. The windows were made of jade and precious stones, -and soft lights came streaming through them, so that there was no -night. "My body was so rested and my soul so refreshed," said he, -"that I felt no need of sleep." - -When the day dawned a new feast was spread, and then farewells were -spoken. Chang said, "This is not a place for you to stay long in; -you must go. The ways differ of we genii and you men of the world. It -will be difficult for us ever to meet again. Take good care of yourself -and go in peace." He then called a servant to accompany him and show -the way. The master made a low bow and withdrew. When he had gone but -a short distance he suddenly found himself in the old world with its -dusty accompaniments. The path by which he came out was not the way -by which he had entered. In order to mark the entrance he planted a -stake, and then the servant withdrew and disappeared. - -The year following the master went again and tried to find the citadel -of the genii, but there were only mountain peaks and impassable -ravines, and where it was he never could discover. - -As the years went by the master seemed to grow younger in spirit, and -at last at the age of ninety he passed away without suffering. "When -Chang was here on earth and I saw him for fifteen years," said the -master, "I remember but one peculiarity about him, namely, that his -face never grew older nor did his dirty clothing ever wear out. He -never changed his garb, and yet it never varied in appearance in all -the fifteen years. This alone would have marked him as a strange being, -but our fleshly eyes did not recognize it." - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -III - -A STORY OF THE FOX - - -[The Fox.--Orientals say that among the long-lived creatures are the -tortoise, the deer, the crane and the fox, and that these long-lived -ones attain to special states of spiritual refinement. If trees exist -through long ages they become coal; if pine resin endures it becomes -amber; so the fox, if it lives long, while it never becomes an angel, -or spiritual being, as a man does, takes on various metamorphoses, -and appears on earth in various forms.] - - - -Yi Kwai was the son of a minister. He passed his examinations and -held high office. When his father was Governor of Pyong-an Province, -Kwai was a little boy and accompanied him. The Governor's first wife -being dead, Kwai's stepmother was the mistress of the home. Once when -His Excellency had gone out on an inspecting tour, the yamen was left -vacant, and Kwai was there with her. In the rear garden of the official -quarters was a pavilion, called the Hill Pagoda, that was connected by -a narrow gateway with the public hall. Frequently Kwai took one of the -yamen boys with him and went there to study, and once at night when it -had grown late and the boy who accompanied him had taken his departure, -the door opened suddenly and a young woman came in. Her clothes were -neat and clean, and she was very pretty. Kwai looked carefully at her, -but did not recognize her. She was evidently a stranger, as there -was no such person among the dancing-girls of the yamen. - -He remained looking at her, in doubt as to who she was, while she -on the other hand took her place in the corner of the room and said -nothing. - -"Who are you?" he asked. She merely laughed and made no reply. He -called her. She came and knelt down before him, and he took her by the -hand and patted her shoulder, as though he greeted her favourably. The -woman smiled and pretended to enjoy it. He concluded, however, that -she was not a real woman, but a goblin of some kind, or perhaps a fox, -and what to do he knew not. Suddenly he decided on a plan, caught -her, swung her on to his back, and rushed out through the gate into -the yamen quarters, where he shouted at the top of his voice for his -stepmother and the servants to come. - -It was midnight and all were asleep. No one replied, and no one -came. The woman, then, being on his back, bit him furiously at the -nape of the neck. By this he knew that she was the fox. Unable to -stand the pain of it, he loosened his grasp, when she jumped to the -ground, made her escape and was seen no more. - -What a pity that no one came to Kwai's rescue and so made sure of -the beast! - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -IV - - -CHEUNG PUK-CHANG, THE SEER - -[Cheung Puk-chang.--The Yol-ryok Keui-sul, one of Korea's noted -histories, says of Cheung Puk-chang that he was pure in purpose -and without selfish ambition. He was superior to all others in his -marvellous gifts. For him to read a book once was to know it by -heart. There was nothing that he could not understand--astronomy, -geology, music, medicine, mathematics, fortune-telling and Chinese -characters, which he knew by intuition and not from study. - -He followed his father in the train of the envoy to Peking, and -there talked to all the strange peoples whom he met without any -preparation. They all wondered at him and called him "The Mystery." He -knew, too, the meaning of the calls of birds and beasts; and while he -lived in the mountains he could see and tell what people were doing -in the distant valley, indicating what was going on in each house, -which, upon investigation, was found in each case to be true. He was -a Taoist, and received strange revelations. - -While in Peking there met him envoys from the Court of Loochoo, -who also were prophets. While in their own country they had studied -the horoscope, and on going into China knew that they were to meet -a Holy Man. As they went on their way they asked concerning this -mysterious being, and at last reached Peking. Inquiring, they went -from one envoy's station to another till they met Cheung Puk-chang, -when a great fear came upon them, and they fell prostrate to the earth. - -They took from their baggage a little book inscribed, "In such a year, -on such a day, at such an hour, in such a place, you shall meet a -Holy Man." "If this does not mean your Excellency," said they, "whom -can it mean?" They asked that he would teach them the sacred Book of -Changes, and he responded by teaching it in their own language. At -that time the various envoys, hearing of this, contended with each -other as to who should first see the marvellous stranger, and he -spoke to each in his own tongue. They all, greatly amazed, said, -"He is indeed a man of God." - -Some one asked him, saying, "There are those who understand the sounds -of birds and beasts, but foreign languages have to be learned to be -known; how can you speak them without study?" - -Puk-chang replied, "I do not know them from having learned them, -but know them unconsciously." - -Puk-chang was acquainted with the three religions, but he considered -Confucianism as the first. "Its writings as handed down," said he, -"teach us filial piety and reverence. The learning of the Sages -deals with relationships among men and not with spiritual mysteries; -but Taoism and Buddhism deal with the examination of the soul and the -heart, and so with things above and not with things on the earth. This -is the difference." - -At thirty-two years of age he matriculated, but had no interest in -further literary study. He became, instead, an official teacher of -medicine, astrology and mathematics. - -He was a fine whistler, we are told, and once when he had climbed to -the highest peak of the Diamond Mountains and there whistled, the -echoes resounded through the hills, and the priests were startled -and wondered whose flute was playing.] - - - -[There is a term in Korea which reads he-an pang-kwang, "spiritual-eye -distant-vision," the seeing of things in the distance. This pertains -to both Taoists and Buddhists. - -It is said that when the student reaches a certain stage in his -progress, the soft part of the head returns to the primal thinness -that is seen in the child to rise and fall when it breathes. From -this part of the head go forth five rays of light that shoot out and -up more and more as the student advances in the spiritual way. As far -as they extend so is the spiritual vision perfected, until at last a -Korean sufficiently advanced could sit and say, "In London, to-day, -such and such a great affair is taking place." - -For example, So Wha-tam, who was a Taoist Sage, once was seen to laugh -to himself as he sat with closed eyes, and when asked why he laughed, -said, "Just now in the monastery of Ha-in [300 miles distant] there -is a great feast going on. The priest stirring the huge kettle of -bean gruel has tumbled in, but the others do not know this, and are -eating the soup." News came from the monastery later on that proved -that what the sage had seen was actually true. - -The History of Confucius, too, deals with this when it tells of his -going with his disciple An-ja and looking off from the Tai Mountains -of Shan-tung toward the kingdom of On. Confucius asked An-ja if he -could see anything, and An-ja replied, "I see white horses tied at -the gates of On." - -Confucius said, "No, no, your vision is imperfect, desist from -looking. They are not white horses, but are rolls of white silk hung -out for bleaching."] - - - - -The Story - -The Master, Puk-chang, was a noted Korean. From the time of his -birth he was a wonderful mystery. In reading a book, if he but glanced -through it, he could recall it word for word. Without any special study -he became a master of astronomy, geology, medicine, fortune-telling, -music, mathematics and geomancy, and so truly a specialist was he -that he knew them all. - -He was thoroughly versed also in the three great religions, -Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. He talked constantly of what -other people could not possibly comprehend. He understood the sounds -of the birds, the voices of Nature, and much else. He accompanied -his father in his boyhood days when he went as envoy to Peking. At -that time, strange barbarian peoples used also to come and pay their -tribute. Puk-chang picked up acquaintance with them on the way. Hearing -their language but once, he was readily able to communicate with -them. His own countrymen who accompanied him were not the only -ones astonished, nor the Chinamen themselves, but the barbarians -as well. There are numerous interesting stories hinted at in the -history of Puk-chang, but few suitable records were made of them, -and so many are lost. - -There is one, however, that I recall that comes to me through -trustworthy witnesses: Puk-chang, on a certain day, went to visit -his paternal aunt. She asked him to be seated, and as they talked -together, said to him, "I had some harvesting to do in Yong-nam -County, and sent a servant to see to it. His return is overdue and -yet he does not come. I am afraid he has fallen in with thieves, -or chanced on a fire or some other misfortune." - -Puk-chang replied, "Shall I tell you how it goes with him, and how -far he has come on the way?" - -She laughed, saying, "Do you mean to joke about it?" - -Puk-chang, from where he was sitting, looked off apparently to the far -south, and at last said to his aunt, "He is just now crossing the hill -called Bird Pass in Mun-kyong County, Kyong-sang Province. Hallo! he -is getting a beating just now from a passing yangban (gentleman), -but I see it is his own fault, so you need not trouble about him." - -The aunt laughed, and asked, "Why should he be beaten; what's the -reason, pray?" - -Puk-chang replied, "It seems this official was eating his dinner at the -top of the hill when your servant rode by him without dismounting. The -gentleman was naturally very angry and had his servants arrest your -man, pull him from his horse, and beat him over the face with their -rough straw shoes." - -The aunt could not believe it true, but treated the matter as a joke; -and yet Puk-chang did not seem to be joking. - -Interested and curious, she made a note of the day on the wall after -Puk-chang had taken his departure, and when the servant returned, -she asked him what day he had come over Bird Pass, and it proved to -be the day recorded. She added also, "Did you get into trouble with -a yangban there when you came by?" - -The servant gave a startled look, and asked, "How do you know?" He -then told all that had happened to him, and it was just as Puk-chang -had given it even to the smallest detail. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -V - -YUN SE-PYONG, THE WIZARD - - -[Yun Se-pyong was a man of Seoul who lived to the age of over -ninety. When he was young he loved archery, and went as military -attaché to the capital of the Mings (Nanking). There he met a prophet -who taught him the Whang-jong Kyong, or Sacred Book of the Taoists, -and thus he learned their laws and practised their teachings. His -life was written by Yi So-kwang.] - - - -[Chon U-chi was a magician of Songdo who lived about 1550, and was -associated in his life with Shin Kwang-hu. At the latter's residence -one day when a friend called, Kwang-hu asked Chon to show them one -of his special feats. A little later they brought in a table of rice -for each of the party, and Chon took a mouthful of his, and then blew -it out toward the courtyard, when the rice changed into beautiful -butterflies that flew gaily away. - -Chang O-sa used to tell a story of his father, who said that one day -Chon came to call upon him at his house and asked for a book entitled -The Tu-si, which he gave to him. "I had no idea," said the father, -"that he was dead and that it was his ghost. I gave him the book, -though I did not learn till afterwards that he had been dead for a -long time." - -The History of Famous Men says, "He was a man who understood heretical -magic, and other dangerous teachings by which he deceived the -people. He was arrested for this and locked up in prison in Sin-chon, -Whang-hai Province, and there he died. His burial was ordered by the -prison authorities, and later, when his relatives came to exhume his -remains, they found that the coffin was empty." - -This and the story of Im Bang do not agree as to his death, and I am -not able to judge between them.--J. S. G.] - - - -[The transformation of men into beasts, bugs and creeping things -comes from Buddhism; one seldom finds it in Taoism.] - - - - -The Story - -Yun Se-Pyong was a military man who rose to the rank of minister in -the days of King Choong-jong. It seems that Yun learned the doctrine -of magic from a passing stranger, whom he met on his way to Peking in -company with the envoy. When at home he lived in a separate house, -quite apart from the other members of his family. He was a man so -greatly feared that even his wife and children dared not approach -him. What he did in secret no one seemed to know. In winter he was -seen to put iron cleats under each arm and to change them frequently, -and when they were put off they seemed to be red-hot. - -At the same time there was a magician in Korea called Chon U-chi, who -used to go about Seoul plying his craft. So skilful was he that he -could even simulate the form of the master of a house and go freely -into the women's quarters. On this account he was greatly feared and -detested. Yun heard of him on more than one occasion, and determined -to rid the earth of him. Chon heard also of Yun and gave him a wide -berth, never appearing in his presence. He used frequently to say, -"I am a magician only; Yun is a God." - -On a certain day Chon informed his wife that Yun would come that -afternoon and try to kill him, "and so," said he, "I shall change my -shape in order to escape his clutches. If any one comes asking for -me just say that I am not at home." He then metamorphosed himself -into a beetle, and crawled under a crock that stood overturned in -the courtyard. - -When evening began to fall a young woman came to Chon's house, a very -beautiful woman too, and asked, "Is the master Chon at home?" - -The wife replied, "He has just gone out." - -The woman laughingly said, "Master Chon and I have been special -friend's for a long time, and I have an appointment with him -to-day. Please say to him that I have come." - -Chon's wife, seeing a pretty woman come thus, and ask in such a -familiar way for her husband, flew into a rage and said, "The rascal -has evidently a second wife that he has never told me of. What he -said just now is all false," so she went out in a fury, and with a -club smashed the crock. When the crock was broken there was the beetle -underneath it. Then the woman who had called suddenly changed into a -bee, and flew at and stung the beetle. Chon, metamorphosed into his -accustomed form, fell over and died, and the bee flew away. - -Yun lived at his own house as usual, when suddenly he broke down -one day in a fit of tears. The members of his family in alarm asked -the reason. - -He replied, "My sister living in Chulla Province has just at this -moment died." He then called his servants, and had them prepare -funeral supplies, saying, "They are poor where she lives, and so I -must help them." - -He wrote a letter, and after sealing it, said to one of his attendants, -"If you go just outside the gate you will meet a man wearing a -horsehair cap and a soldier's uniform. Call him in. He is standing -there ready to be summoned." - -He was called in, and sure enough he was a Kon-yun-no (servant of the -gods). He came in and at once prostrated himself before Yun. Yun said, -"My sister has just now died in such a place in Chulla Province. Take -this letter and go at once. I shall expect you back to-night with -the answer. The matter is of such great importance that if you do -not bring it as I order, and within the time appointed, I shall have -you punished." - -He replied, "I shall be in time, be not anxious." - -Yun then gave him the letter and the bundle, and he went outside the -main gateway and disappeared. - -Before dark he returned with the answer. The letter read: "She died -at such an hour to-day and we were in straits as to what to do, when -your letter came with the supplies, just as though we had seen each -other. Wonderful it is!" The man who brought the answer immediately -went out and disappeared. The house of mourning is situated over ten -days' journey from Seoul, but he returned ere sunset, in the space -of two or three hours. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -VI - -THE WILD-CAT WOMAN - - -[Kim Su-ik was a native of Seoul who matriculated in 1624 and -graduated in 1630. In 1636, when the King made his escape to Nam-han -from the invading Manchu army, Kim Su-ik accompanied him. He opposed -any yielding to China or any treaty with them, but because his counsel -was not received he withdrew from public life.] - - - -[Tong Chung-so was a Chinaman of great note. He once desired to -give himself up to study, and did not go out of his room for three -years. During this time a young man one day called on him, and while -he stood waiting said to himself, "It will rain to-day." Tong replied -at once, "If you are not a fox you are a wild cat--out of this," -and the man at once ran away. How he came to know this was from the -words, "Birds that live in the trees know when the wind will blow; -beasts that live in the ground know when it is going to rain." The -wild cat unconsciously told on himself.] - - - - -The Story - -The former magistrate of Quelpart, Kim Su-ik, lived inside of the -South Gate of Seoul. When he was young it was his habit to study -Chinese daily until late at night. Once, when feeling hungry, he -called for his wife to bring him something to eat. - -The wife replied, "We have nothing in the house except seven or eight -chestnuts. Shall I roast these and bring them to you?" - -Kim replied, "Good; bring them." - -The servants were asleep, and there was no one on hand to answer a -call, so the wife went to the kitchen, made a fire and cooked them -herself. Kim waited, meanwhile, for her to come. - -After a little while she brought them in a handbasket, cooked and -ready served for him. Kim ate and enjoyed them much. Meanwhile -she sat before his desk and waited. Suddenly the door opened, and -another person entered. Kim raised his eyes to see, and there was the -exact duplicate of his wife, with a basket in her hand and roasted -chestnuts. As he looked at both of them beneath the light the two -women were perfect facsimiles of each other. The two also looked back -and forth in alarm, saying, "What's this that's happened? Who are you?" - -Kim once again received the roasted nuts, laid them down, and then -took firm hold of each woman, the first one by the right hand and -the second by the left, holding fast till the break of day. - -At last the cocks crew, and the east began to lighten. The one whose -right hand he held, said, "Why do you hold me so? It hurts; let me -go." She shook and tugged, but Kim held all the tighter. In a little, -after struggling, she fell to the floor and suddenly changed into -a wild cat. Kim, in fear and surprise, let her go, and she made her -escape through the door. What a pity that he did not make the beast -fast for good and all! - - - -Note by the writer.--Foxes turning into women and deceiving people is -told of in Kwang-keui and other Chinese novels, but the wild cat's -transformation is more wonderful still, and something that I have -never heard of. By what law do creatures like foxes and wild cats so -change? I am unable to find any law that governs it. Some say that -the fox carries a magic charm by which it does these magic things, -but can this account for the wild cat? - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -VII - -THE ILL-FATED PRIEST - - -A certain scribe of Chung-chong Province, whose name was Kim Kyong-jin, -once told me the following story. Said he: "In the year 1640, as I -was journeying past Big Horn Bridge in Ta-in County, I saw a scholar, -who, with his four or five servants, had met with some accident and all -were reduced to a state of unconsciousness, lying by the river side. I -asked the reason for what had befallen them, and they at last said in -reply, 'We were eating our noon meal by the side of the road, when a -Buddhist priest came by, a proud, arrogant fellow, who refused to bow -or show any recognition of us. One of the servants, indignant at this, -shouted at him. The priest, however, beat him with his stick, and when -others went to help, he beat them also, so that they were completely -worsted and unable to rise or walk. He then scolded the scholar, -saying, "You did not reprimand your servants for their insult to me, -so I'll have to take it out of you as well." The Buddhist gave him a -number of vicious blows, so that he completely collapsed;' and when -I looked there was the priest a li or two ahead. - -"Just then a military man, aged about forty or so, came my way. He was -poor in flesh and seemed to have no strength. Riding a cadaverous pony, -he came shuffling along; a boy accompanying carried his hat-cover and -bow and arrows. He arrived at the stream, and, seeing the people in -their plight, asked the cause. The officer was very angry, and said, -'Yonder impudent priest, endowed with no end of brute force, has -attacked my people and me.' - -"'Indeed,' said the stranger, 'I have been aware of him for a long -time, and have decided to rid the earth of him, but I have never had an -opportunity before. Now that I have at last come on him I am determined -to have satisfaction.' So he dismounted from his horse, tightened his -girth, took his bow, and an arrow that had a 'fist' head, and made -off at a gallop after the priest. Soon he overtook him. Just as the -priest looked back the archer let fly with his arrow, which entered -deep into the chest. He then dismounted, drew his sword, pierced the -two hands of the priest and passed a string through them, tied him to -his horse's tail, and came triumphantly back to where the scholar lay, -and said, 'Now do with this fellow as you please. I am going.' - -"The scholar bowed before the archer, thanked him, asked his place of -residence and name. He replied, 'My home is in the County of Ko-chang,' -but he did not give his name. - -"The scholar looked at the priest, and never before had he seen so -powerful a giant, but now, with his chest shot through and his hands -pierced, he was unable to speak; so they arose, made mincemeat of him, -and went on their way rejoicing." - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -VIII - -THE VISION OF THE HOLY MAN - - -Yi Chi-Ham (Master To-jong).--A story is told of him that on the day -after his wedding he went out with his topo or ceremonial coat on, -but came back later without it. On inquiry being made, it was found -that he had torn it into pieces to serve as bandages for a sick child -that he had met with on his walk. - -Once on a time he had an impression that his father-in-law's home -was shortly to be overtaken by a great disaster; he therefore took -his wife and disappeared from the place. In the year following, for -some political offence, the home was indeed wiped out and the family -wholly destroyed. - -To-jong was not only a prophet, but also a magician, as was shown -by his handling of a boat. When he took to sea the waters lay quiet -before him, and all his path was peace. He would be absent sometimes -for a year or more, voyaging in many parts of the world. - -He practised fasting, and would go sometimes for months without -eating. He also overcame thirst, and in the hot days of summer would -avoid drinking. He stifled all pain and suffering, so that when he -walked and his feet were blistered he paid no attention to it. - -While young he was a disciple of a famous Taoist, So Wha-dam. As -his follower he used to dress in grass cloth (the poor man's garb), -wear straw shoes and carry his bundle on his back. He would be on -familiar terms with Ministers of State, and yet show indifference to -their greatness and pomp. He was acquainted with the various magic -practices, so that in boating he used to hang out gourd cups at each -corner of the boat, and thus equipped he went many times to and from -Quelpart and never met a wind. He did merchandising, made money, -and bought land which yielded several thousand bags of rice that he -distributed among the poor. - -He lived in Seoul in a little dug-out, so that his name became "Mud -Pavilion," or To-jong. His cap was made of metal, which he used to -cook his food in, and which he then washed and put back on his head -again. He used also to wear wooden shoes and ride on a pack saddle. - -He built a house for the poor in Asan County when he was magistrate -there, gathered in all the needy and had them turn to and work at -whatever they had any skill in, so that they lived and flourished. When -any one had no special ability, he had him weave straw shoes. He -urged them on till they could make as many as ten pairs a day. - -Yul-gok said of him that he was a dreamer and not suitable for this -matter-of-fact world, because he belonged to the realm of flowers -and pretty birds, songs and sweet breezes, and not to the common -clay of corn and beef and radishes. To-jong heard this, and replied, -"Though I am not of a kind equal to beans and corn, still I will rank -with acorns and chestnuts. Why am I wholly useless?" - - -Korea's Record of Famous Men. - - - - -The Story - -Teacher To-jong was once upon a time a merchant, and in his -merchandising went as far as the East Sea. One night he slept -in a fishing village on the shore. At that time another stranger -called who was said to be an i-in or "holy man." The three met and -talked till late at night--the master of the house, the "holy man" -and To-jong. It was very clear and beautifully calm. The "holy man" -looked for a time out over the expanse of water, then suddenly gave -a great start of terror, and said, "An awful thing is about to happen." - -His companions, alarmed at his manner, asked him what he meant. He -replied, "In two hours or so there will be a tidal wave that will -engulf this whole village, utterly destroying everything. If you do -not make haste to escape all will be as fish in a net." - -To-jong, being something of an astrologer himself, thought first to -solve the mystery of this, but could arrive at no explanation. - -The owner of the house would not believe it, and refused to prepare -for escape. - -The "holy man" said, however, "Even though you do not believe what I -say, let us go for a little up the face of the rear mountain. If my -words fail we can only come down again, and no one will be the worse -for it. If you still do not wish to trust me, leave your goods and -furniture just as they are and let the people come away." - -To-jong was greatly interested, though he could not understand it. The -master, too, could no longer refuse this proposal, so he took his -family and a few light things and followed the "holy man" up the hill. - -He had them ascend to the very top, "in order," said he, "to escape." - -To-jong did not go to the top, but seated himself about half-way -up. He asked the "holy man" if he would not be safe enough there. - -The "holy man" replied, "Others would never escape if they remained -where you are, but you will simply get a fright and live through it." - -When cock-crow came, sure enough the sea suddenly lifted its face, -overflowed its banks, and the waves came rolling up to the heavens, -climbing the mountain-sides till they touched the feet of To-jong. The -whole town on the seashore was engulfed. When daylight came the -waters receded. - -To-jong bowed to the "holy man" and asked that he might become his -disciple. The "holy man," however, disclaimed any knowledge, saying -that he had simply known it by accident. He was a man who did not speak -of his own attainments. To-jong asked for his place of residence, which -he indicated as near by, and then left. He went to seek him on the -following day, but the house was vacant, and there was no one there. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -IX - -THE VISIT OF THE MAN OF GOD - - -In the thirty-third year of Mal-yok of the Mings (A.D. 1605), being -the year Eulsa of the reign of Son-jo, in the seventh moon, a great -rain fell, such a rain as had not been seen since the founding of -the dynasty. Before that rain came on, a man of Kang-won Province was -cutting wood on the hill-side. While thus engaged, an angel in golden -armour, riding on a white horse and carrying a spear, came down to -him from heaven. His appearance was most dazzling, and the woodman, -looking at him, recognized him as a Man of God. Also a Buddhist priest, -carrying a staff, came down in his train. The priest's appearance, -too, was very remarkable. - -The Man of God stopped his horse and seemed to be talking with the -priest, while the woodcutter, alarmed by the great sight, hid himself -among the trees. - -The Man of God seemed to be very angry for some reason or other, -raised his spear, and, pointing to the four winds, said, "I shall -flood all the earth from such a point to such a point, and destroy -the inhabitants thereof." - -The priest following cried and prayed him to desist, saying, "This -will mean utter destruction to mortals; please let thy wrath rest -on me." As he prayed thus earnestly the Man of God again said, -"Then shall I limit it to such and such places. Will that do?" - -But the priest prayed more earnestly still, till the Man replied -emphatically, "I have lessened the punishment more than a half already -on your account; I can do no more." Though the priest prayed still, -the Man of God refused him, so that at last he submissively said, -"Thy will be done." - -They ended thus and both departed, passing away through the upper -air into heaven. - -The two had talked for a long time, but the distance being somewhat -great between them and the woodman, he did not hear distinctly all -that was said. - -He went home, however, in great haste, and with his wife and family -made his escape, and from that day the rain began to fall. In it -Mount Otai collapsed, the earth beneath it sank until it became a -vast lake, all the inhabitants were destroyed, and the woodcutter -alone made his escape. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -X - -THE LITERARY MAN OF IMSIL - - -[The calling of spirits is one of the powers supposed to be possessed -by disciples of the Old Philosopher (Taoists), who reach a high -state of spiritual attainment. While the natural desires remain -they cloud and obstruct spiritual vision; once rid of them, even -angels and immortal beings become unfolded to the sight. They say, -"If once all the obstructions of the flesh are eliminated even God -can be seen." They also say, "If I have no selfish desire, the night -around me will shine with golden light; and if all injurious thoughts -are truly put away, the wild deer of the mountain will come down and -play beside me." - -Ha Sa-gong, a Taoist of high attainment, as an old man used to go -out fishing, when the pigeons would settle in flights upon his head -and shoulders. On his return one day he told his wife that they were -so many that they bothered him. "Why not catch one of them?" said his -wife. "Catch one?" said he. "What would you do with it?" "Why, eat it, -of course." So on the second day Ha went out with this intent in heart, -but no birds came near or alighted on him. All kept a safe distance -high up in mid-air, with doubt and suspicion evident in their flying.] - - - - -The Story - -In the year 1654 there was a man of letters living in Imsil who -claimed that he could control spirits, and that two demon guards were -constantly at his bidding. One day he was sitting with a friend playing -chess, when they agreed that the loser in each case was to pay a fine -in drink. The friend lost and yet refused to pay his wager, so that the -master said, "If you do not pay up I'll make it hot for you." The man, -however, refused, till at last the master, exasperated, turned his -back upon him and called out suddenly into the upper air some formula -or other, as if he were giving a command. The man dashed off through -the courtyard to make his escape, but an unseen hand bared his body, -and administered to him such a set of sounding blows that they left -blue, seamy marks. Unable to bear the pain of it longer, he yielded, -and then the master laughed and let him go. - -At another time he was seated with a friend, while in the adjoining -village a witch koot (exorcising ceremony) was in progress, with drums -and gongs banging furiously. The master suddenly rushed out to the -bamboo grove that stood behind the official yamen, and, looking very -angry and with glaring eyes, he shouted, and made bare his arm as if -to drive off the furies. After a time he ceased. The friend, thinking -this a peculiar performance, asked what it meant. His reply was, -"A crowd of devils have come from the koot, and are congregating in -the grove of bamboos; if I do not drive them off trouble will follow -in the town, and for that cause I shouted." - -Again he was making a journey with a certain friend, when suddenly, -on the way, he called out to the mid-air, saying, "Let her go, let -her go, I say, or I'll have you punished severely." - -His appearance was so peculiar and threatening that the friend asked -the cause. For the time being he gave no answer, and they simply went -on their way. - -That night they entered a village where they wished to sleep, but the -owner of the house where they applied said that they had sickness, -and asked them to go. They insisted, however, till he at last sent a -servant to drive them off. Meanwhile the womenfolk watched the affair -through the chinks of the window, and they talked in startled whispers, -so that the scholar overheard them. - -A few minutes later the man of the house followed in the most humble -and abject manner, asking them to return and accept entertainment -and lodging at his house. Said he, "I have a daughter, sir, and she -fell ill this very day and died, and after some time came to life -again. Said she, 'A devil caught me and carried my soul off down the -main roadway, where we met a man, who stopped us, and in fierce tones -drove off the spirit, who let me go, and so I returned to life.' She -looked out on your Excellency through the chink of the window, and, -behold, you are the man. I am at my wits' end to know what to say to -you. Are you a genii or are you a Buddhist, so marvellously to bring -back the dead to life? I offer this small refreshment; please accept." - -The scholar laughed, and said, "Nonsense! Just a woman's haverings. How -could I do such things?" He lived for seven or eight years more, -and died. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XI - -THE SOLDIER OF KANG-WHA - - -[The East says that the air is full of invisible constituents that, -once taken in hand and controlled, will take on various forms of -life. The man of Kang-wha had acquired the art of calling together the -elements necessary for the butterfly. This, too, comes from Taoism, -and is called son-sul, Taoist magic] - - - - -The Story - -There was a soldier once of Kang-wha who was the chief man of his -village; a low-class man, he was, apparently, without any gifts. One -day his wife, overcome by a fit of jealousy, sat sewing in her inner -room. It was midwinter, and he was obliged to be at home; so, with -intent to cheer her up and take her mind off the blues, he said to her, -"Would you like to see me make some butterflies?" - -His wife, more angry than ever at this, rated him for his impudence, -and paid no further attention. - -The soldier then took her workbasket and from it selected bits of -silk of various colours, tucked them into his palm, closed his hand -upon them, and repeated a prayer, after which he threw the handful -into the air. Immediately beautiful butterflies filled the room, -dazzling the eyes and shining in all the colours of the silk itself. - -The wife, mystified by the wonder of it, forgot her anger. The -soldier a little later opened his hand, held it up, and they all -flew into it. He closed it tight and then again opened his hand, -and they were pieces of silk only. His wife alone saw this; it was -unknown to others. No such strange magic was ever heard of before. - -In 1637, when Kang-wha fell before the Manchus, all the people of -the place fled crying for their lives, while the soldier remained -undisturbed at his home, eating his meals with his wife and family -just as usual. He laughed at the neighbours hurrying by. Said he, -"The barbarians will not touch this town; why do you run so?" Thus it -turned out that, while the whole island was devastated, the soldier's -village escaped. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XII - -CURSED BY THE SNAKE - - -[Ha Yon graduated in the year 1396, and became magistrate of Anak -County. He built many pavilions in and about his official place of -residence, where people might rest. As he went about his district, -seeing the farmers busy, he wrote many songs and verses to encourage -them in their work. He became later a royal censor, and King Tai-jong -commended him, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Later -he became Chief Justice. He cleared out the public offices of all -disreputable officials, and made the Court clean. When he had leisure -it was his habit to dress in ceremonial garb, burn incense, sit at -attention, and write prayer verses the livelong day. - -When he was young, once, in the Court of the Crown Prince, he -wrote a verse which was commented upon thus: "Beautiful writing, -beautiful thought; truly a treasure." He was a great student and a -great inquirer, and grateful and lovable as a friend. He studied as -a boy under the patriot Cheung Mong-ju, and was upright and pure in -all his ways. His object was to become as one of the Ancients, and -so he followed truth, and encouraged men in the study of the sacred -books. He used to awake at first cock-crow of the morning, wash, dress, -and never lay aside his book. On his right were pictures, on his left -were books, and he happy between. He rose to be Prime Minister.] - - - - -The Story - -The old family seat of Prince Ha Yun was in the County of Keum-chon. He -was a famous Minister of State in the days of peace and prosperity, -and used frequently to find rest and leisure in his summer-house in -this same county. It was a large and well-ordered mansion, and was -occupied by his children for many years after his death. - -The people of that county used to tell a very strange story of Ha and -his prosperity, which runs thus: He had placed in an upper room a large -crock that was used to hold flour. One day one of the servants, wishing -to get some flour from the jar, lifted the lid, when suddenly from the -depths of it a huge snake made its appearance. The servant, startled, -fell back in great alarm, and then went and told the master what had -happened. The master sent his men-slaves and had the jar brought -down. They broke it open and let out a huge, awful-looking snake, -such as one had never seen before. Several of the servants joined -in with clubs and killed the brute. They then piled wood on it and -set fire to the whole. Vile fumes arose that filled the house. From -the fumes all the people of the place died, leaving no one behind to -represent the family. Others who entered the house died also, so that -the place became cursed, and was left in desolation. A little later -a mysterious fire broke out and burnt up the remaining buildings, -leaving only the vacant site. To this day the place is known as -"haunted," and no one ventures to build upon it. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XIII - -THE MAN ON THE ROAD - - -In the Manchu War of 1636, the people of Seoul rushed off in crowds -to make their escape. One party of them came suddenly upon a great -force of the enemy, armed and mounted. The hills and valleys seemed -full of them, and there was no possible way of escape. What to do -they knew not. In the midst of their perplexity they suddenly saw some -one sitting peacefully in the main roadway just in front, underneath -a pine tree, quite unconcerned. He had dismounted from his horse, -which a servant held, standing close by. A screen of several yards -of cotton cloth was hanging up just before him, as if to shield him -from the dust of the passing army. - -The people who were making their escape came up to this stranger, -and said imploringly, "We are all doomed to die. What shall we do?" - -The mysterious stranger said, "Why should you die? and why are you -so frightened? Sit down by me and see the barbarians go by." - -The people, perceiving his mind so composed and his appearance devoid -of fear, and they having no way of escape, did as he bade them and -sat down. - -The cavalry of the enemy moved by in great numbers, killing every -one they met, not a single person escaping; but when they reached -the place where the magician sat, they went by without, apparently, -seeing anything. Thus they continued till the evening, when all had -passed by. The stranger and the people with him sat the day through -without any harm overtaking them, even though they were in the midst -of the enemy's camp, as it were. - -At last awaking to the fact that he was possessor of some wonderful -magic, they all with one accord came and bowed before him, asking -his name and his place of residence. He made no answer, however, -but mounted his beautiful horse and rode swiftly away, no one being -able to overtake him. - -The day following the party fell in with a man who had been captured -but had made his escape. They asked if he had seen anything special -the day before. He said, "When I followed the barbarian army, passing -such and such a point"--indicating the place where the magician had -sat with the people--"we skirted great walls and precipitous rocks, -against which no one could move, and so we passed by." - -Thus were the few yards of cotton cloth metamorphosed before the eyes -of the passers-by. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XIV - -THE OLD MAN WHO BECAME A FISH - - -Some years ago a noted official became the magistrate of Ko-song -County. On a certain day a guest called on him to pay his respects, -and when noon came the magistrate had a table of food prepared for -him, on which was a dish of skate soup. When the guest saw the soup he -twisted his features and refused it, saying, "To-day I am fasting from -meat, and so beg to be excused." His face grew very pale, and tears -flowed from his eyes. The magistrate thought this behaviour strange, -and asked him two or three times the meaning of it. When he could no -longer withhold a reply, he went into all the particulars and told -him the story. - -"Your humble servant," he said, "has in his life met with much -unheard-of and unhappy experience, which he has never told to a -living soul, but now that your Excellency asks it of me, I cannot -refrain from telling. Your servant's father was a very old man, -nearly a hundred, when one day he was taken down with a high fever, -in which his body was like a fiery furnace. Seeing the danger he was -in, his children gathered about weeping, thinking that the time of his -departure had surely come. But he lived, and a few days later said to -us, 'I am burdened with so great a heat in this sickness that I am -not able to endure it longer. I would like to go out to the bank of -the river that runs before the house and see the water flowing by, -and be refreshed by it. Do not disobey me now, but carry me out at -once to the water's edge.' - -"We remonstrated with him and begged him not to do so, but he grew -very angry, and said, 'If you do not as I command, you will be the -death of me'; and so, seeing that there was no help for it, we bore -him out and placed him on the bank of the river. He, seeing the water, -was greatly delighted, and said, 'The clear flowing water cures my -sickness.' A moment later he said further, 'I'd like to be quite alone -and rid of you all for a little. Go away into the wood and wait till -I tell you to come.' - -"We again remonstrated about this, but he grew furiously angry, so -that we were helpless. We feared that if we insisted, his sickness -would grow worse, and so we were compelled to yield. We went a short -distance away and then turned to look, when suddenly the old father -was gone from the place where he had been seated. We hurried back -to see what had happened. My father had taken off his clothes and -plunged into the water, which was muddied. His body was already half -metamorphosed into a skate. We saw its transformation in terror, -and did not dare to go near him, when all at once it became changed -into a great flatfish, that swam and plunged and disported itself -in the water with intense delight. He looked back at us as though he -could hardly bear to go, but a moment later he was off, entered the -deep sea, and did not again appear. - -"On the edge of the stream where he had changed his form we found his -finger-nails and a tooth. These we buried, and to-day as a family we -all abstain from skate fish, and when we see the neighbours frying -or eating it we are overcome with disgust and horror." - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XV - -THE GEOMANCER - - -[Yi Eui-sin was a specialist in Geomancy. His craft came into being -evidently as a by-product of Taoism, but has had mixed in it elements -of ancient Chinese philosophy. The Positive and the Negative, the -Two Primary Principles in Nature, play a great part; also the Five -Elements, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. In the selection of a -site, that for a house is called a "male" choice, while the grave is -denominated the "female" choice. - -Millions of money have been expended in Korea on the geomancer and -his associates in the hope of finding lucky homes for the living and -auspicious resting-places for the dead, the Korean idea being that, in -some mysterious way, all our fortune is associated with Mother Earth.] - - - - -The Story - -There was a geomancer once, Yi Eui-sin, who in seeking out a special -mountain vein, started with the Dragon Ridge in North Ham-kyong -Province, and traced it as far as Pine Mountain in Yang-ju County, -where it stopped in a beautifully rounded end, forming a perfect -site for burial. After wandering all day in the hills, Yi's hungry -spirit cried out for food. He saw beneath the hill a small house, to -which he went, and rapping at the door asked for something to eat. A -mourner, recently bereaved, came out in a respectful and kindly way, -and gave him a dish of white gruel. Yi, after he had eaten, asked what -time the friend had become a mourner, and if he had already passed -the funeral. The owner answered, "I am just now entering upon full -mourning, but we have not yet arranged for the funeral." He spoke in -a sad and disheartened way. - -Yi felt sorry for him, and asked the reason. "I wonder if it's because -you are poor that you have not yet made the necessary arrangements, -or perhaps you have not yet found a suitable site! I am an expert -in reading the hills, and I'll tell you of a site; would you care to -see it?" - -The mourner thanked him most gratefully, and said, "I'll be delighted -to know of it." - -Yi then showed him the end of the great vein that he had just -discovered, also the spot for the grave and how to place its compass -points. "After possessing this site," said he, "you will be greatly -enriched, but in ten years you will have cause to arrange for another -site. When that comes to pass please call me, won't you? In calling -for me just ask for Yi So-pang, who lives in West School Ward, Seoul." - -The mourner did as directed, and as the geomancer had foretold, all -his affairs prospered. He built a large tiled house, and ornamented -the grave with great stones as a prosperous and high-minded country -gentleman should do. - -After ten years a guest called one day, and saluting him asked, "Is -that grave yonder, beyond the stream, yours?" The master answered, -"It is mine." Then the stranger said, "That is a famous site, but -ten years have passed since you have come into possession of it, -and the luck is gone; why do you not make a change? If you wait too -long you will rue it and may meet with great disaster." - -The owner, hearing this, thought of Yi the geomancer, and what he had -said years before. Remembering that, he asked the stranger to remain -as his guest while he went next day to Seoul to look up Yi in West -School Ward. He found him, and told him why he had come. - -Yi said, "I already knew of this." So the two journeyed together to the -inquirer's home. When there, they went with the guest up the hill. Yi -asked of the guest, "Why did you tell the master to change the site?" - -The guest replied, "This hill is a Kneeling Pheasant formation. If -the pheasant kneels too long it cannot endure it, so that within a -limited time it must fly. Ten years is the time; that's why I spoke." - -Yi laughed and said, "Your idea is only a partial view, you have -thought of only one thing, there are other conditions that enter." Then -he showed the peak to the rear, and said, "Yonder is Dog Hill," -and then one below, "which," said he, "is Falcon Hill," and then the -stream in front, "which," said he, "is Cat River. This is the whole -group, the dog behind, the falcon just above, and the cat in front, -how then can the pheasant fly? It dares not." - -The guest replied, "Teacher, surely your eyes are enlightened, and -see further than those of ordinary men." - -From that day forth the Yis of Pine Hill became a great and noted -family. - - -Anon. - - - - - - - - -XVI - -THE MAN WHO BECAME A PIG - - -[Kim Yu was the son of a country magistrate who graduated with literary -honours in 1596. In 1623 he was one of the faithful courtiers who -joined forces to dethrone the wicked Prince Kwang-hai, and place In-jo -on the throne. He was raised to the rank of Prince and became, later, -Prime Minister. In the year 1624, when Yi Kwal raised an insurrection, -he was the means of putting it down and of bringing many of his -followers to justice. In 1648, he died at the age of seventy-seven. - -In the last year of Son-jo the King called his grandchildren together -and had them write Chinese for him and draw pictures. At that time -In-jo was a little boy, and he drew a picture of a horse. King Son-jo -gave the picture to Yi Hang-bok, but when the latter some years later -went into exile he gave the picture to Kim Yu. Kim Yu took it, and -hung it up in his house and there it remained. - -Prince In-jo was one day making a journey out of the Palace when he was -overtaken by rain, and took refuge in a neighbouring gate-quarters. A -servant-maid came out and invited him in, asking him not to stand -in the wet, but Prince In-jo declined. The invitation, however, was -insisted on, and he went into the guest-room, where he saw the picture -of a horse on the wall. On examining it carefully he recognized it as -the picture he had drawn when a lad, and he wondered how it could have -come here. Kim Yu then came in and they met for the first time. Prince -In-jo told him how he had been overtaken by rain and invited in. He -asked concerning the picture of the horse that hung on the wall, and -Kim Yu in reply asked why he inquired. Prince In-jo said, "I drew that -picture myself when I was a boy." Just as they spoke together a rich -table of food was brought in from the inner quarters. Kim Yu, not -knowing yet who his guest was, looked with wonder at this surprise, -and after Prince In-jo had gone, he inquired of his wife why she -had sent such delicious fare in to a stranger. The wife replied, -"In a dream last night, I saw the King come and stand in front of our -house. I was just thinking it over when the servant came in and said -that some one was standing before the door. I looked out, and lo, -it was the man I had seen in my dream! so I have treated him to the -best of hospitality that I was able." Kim Yu soon learned who his -caller had been, and became from that time the faithful supporter of -Prince In-jo, and later helped to put him on the throne. - -After In-jo became king he asked privately of Kim Yu where he had -got the picture. Kim Yu said, "I got it from Prince Yi Hang-bok." - -Kim Yu then called Yi's son and inquired of him as to how his -father had got it. The son said, "In the last year of King Son-jo -he called my father along with all his grandchildren, and showed him -the writings and drawings of the young princes. My father looked at -them with interest, but the King gave him only one as a keepsake, -namely, the drawing of the horse." In the picture there was a willow -tree and a horse tied to it. Kim Yu then recognized the thought that -underlay the gift of the picture, namely, that Prince Yi Hang-bok -should support In-jo in the succession to the throne.] - - - - -The Story - -A certain Minister of State, called Kim Yu, living in the County of -Seung-pyong, had a relative who resided in a far-distant part of the -country, an old man aged nearly one hundred. On a certain day a son -of this patriarch came to the office of the Minister and asked to -see him. Kim ordered him to be admitted, and inquired as to why he -had come. Said he, "I have something very important to say, a private -matter to lay before your Excellency. There are so many guests with -you now that I'll come again in the evening and tell it." - -In the evening, when all had departed, he came, and the Minister -ordered out his personal retainers and asked the meaning of the -call. The man replied, saying, "My father, though very old, was, -as you perhaps know, a strong and hearty man. On a certain day he -called us children to him and said, 'I wish to have a siesta, so now -close the door and all of you go out of the room. Do not let any one -venture in till I call you.' - -"We children agreed, of course, and did so. Till late at night there -was neither call nor command to open the door, so that we began to -be anxious. We at last looked through the chink, and lo, there was -our father changed into a huge pig! Terrified by the sight of it we -opened the door and looked in, when the animal grunted and growled -and made a rush to get out past us. We hurriedly closed the door -again and held a consultation. - -"Some said, 'Let's keep the pig just as it is, within doors, and -care for it.' Some said, 'Let's have a funeral and bury it.' We -ignorant country-folk not knowing just what to do under such peculiar -circumstances, I have come to ask counsel of your Excellency. Please -think over this startling phenomenon and tell us what we ought to do." - -Prince Kim, hearing this, gave a great start, thought it over for -a long time, and at last said, "No such mysterious thing was ever -heard of before, and I really don't know what is best to do under the -circumstances, but still, it seems to me that since this metamorphosis -has come about, you had better not bury it before death, so give up -the funeral idea. Since, too, it is not a human being any longer, -I do not think it right to keep it in the house. You say that it -wants to make its escape, and as a cave in the woods or hills is its -proper abode, I think you had better take it out and let it go free -into the trackless depths of some mountainous country, where no foot -of man has ever trod." - -The son accepted this wise counsel, and did as the Minister advised, -took it away into the deep mountains and let it go. Then he donned -sackcloth, mourned, buried his father's clothes for a funeral, and -observed the day of metamorphosis as the day of sacrificial ceremony. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XVII - -THE OLD WOMAN WHO BECAME A GOBLIN - - -There was a Confucian scholar once who lived in the southern part of -Seoul. It is said that he went out for a walk one day while his wife -remained alone at home. When he was absent there came by begging an -old woman who looked like a Buddhist priestess, for while very old -her face was not wrinkled. The scholar's wife asked her if she knew -how to sew. She said she did, and so the wife made this proposition, -"If you will stay and work for me I'll give you your breakfast and -your supper, and you'll not have to beg anywhere; will you agree?" - -She replied, "Oh, thank you so much, I'll be delighted." - -The scholar's wife, well satisfied with her bargain, took her in and -set her to picking cotton, and making and spinning thread. In one -day she did more than eight ordinary women, and yet had, seemingly, -plenty of time to spare. The wife, delighted above measure, treated -her to a great feast. After five or six days, however, the feeling -of delight and the desire to treat her liberally and well wore off -somewhat, so that the old woman grew angry and said, "I am tired of -living alone, and so I want your husband for my partner." This being -refused, she went off in a rage, but came back in a little accompanied -by a decrepit old man who looked like a Buddhist beggar. - -These two came boldly into the room and took possession, cleared out -the things that were in the ancient tablet-box on the wall-shelf, -and both disappeared into it, so that they were not seen at all, -but only their voices heard. According to the whim that took them -they now ordered eatables and other things. When the scholar's wife -failed in the least particular to please them, they sent plague and -sickness after her, so that her children fell sick and died. Relatives -on hearing of this came to see, but they also caught the plague, -fell ill and died. Little by little no one dared come near the place, -and it became known at last that the wife was held as a prisoner by -these two goblin creatures. For a time smoke was seen by the town-folk -coming out of the chimney daily, and they knew that the wife still -lived, but after five or six days the smoke ceased, and they knew -then that the woman's end had come. No one dared even to make inquiry. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XVIII - -THE GRATEFUL GHOST - - -It is often told that in the days of the Koryo Dynasty (A.D. 918-1392), -when an examination was to be held, a certain scholar came from a -far-distant part of the country to take part. Once on his journey -the day was drawing to a close, and he found himself among the -mountains. Suddenly he heard a sneezing from among the creepers and -bushes by the roadside, but could see no one. Thinking it strange, he -dismounted from his horse, went into the brake and listened. He heard -it again, and it seemed to come from the roots of the creeper close -beside him, so he ordered his servant to dig round it and see. He dug -and found a dead man's skull. It was full of earth, and the roots of -the creeper had passed through the nostrils. The sneezing was caused by -the annoyance felt by the spirit from having the nose so discommoded. - -The candidate felt sorry, washed the skull in clean water, wrapped -it in paper and reburied it in its former place on the hill-side. He -also brought a table of food and offered sacrifice, and said a prayer. - -That night, in a dream, a scholar came to him, an old man with white -hair, who bowed, thanked him, and said, "On account of sin committed in -a former life, I died out of season before I had fulfilled my days. My -posterity, too, were all destroyed, my body crumbled back into the -dust, my skull alone remaining, and that is what you found below the -creeper. On account of the root passing through it the annoyance was -great, and I could not help but sneeze. By good luck you and your kind -heart, blessed of Heaven, took pity on me, buried me in a clean place -and gave me food. Your kindness is greater than the mountains, and -like the blessing that first brought me into life. Though my soul is -by no means perfect, yet I long for some way by which to requite your -favour, and so I have exercised my powers in your behalf. Your present -journey is for the purpose of trying the official Examination, so I -shall tell you beforehand what the form is to be, and the subject. It -is to be of character groups of fives, in couplets; the rhyme sound is -'pong,' and the subject 'Peaks and Spires of the Summer Clouds.' I -have already composed one for you, which, if you care to use it, -will undoubtedly win you the first place. It is this-- - - - 'The white sun rode high up in the heavens, - And the floating clouds formed a lofty peak; - The priest who saw them asked if there was a temple there, - And the crane lamented the fact that no pines were visible; - But the lightnings from the cloud were the flashings of the - woodman's axe, - And the muffled thunders were the bell calls of the holy temple. - Will any say that the hills do not move? - On the sunset breezes they sailed away.'" - - -After thus stating it, he bowed and took his departure. - -The man, in wonder, awakened from his dream, came up to Seoul; and -behold, the subject was as foretold by the spirit. He wrote what had -been given him, and became first in the honours of the occasion. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XIX - -THE PLUCKY MAIDEN - - -[Han Myong-hoi.--We are told in the Yol-ryok Keui-sul that when -Han was a boy he had for protector and friend a tiger, who used to -accompany him as a dog does his master. One evening, when he started -off into the hills, he heard the distant tramp of the great beast, -who had got scent of his going, and had come rushing after him. When -Han saw him he turned, and said, "Good old chap, you come all this -distance to be my friend; I love you for it." The tiger prostrated -himself and nodded with his head several times. He used to accompany -Han all through the nights, but when the day dawned he would leave him. - -Han later fell into bad company, grew fond of drink, and was one of -the boisterous companions of King Se-jo.] - - - - -The Story - -Han Myong-hoi was a renowned Minister of the Reign of Se-jo -(A.D. 1455-1468). The King appreciated and enjoyed him greatly, and -there was no one of the Court who could surpass him for influence -and royal favour. Confident in his position, Han did as he pleased, -wielding absolute power. At that time, like grass before the wind, the -world bowed at his coming; no one dared utter a word of remonstrance. - -When Han went as governor to Pyong-an Province he did all manner of -lawless things. Any one daring to cross his wishes in the least was -dealt with by torture and death. The whole Province feared him as -they would a tiger. - -On a certain day Governor Han, hearing that the Deputy Prefect of -Son-chon had a very beautiful daughter, called the Deputy, and said, -"I hear that you have a very beautiful daughter, whom I would like to -make my concubine. When I am on my official rounds shortly, I shall -expect to stop at your town and take her. So be ready for me." - -The Deputy, alarmed, said, "How can your Excellency say that your -servant's contemptible daughter is beautiful? Some one has reported her -wrongly. But since you so command, how can I do but accede gladly?" So -he bowed, said his farewell, and went home. - -On his return his family noticed that his face was clouded with -anxiety, and the daughter asked why it was. "Did the Governor call -you, father?" asked she; "and why are you so anxious? Tell me, -please." At first, fearing that she would be disturbed, he did not -reply, but her repeated questions forced him, so that he said, "I am -in trouble on your account," and then told of how the Governor wanted -her for his concubine. "If I had refused I would have been killed, -so I yielded; but a gentleman's daughter being made a concubine is -a disgrace unheard of." - -The daughter made light of it and laughed. "Why did you not think -it out better than that, father? Why should a grown man lose his -life for the sake of a girl? Let the daughter go. By losing one -daughter and saving your life, you surely do better than saving your -daughter and losing your life. One can easily see where the greater -advantage lies. A daughter does not count; give her over, that's -all. Don't for a moment think otherwise, just put away your distress -and anxiety. We women, every one of us, are under the ban, and such -things are decreed by Fate. I shall accept without any opposition, -so please have no anxiety. It is settled now, and you, father, must -yield and follow. If you do so all will be well." - -The father sighed, and said in reply, "Since you seem so willing, -my mind is somewhat relieved." But from this time on the whole house -was in distress. The girl alone seemed perfectly unmoved, not showing -the slightest sign of fear. She laughed as usual, her light and happy -laugh, and her actions seemed wonderfully free. - -In a little the Governor reached Son-chon on his rounds. He then called -the Deputy, and said, "Make ready your daughter for to-morrow and all -the things needed." The Deputy came home and made preparation for the -so-called wedding. The daughter said, "This is not a real wedding; it -is only the taking of a concubine, but still, make everything ready -in the way of refreshments and ceremony as for a real marriage." So -the father did as she requested. - -On the day following the Governor came to the house of the Deputy. He -was not dressed in his official robes, but came simply in the dress -and hat of a commoner. When he went into the inner quarters he met the -daughter; she stood straight before him. Her two hands were lifted in -ceremonial form, but instead of holding a fan to hide her face she -held a sword before her. She was very pretty. He gave a great start -of surprise, and asked the meaning of the knife that she held. She -ordered her nurse to reply, who said, "Even though I am an obscure -countrywoman, I do not forget that I am born of the gentry; and though -your Excellency is a high Minister of State, still to take me by force -is an unheard-of dishonour. If you take me as your real and true wife -I'll serve you with all my heart, but if you are determined to take -me as a concubine I shall die now by this sword. For that reason I -hold it. My life rests on one word from your Excellency. Speak it, -please, before I decide." - -The Governor, though a man who observed no ceremony and never brooked -a question, when he saw how beautiful and how determined this maiden -was, fell a victim to her at once, and said, "If you so decide, then, -of course, I'll make you my real wife." - -Her answer was, "If you truly mean it, then please withdraw and write -out the certificate; send the gifts; provide the goose; dress in -the proper way; come, and let us go through the required ceremony; -drink the pledge-glass, and wed." - -The Governor did as she suggested, carried out the forms to the letter, -and they were married. - -She was not only a very pretty woman, but upright and true of soul--a -rare person indeed. The Governor took her home, loved her and held -her dear. He had, however, a real wife before and concubines, but he -set them all aside and fixed his affections on this one only. She -remonstrated with him over his wrongs and unrighteous acts, and he -listened and made improvement. The world took note of it, and praised -her as a true and wonderful woman. She counted herself the real wife, -but the first wife treated her as a concubine, and all the relatives -said likewise that she could never be considered a real wife. At -that time King Se-jo frequently, in the dress of a commoner, used -to visit Han's house. Han entertained him royally with refreshments, -which his wife used to bring and offer before him. He called her his -"little sister." On a certain day King Se-jo, as he was accustomed, -came to the house, and while he was drinking he suddenly saw the woman -fall on her face before him. The King in surprise inquired as to what -she could possibly mean by such an act. She then told all the story of -her being taken by force and brought to Seoul. She wept while she said, -"Though I am from a far-distant part of the country I am of the gentry -by ancestry, and my husband took me with all the required ceremonies of -a wife, so that I ought not to be counted a concubine. But there is no -law in this land by which a second real wife may be taken after a first -real wife exists, so they call me a concubine, a matter of deepest -disgrace. Please, your Majesty, take pity on me and decide my case." - -The King laughed, and said, "This is a simple matter to settle; -why should my little sister make so great an affair of it, and bow -before me? I will decide your case at once. Come." He then wrote -out with his own hand a document making her a real wife, and her -children eligible for the highest office. He wrote it, signed it, -stamped it and gave it to her. - -From that time on she was known as a real wife, in rank and standing -equal to the first one. No further word was ever slightingly spoken, -and her children shared in the affairs of State. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XX - -THE RESOURCEFUL WIFE - - -In the last year of Yon-san terrible evils were abroad among the -people. Such wickedness as the world had never seen before was -perpetrated, of which his Majesty was the evil genius. He even -gave orders to his eunuchs and underlings to bring to him any women -of special beauty that they might see in the homes of the highest -nobility, and whoever pleased him he used as his own. "Never mind -objections," said he, "take them by force and come." Such were his -orders. No one escaped him. He even went so far as to publish abroad -that Minister So and So's wife preferred him to her husband and would -like to live always in the Palace. It was the common talk of the city, -and people were dumbfounded. - -For that reason all hearts forsook him, and because of this he was -dethroned, and King Choong-jong reigned in his stead. - -In these days of trouble there was a young wife of a certain minister, -who was very beautiful in form and face. One day it fell about that -she was ordered into the Palace. Other women, when called, would cry -and behave as though their lives were forfeited, but this young woman -showed not the slightest sign of fear. She dressed and went straight -into the Palace. King Yon-san saw her, and ordered her to come close -to him. She came, and then in a sudden manner the most terrible odour -imaginable was noticeable. The King held his fan before his face, -turned aside, spat, and said, "Dear me, I cannot stand this one, -take her away," and so she escaped undefiled. - -How it came about was thus: She knew that she was likely to be called -at any moment, and so had planned a ruse by which to escape. Two slices -of meat she had kept constantly on hand, decayed and foul-smelling, but -always ready. She placed these under her arms as she dressed and went -into the Palace, and so provided this awful and unaccountable odour. - -All that knew of it praised her bravery and sagacity. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXI - -THE BOXED-UP GOVERNOR - - -A certain literary official was at one time Governor of the city of -Kyong-ju. Whenever he visited the Mayor of the place, it was his -custom, on seeing dancing-girls, to tap them on the head with his -pipe, and say, "These girls are devils, ogres, goblins. How can you -tolerate them in your presence?" - -Naturally, those who heard this disliked him, and the Mayor himself -detested his behaviour and manners. He sent a secret message to -the dancing-girls, saying, "If any of you, by any means whatever, -can deceive this governor, and put him to shame, I'll reward you -richly." Among them there was one girl, a mere child, who said -she could. - -The Governor resided in the quarter of the city where the Confucian -Temple was, and he had but one servant with him, a young lad. The -dancing-girl who had decided to ensnare him, in the dress of a common -woman of the town, used frequently to go by the main gateway of the -Temple, and in going would call the Governor's boy to her. Sometimes -she showed her profile and sometimes she showed her whole form, as she -stood in the gateway. The boy would go out to her and she would speak -to him for a moment or two and then go. She came sometimes once a day, -sometimes twice, and this she kept up for a long time. The Governor -at last inquired of the boy as to who this woman was that came so -frequently to call him. - -"She is my sister," said the boy. "Her husband went away on a peddling -round a year or so ago, and has not yet returned; consequently she has -no one else to help her, so she frequently calls and confers with me." - -One evening, when the boy had gone to eat his meal and the Governor -was alone, the woman came to the main gateway, and called for the boy. - -His Excellency answered for him, and invited her in. When she came, -she blushed, and appeared very diffident, standing modestly aside. - -The Governor said, "My boy is absent just now, but I want a smoke; -go and get a light for my pipe, will you, please." - -She brought the light, and then he said, "Sit down too, and smoke a -little, won't you?" - -She replied, "How could I dare do such a thing?" - -He said, "There is no one else here now; never mind." - -There being no help for it, she did as he bade her, and smoked a -little. He felt his heart suddenly inclined in her favour, and he said, -"I have seen many beautiful women, but I surely think that you are -the prettiest of them all. Once seeing you, I have quite forgotten -how to eat or sleep. Could you not come to me to live here? I am -quite alone and no one will know it." - -She pretended to be greatly scandalized. "Your Excellency is a noble, -and I am a low-class woman; how can you think of such a thing? Do -you mean it as a joke?" - -He replied, "I mean it truly, no joke at all." He swore an oath, -saying, "Really I mean it, every word." - -She then said, "Since you speak so, I am really very grateful, and -shall come." - -Said he, "Meeting you thus is wonderful indeed." - -She went on to say, "There is another matter, however, that I wish -to call to your attention. I understand that where your Excellency -is now staying is a very sacred place, and that according to ancient -law men were forbidden to have women here. Is that true?" - -The Governor clapped her shoulder, and said, "Well, really now, how -is it that you know of this? You are right. What shall we do about it?" - -She made answer, "If you'll depend on me, I'll arrange a plan. My home -is near by, and I am also alone, so if you come quietly at night to me, -we can meet and no one will know. I shall send a felt hat by the boy, -and you can wear that for disguise. With this commoner's felt hat on -no one will know you." - -The Governor was greatly delighted, and said, "How is it that you -can plan so wonderfully? I shall do as you suggest. Now you be sure -to be on hand." He repeated this two or three times. - -The woman went and entered the house indicated. When evening came -she sent the hat by the boy. The Governor arrived as agreed, and -she received him, lit the lamp, and brought him refreshments and -drink. They talked and drank together, and he called her to come to -him. The woman hesitated for a moment, when suddenly there was a call -heard from the outside, and a great disturbance took place. She bent -her head to listen and then gave a cry of alarm, saying, "That's the -voice of my husband, who has come. I was unfortunate, and so had this -miserable wretch apportioned to my lot. He is the most despicable -among mortals. For murder and arson he has no equal. Three years ago -he left me and I took another husband, and we've had nothing to do -with each other since. I can't imagine why he should come now. He is -evidently very drunk, too, from the sound of his voice. Your Excellency -has really fallen into a terrible plight. What shall I do?" - -The woman went out then and answered, saying, "Who comes thus at -midnight to make such a disturbance?" - -The voice replied, "Don't you know my voice? Why don't you open -the door?" - -She answered, "Are you not Chol-lo (Brass Tiger), and have we not -separated for good, years ago? Why have you come?" - -The voice from without answered back, "Your leaving me and taking -another man has always been a matter of deepest resentment on my part; -I have something special to say to you," and he pounded the door open -and came thundering in. - -The woman rushed back into the room, saying, "Your Excellency must -escape in some way or other." - -In such a little thatched hut there was no place possible for -concealment but an empty rice-box only. "Please get into this," -said she, and she lifted the lid and hurried him in. The Governor, -in his haste and déshabille, was bundled into the box. He then heard, -from within, this fellow come into the room and quarrel with his -wife. She said, "We have been separated three years already; what -reason have you to come now and make such a disturbance?" - -Said he, "You cast me off and took another man, therefore I have come -for the clothes that I left, and the other things that belong to me." - -Then she threw out his belongings to him, but he said, pointing to -the box, "That's mine." - -She replied, "That's not yours; I bought that myself with two rolls -of silk goods." - -"But," said he, "one of those rolls I gave you, and I'm not going to -let you have it." - -"Even though you did give it, do you mean to say that for one roll -of silk you will carry away this box? I'll not consent to it." Thus -they quarrelled, and contradicted each other. - -"If you don't give me the box," said he, "I'll enter a suit against -you at the Mayor's." - -A little later the day dawned, and so he had the box carried off to -the Mayor's office to have the case decided by law, while the woman -followed. When they entered the court, already the Mayor was seated -in the judgment-place, and here they presented their case concerning -the box. - -The Mayor, after hearing, decided thus: "Since you each have a -half-share in its purchase, there is nothing for me to do but to -divide it between you. Bring a saw," said he. - -The servants brought the saw and began on the box, when suddenly from -the inner regions came forth a cry, "Save me; oh, save me!" - -The Mayor, in pretended astonishment, said, "Why, there's a man's -voice from the inside," and ordered that it should be opened. The -servants managed to find the key, and at last the lid came back, -and from the inner quarters there came forth a half-dressed man. - -On seeing him the whole place was put into convulsions of laughter, -for it was none other than the Governor. - -"How is it that your Excellency finds yourself in this box in this -unaccountable way?" asked the Mayor. "Please come out." - -The Governor, huddling himself together as well as he could, climbed on -to the open verandah. He held his head down and nearly died for shame. - -The Mayor, splitting his sides with laughter, ordered clothes -to be brought, and the first thing that came was a woman's green -dress-coat. The Governor hastily turned it inside out, slipped it on, -and made a dash for his quarters in the Confucian Temple. That day -he left the place never to return, and even to the present time in -Kyong-ju they laugh and tell the story of the Boxed-up Governor. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXII - -THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS - - -There was a merchant in Chong-ju who used to go to Quelpart to buy -seaweed. One time when he drew up on the shore he saw a man shuffling -along on the ground toward the boat. He crept nearer, and at last -took hold of the side with both his hands and jumped in. - -"When I looked at him," said the merchant, "I found he was an old man -without any legs. Astonished, I asked, saying, 'How is it, old man, -that you have lost your legs?' - -"He said in reply, 'I lost my legs on a trip once when I was -shipwrecked, and a great fish bit them off.'" - -"However did that happen?" inquired the merchant. And the old man said, -"We were caught in a gale and driven till we touched on some island -or other. Before us on the shore stood a high castle with a great -gateway. The twenty or so of us who were together in the storm-tossed -boat were all exhausted from cold and hunger, and lying exposed. We -landed and managed to go together to the house. There was in it one man -only, whose height was terrible to behold, and whose chest was many -spans round. His face was black and his eyes large and rolling. His -voice was like the braying of a monster donkey. Our people made -motions showing that they wanted something to eat. The man made no -reply, but securely fastened the front gate. After this he brought -an armful of wood, put it in the middle of the courtyard, and there -made a fire. When the fire blazed up he rushed after us and caught a -young lad, one of our company, cooked him before our eyes, pulled him -to pieces and ate him. We were all reduced to a state of horror, not -knowing what to do. We gazed at each other in dismay and stupefaction. - -"When he had eaten his fill, he went up into a verandah and opened -a jar, from which he drank some kind of spirit. After drinking it -he uttered the most gruesome and awful noises; his face grew very -red and he lay down and slept. His snorings were like the roarings -of the thunder. We planned then to make our escape, and so tried to -open the large gate, but one leaf was about twenty-four feet across, -and so thick and heavy that with all our strength we could not move -it. The walls, too, were a hundred and fifty feet high, and so we -could do nothing with them. We were like fish in a pot--beyond all -possible way of escape. We held each other's hands, and cried. - -"Among us, one man thought of this plan: We had a knife and he took -it, and while the monster was drunk and asleep, decided to stab his -eyes out, and cut his throat. We said in reply, 'We are all doomed to -death, anyway; let's try,' and we made our way up on to the verandah -and stabbed his eyes. He gave an awful roar, and struck out on all -sides to catch us. We rushed here and there, making our escape out of -the court back into the rear garden. There were in this enclosure pigs -and sheep, about sixty of them in all. There we rushed, in among the -pigs and sheep. He floundered about, waving his two arms after us, -but not one of us did he get hold of; we were all mixed up--sheep, -pigs and people. When he did catch anything it was a sheep; and when -it was not a sheep it was a pig. So he opened the front gate to send -all the animals out. - -"We then each of us took a pig or sheep on the back and made straight -for the gate. The monster felt each, and finding it a pig or a sheep -let it go. Thus we all got out and rushed for the boat. A little later -he came and sat on the bank and roared his threatenings at us. A lot -of other giants came at his call. They took steps of thirty feet or -so, came racing after us, caught the boat, and made it fast; but we -took axes and struck at the hands that held it, and so got free at -last and out to the open sea. - -"Again a great wind arose, and we ran on to the rocks and were all -destroyed. Every one was engulfed in the sea and drowned; I alone got -hold of a piece of boat-timber and lived. Then there was a horrible -fish from the sea that came swimming after me and bit off my legs. At -last I drifted back home and here I am. - -"When I think of it still, my teeth are cold and my bones shiver. My -Eight Lucky Stars are very bad, that's why it happened to me." - - -Anon. - - - - - - - - -XXIII - -TEN THOUSAND DEVILS - - -[Han Chun-kyom was the son of a provincial secretary. He matriculated -in the year 1579 and graduated in 1586. He received the last wishes of -King Son-jo, and sat by his side taking notes for seven hours. From -1608 to 1623 he was generalissimo of the army, and later was raised -to the rank of Prince.] - - - -A certain Prince Han of Choong-chong Province had a distant relative -who was an uncouth countryman living in extreme poverty. This relative -came to visit him from time to time. Han pitied his cold and hungry -condition, gave him clothes to wear and shared his food, urging him -to stay and to prolong his visit often into several months. He felt -sorry for him, but disliked his uncouthness and stupidity. - -On one of these visits the poor relation suddenly announced his -intention to return home, although the New Year's season was just -at hand. Han urged him to remain, saying, "It would be better for -you to be comfortably housed at my home, eating cake and soup and -enjoying quiet sleep rather than riding through wind and weather at -this season of the year." - -He said at first that he would have to go, until his host so -insistently urged on him to stay that at last he yielded and gave -consent. At New Year's Eve he remarked to Prince Han, "I am possessor -of a peculiar kind of magic, by which I have under my control all -manner of evil genii, and New Year is the season at which I call -them up, run over their names, and inspect them. If I did not do so -I should lose control altogether, and there would follow no end of -trouble among mortals. It is a matter of no small moment, and that -is why I wished to go. Since, however, you have detained me, I shall -have to call them up in your Excellency's house and look them over. I -hope you will not object." - -Han was greatly astonished and alarmed, but gave his consent. The -poor relation went on to say further, "This is an extremely important -matter, and I would like to have for it your central guest hall." - -Han consented to this also, so that night they washed the floors and -scoured them clean. The relation also sat himself with all dignity -facing the south, while Prince Han took up his station on the outside -prepared to spy. Soon he saw a startling variety of demons crushing -in at the door, horrible in appearance and awesome of manner. They -lined up one after another, and still another, and another, till they -filled the entire court, each bowing as he came before the master, -who, at this point, drew out a book, opened it before him, and began -calling off the names. Demon guards who stood by the threshold -repeated the call and checked off the names just as they do in a -government yamen. From the second watch it went on till the fifth -of the morning. Han remarked, "It was indeed no lie when he told me -'ten thousand devils.'" - -One late-comer arrived after the marking was over, and still another -came climbing over the wall. The man ordered them to be arrested, -and inquiry made of them under the paddle. The late arrival said, -"I really have had a hard time of it of late to live, and so was -obliged, in order to find anything, to inject smallpox into the home -of a scholar who lives in Yong-nam. It is a long way off, and so I have -arrived too late for the roll-call, a serious fault indeed, I confess." - -The one who climbed the wall, said, "I, too, have known want and -hunger, and so had to insert a little typhus into the family of a -gentleman who lives in Kyong-keui, but hearing that roll-call was -due I came helter-skelter, fearing lest I should arrive too late, -and so climbed the wall, which was indeed a sin." - -The man then, in a loud voice, rated them soundly, saying, -"These devils have disobeyed my orders, caused disease and sinned -grievously. Worse than everything, they have climbed the wall of a -high official's house." He ordered a hundred blows to be given them -with the paddle, the cangue to be put on, and to have them locked -fast in prison. Then, calling the others to him, he said, "Do not -spread disease! Do you understand?" Three times he ordered it and -five times he repeated it. Then they were all dismissed. The crowd -of devils lined off before him, taking their departure and crushing -out through the gate with no end of noise and confusion. After a long -time they had all disappeared. - -Prince Han, looking on during this time, saw the man now seated alone -in the hall. It was quiet, and all had vanished. The cocks crew and -morning came. Han was astonished above measure, and asked as to the -law that governed such work as this. The poor relation said in reply, -"When I was young I studied in a monastery in the mountains. In that -monastery was an old priest who had a most peculiar countenance. A -man feeble and ready to die, he seemed. All the priests made sport of -him and treated him with contempt. I alone had pity on his age, and -often gave him of my food and always treated him kindly. One evening, -when the moon was bright, the old priest said to me, 'There is a -cave behind this monastery from which a beautiful view may be had; -will you not come with me and share it?' - -"I went with him, and when we crossed the ridge of the hills into -the stillness of the night he drew a book from his breast and gave -it to me, saying, 'I, who am old and ready to die, have here a great -secret, which I have long wished to pass on to some one worthy. I have -travelled over the wide length of Korea, and have never found the man -till now I meet you, and my heart is satisfied, so please receive it.' - -"I opened the book and found it a catalogue list of devils, with magic -writing interspersed, and an explanation of the laws that govern the -spirit world. The old priest wrote out one magic recipe, and having -set fire to it countless devils at once assembled, at which I was -greatly alarmed. He then sat with me and called over the names one -after the other, and said to the devils, 'I am an old man now, am -going away, and so am about to put you under the care of this young -man; obey him and all will be well.' - -"I already had the book, and so called them to me, read out the new -orders, and dismissed them. - -"The old priest and I returned to the Temple and went to sleep. I awoke -early next morning and went to call on him, but he was gone. Thus I -came into possession of the magic art, and have possessed it for a -score of years and more. What the world knows nothing of I have thus -made known to your Excellency." - -Han was astonished beyond measure, and asked, "May I not also come -into possession of this wonderful gift?" - -The man replied, "Your Excellency has great ability, and can do -wonderful things; but the possessor of this craft must be one poor and -despised, and of no account. For you, a minister, it would never do." - -The next day he left suddenly, and returned no more. Han sent a -servant with a message to him. The servant, with great difficulty, -at last found him alone among a thousand mountain peaks, living in -a little straw hut no bigger than a cockle shell. No neighbours were -there, nor any one beside. He called him, but he refused to come. He -sent another messenger to invite him, but he had moved away and no -trace of him was left. - -Prince Han's children had heard this story from himself, and I, -the writer, received it from them. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXIV - -THE HOME OF THE FAIRIES - - -In the days of King In-jo (1623-1649) there was a student of Confucius -who lived in Ka-pyong. He was still a young man and unmarried. His -education had not been extensive, for he had read only a little in -the way of history and literature. For some reason or other he left -his home and went into Kang-won Province. Travelling on horseback, -and with a servant, he reached a mountain, where he was overtaken by -rain that wet him through. Mysteriously, from some unknown cause, -his servant suddenly died, and the man, in fear and distress, drew -the body to the side of the hill, where he left it and went on his -way weeping. When he had gone but a short distance, the horse he rode -fell under him and died also. Such was his plight: his servant dead, -his horse dead, rain falling fast, and the road an unknown one. He -did not know what to do or where to go, and reduced thus to walking, -he broke down and cried. At this point there met him an old man with -very wonderful eyes, and hair as white as snow. He asked the young man -why he wept, and the reply was that his servant was dead, his horse -was dead, that it was raining, and that he did not know the way. The -patriarch, on hearing this, took pity on him, and lifting his staff, -pointed, saying, "There is a house yonder, just beyond those pines, -follow that stream and it will bring you to where there are people." - -The young man looked as directed, and a li or so beyond he saw a -clump of trees. He bowed, thanked the stranger, and started on his -way. When he had gone a few paces he looked back, but the friend had -disappeared. Greatly wondering, he went on toward the place indicated, -and as he drew near he saw a grove of pines, huge trees they were, a -whole forest of them. Bamboos appeared, too, in countless numbers, with -a wide stream of water flowing by. Underneath the water there seemed -to be a marble flooring like a great pavement, white and pure. As he -went along he saw that the water was all of an even depth, such as -one could cross easily. A mile or so farther on he saw a beautifully -decorated house. The pillars and entrance approaches were perfect in -form. He continued his way, wet as he was, carrying his thorn staff, -and entered the gate and sat down to rest. It was paved, too, with -marble, and smooth as polished glass. There were no chinks or creases -in it, all was of one perfect surface. In the room was a marble table, -and on it a copy of the Book of Changes; there was also a brazier -of jade just in front. Incense was burning in it, and the fragrance -filled the room. Beside these, nothing else was visible. The rain -had ceased and all was quiet and clear, with no wind nor anything to -disturb. The world of confusion seemed to have receded from him. - -While he sat there, looking in astonishment, he suddenly heard the -sound of footfalls from the rear of the building. Startled by it, he -turned to see, when an old man appeared. He looked as though he might -equal the turtle or the crane as to age, and was very dignified. He -wore a green dress and carried a jade staff of nine sections. The -appearance of the old man was such as to stun any inhabitant of the -earth. He recognized him as the master of the place, and so he went -forward and made a low obeisance. - -The old man received him kindly, and said, "I am the master and have -long waited for you." He took him by the hand and led him away. As they -went along, the hills grew more and more enchanting, while the soft -breezes and the light touched him with mystifying favour. Suddenly, as -he looked the man was gone, so he went on by himself, and arrived soon -at another palace built likewise of precious stones. It was a great -hall, stretching on into the distance as far as the eye could see. - -The young man had seen the Royal Palace frequently when in Seoul -attending examinations, but compared with this, the Royal Palace was -as a mud hut thatched with straw. - -As he reached the gate a man in ceremonial robes received him and -led him in. He passed two or three pavilions, and at last reached a -special one and went up to the upper storey. There, reclining at a -table, he saw the ancient sage whom he had met before. Again he bowed. - -This young man, brought up poorly in the country, was never accustomed -to seeing or dealing with the great. In fear, he did not dare to lift -his eyes. The ancient master, however, again welcomed him and asked -him to be seated, saying, "This is not the dusty world that you are -accustomed to, but the abode of the genii. I knew you were coming, -and so was waiting to receive you." He turned and called, saying, -"Bring something for the guest to eat." - -In a little a servant brought a richly laden table. It was such fare -as was never seen on earth, and there was abundance of it. The young -man, hungry as he was, ate heartily of these strange viands. Then the -dishes were carried away and the old man said, "I have a daughter who -has arrived at a marriageable age, and I have been trying to find a -son-in-law, but as yet have not succeeded. Your coming accords with -this need. Live here, then, and become my son-in-law." The young man, -not knowing what to think, bowed and was silent. Then the host turned -and gave an order, saying, "Call in the children." - -Two boys about twelve or thirteen years of age came running in and sat -down beside him. Their faces were so beautifully white they seemed -like jewels. The master pointed to them and said to the guest, -"These are my sons," and to the sons he said, "This young man is -he whom I have chosen for my son-in-law; when should we have the -wedding? Choose you a lucky day and let me know." - -The two boys reckoned over the days on their fingers, and then together -said, "The day after to-morrow is a lucky day." - -The old man, turning to the stranger, said, "That decides as to the -wedding, and now you must wait in the guest-chamber till the time -arrives." He then gave a command to call So and So. In a little -an official of the genii came forward, dressed in light and airy -garments. His appearance and expression were very beautiful, a man, -he seemed, of glad and happy mien. - -The master said, "Show this young man the way to his apartments and -treat him well till the time of the wedding." - -The official then led the way, and the young man bowed as he left -the room. When he had passed outside the gate, a red sedan chair was -in waiting for him. He was asked to mount. Eight bearers bore him -smoothly along. A mile or so distant they reached another palace, -equally wonderful, with no speck or flaw of any kind to mar its -beauty. In graceful groves of flowers and trees he descended to enter -his pavilion. Beautiful garments were taken from jewelled boxes, and -a perfumed bath was given him and a change made. Thus he laid aside -his weather-beaten clothes and donned the vestments of the genii. The -official remained as company for him till the appointed time. - -When that day arrived other beautiful robes were brought, and -again he bathed and changed. When he was dressed, he mounted the -palanquin and rode to the Palace of the master, twenty or more -officials accompanying. On arrival, a guide directed them to the -special Palace Beautiful. Here he saw preparations for the wedding, -and here he made his bow. This finished he moved as directed, further -in. The tinkling sound of jade bells and the breath of sweet perfumes -filled the air. Thus he made his entry into the inner quarters. - -Many beautiful women were in waiting, all gorgeously apparelled, -like the women of the gods. Among these he imagined that he would -meet the master's daughter. In a little, accompanied by a host of -others, she came, shining in jewels and beautiful clothing so that -she lighted up the Palace. He took his stand before her, though her -face was hidden from him by a fan of pearls. When he saw her at last, -so beautiful was she that his eyes were dazzled. The other women, -compared with her, were as the magpie to the phoenix. So bewildered was -he that he dared not look up. The friend accompanying assisted him to -bow and to go through the necessary forms. The ceremony was much the -same as that observed among men. When it was over the young man went -back to his bridegroom's chamber. There the embroidered curtains, -the golden screens, the silken clothing, the jewelled floor, were -such as no men of earth ever see. - -On the second day his mother-in-law called him to her. Her age would be -about thirty, and her face was like a freshly-blown lotus flower. Here -a great feast was spread, with many guests invited. The accompaniments -thereof in the way of music were sweeter than mortals ever dreamed -of. When the feast was over, the women caught up their skirts, and, -lifting their sleeves, danced together and sang in sweet accord. The -sound of their singing caused even the clouds to stop and listen. When -the day was over, and all had well dined, the feast broke up. - -A young man, brought up in a country hut, had all of a sudden met -the chief of the genii, and had become a sharer in his glory and -the accompaniments of his life. His mind was dazed and his thoughts -overcame him. Doubts were mixed with fears. He knew not what to do. - -A sharer in the joys of the fairies he had actually become, and a -year or so passed in such delight as no words can ever describe. - -One day his wife said to him, "Would you like to enter into the inner -enclosure and see as the fairies see?" - -He replied, "Gladly would I." - -She then led him into a special park where there were lovely walks, -surrounded by green hills. As they advanced there were charming -views, with springs of water and sparkling cascades. The scene grew -gradually more entrancing, with jewelled flowers and scintillating -spray, lovely birds and animals disporting themselves. A man once -entering here would never again think of earth as a place to return to. - -After seeing this he ascended the highest peak of all, which was -like a tower of many stories. Before him lay a wide stretch of sea, -with islands of the blessed standing out of the water, and long -stretches of pleasant land in view. His wife showed them all to him, -pointing out this and that. They seemed filled with golden palaces and -surrounded with a halo of light. They were peopled with happy souls, -some riding on cranes, some on the phoenix, some on the unicorn; some -were sitting on the clouds, some sailing by on the wind, some walking -on the air, some gliding gently up the streams, some descending from -above, some ascending, some moving west, some north, some gathering -in groups. Flutes and harps sounded sweetly. So many and so startling -were the things seen that he could never tell the tale of them. After -the day had passed they returned. - -Thus was their joy unbroken, and when two years had gone by she bore -him two sons. - -Time moved on, when one day, unexpectedly, as he was seated with -his wife, he began to cry and tears soiled his face. She asked in -amazement for the cause of it. "I was thinking," said he, "of how -a plain countryman living in poverty had thus become the son-in-law -of the king of the genii. But in my home is my poor old mother, whom -I have not seen for these years; I would so like to see her that my -tears flow." - -The wife laughed, and said, "Would you really like to see her? Then go, -but do not cry." She told her father that her husband would like to go -and see his mother. The master called him and gave his permission. The -son thought, of course, that he would call many servants and send -him in state, but not so. His wife gave him one little bundle and -that was all, so he said good-bye to his father-in-law, whose parting -word was, "Go now and see your mother, and in a little I shall call -for you again." - -He sent with him one servant, and so he passed out through the main -gateway. There he saw a poor thin horse with a worn rag of a saddle -on his back. He looked carefully and found that they were the dead -horse and the dead servant, whom he had lost, restored to him. He -gave a start, and asked, "How did you come here?" - -The servant answered, "I was coming with you on the road when some -one caught me away and brought me here. I did not know the reason, -but I have been here for a long time." - -The man, in great fear, fastened on his bundle and started on his -journey. The genie servant brought up the rear, but after a short -distance the world of wonder had become transformed into the old weary -world again. Here it was with its fogs, and thorn, and precipice. He -looked off toward the world of the genii, and it was but a dream. So -overcome was he by his feelings that he broke down and cried. - -The genie servant said to him when he saw him weeping, "You have been -for several years in the abode of the immortals, but you have not yet -attained thereto, for you have not yet forgotten the seven things of -earth: anger, sorrow, fear, ambition, hate and selfishness. If you -once get rid of these there will be no tears for you." On hearing -this he stopped his crying, wiped his cheeks, and asked pardon. - -When he had gone a mile farther he found himself on the main road. The -servant said to him, "You know the way from this point on, so I shall -go back," and thus at last the young man reached his home. - -He found there an exorcising ceremony in progress. Witches and spirit -worshippers had been called and were saying their prayers. The family, -seeing the young man come home thus, were all aghast. "It is his -ghost," said they. However, they saw in a little that it was really -he himself. The mother asked why he had not come home in all that -time. She being a very violent woman in disposition, he did not dare to -tell her the truth, so he made up something else. The day of his return -was the anniversary of his supposed death, and so they had called the -witches for a prayer ceremony. Here he opened the bundle that his wife -had given him and found four suits of clothes, one for each season. - -In about a year after his return home the mother, seeing him alone, -made application for the daughter of one of the village literati. The -man, being timid by nature and afraid of offending his mother, did -not dare to refuse, and was therefore married; but there was no joy -in it, and the two never looked at each other. - -The young man had a friend whom he had known intimately from -childhood. After his return the friend came to see him frequently, -and they used to spend the nights talking together. In their talks the -friend inquired why in all these years he had never come home. The -young man then told him what had befallen him in the land of the -genii, and how he had been there and had been married. The friend -looked at him in wonder, for he seemed just as he had remembered him -except in the matter of clothing. This he found on examination was -of very strange material, neither grass cloth, silk nor cotton, but -different from them all, and yet warm and comfortable. When spring -came the spring clothes sufficed, when summer came those for summer, -and for autumn and winter each special suit. They were never washed, -and yet never became soiled; they never wore out, and always looked -fresh and new. The friend was greatly astonished. - -Some three years passed when one day there came once more a servant -from the master of the genii, bringing his two sons. There were -also letters, saying, "Next year the place where you dwell will be -destroyed and all the people will become 'fish and meat' for the enemy, -therefore follow this messenger and come, all of you." - -He told his friend of this and showed him his two sons. The friend, -when he saw these children that looked like silk and jade, confessed -the matter to the mother also. She, too, gladly agreed, and so they -sold out and had a great feast for all the people of the town, and -then bade farewell. This was the year 1635. They left and were never -heard of again. - -The year following was the Manchu invasion, when the village where -the young man had lived was all destroyed. To this day young and old -in Ka-pyong tell this story. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXV - -THE HONEST WITCH - - -[Song Sang-in matriculated in 1601. He was a just man, and feared by -the dishonest element of the Court. In 1605 he graduated and became -a provincial governor. He nearly lost his life in the disturbances of -the reign of King Kwang-hai, and was exiled to Quelpart for a period -of ten years, but in the spring of 1623 he was recalled.] - - - - -The Story - -There was a Korean once, called Song Sang-in, whose mind was upright -and whose spirit was true. He hated witches with all his might, and -regarded them as deceivers of the people. "By their so-called prayers," -said he, "they devour the people's goods. There is no limit to the -foolishness and extravagance that accompanies them. This doctrine of -theirs is all nonsense. Would that I could rid the earth of them and -wipe out their names for ever." - -Some time later Song was appointed magistrate of Nam Won County in -Chulla Province. On his arrival he issued the following order: "If -any witch is found in this county, let her be beaten to death." The -whole place was so thoroughly spied upon that all the witches made -their escape to other prefectures. The magistrate thought, "Now we -are rid of them, and that ends the matter for this county at any rate." - -On a certain day he went out for a walk, and rested for a time at -Kwang-han Pavilion. As he looked out from his coign of vantage, -he saw a woman approaching on horseback with a witch's drum on her -head. He looked intently to make sure, and to his astonishment he -saw that she was indeed a mutang (witch). He sent a yamen-runner -to have her arrested, and when she was brought before him he asked, -"Are you a mutang?" - -She replied, "Yes, I am." - -"Then," said he, "you did not know of the official order issued?" - -"Oh yes, I heard of it," was her reply. - -He then asked, "Are you not afraid to die, that you stay here in -this county?" - -The mutang bowed, and made answer, "I have a matter of complaint to -lay before your Excellency to be put right; please take note of it -and grant my request. It is this: There are true mutangs and false -mutangs. False mutangs ought to be killed, but you would not kill an -honest mutang, would you? Your orders pertain to false mutangs; I do -not understand them as pertaining to those who are true. I am an honest -mutang; I knew you would not kill me, so I remained here in peace." - -The magistrate asked, "How do you know that there are honest mutangs?" - -The woman replied, "Let's put the matter to the test and see. If I -am not proven honest, let me die." - -"Very well," said the magistrate; "but can you really make good, -and do you truly know how to call back departed spirits?" - -The mutang answered, "I can." - -The magistrate suddenly thought of an intimate friend who had been -dead for some time, and he said to her, "I had a friend of such and -such rank in Seoul; can you call his spirit back to me?" - -The mutang replied, "Let me do so; but first you must prepare food, -with wine, and serve it properly." - -The magistrate thought for a moment, and then said to himself, "It -is a serious matter to take a person's life; let me find out first -if she is true or not, and then decide." So he had the food brought. - -The mutang said also, "I want a suit of your clothes, too, -please." This was brought, and she spread her mat in the courtyard, -placed the food in order, donned the dress, and so made all preliminary -arrangements. She then lifted her eyes toward heaven and uttered the -strange magic sounds by which spirits are called, meanwhile shaking -a tinkling bell. In a little she turned and said, "I've come." Then -she began telling the sad story of his sickness and death and -their separation. She reminded the magistrate of how they had played -together, and of things that had happened when they were at school at -their lessons; of the difficulties they had met in the examinations; -of experiences that had come to them during their terms of office. She -told secrets that they had confided to each other as intimate friends, -and many matters most definitely that only they two knew. Not a single -mistake did she make, but told the truth in every detail. - -The magistrate, when he heard these things, began to cry, saying, -"The soul of my friend is really present; I can no longer doubt or -deny it." Then he ordered the choicest fare possible to be prepared -as a sacrifice to his friend. In a little the friend bade him farewell -and took his departure. - -The magistrate said, "Alas! I thought mutangs were a brood of liars, -but now I know that there are true mutangs as well as false." He -gave her rich rewards, sent her away in safety, recalled his order -against witches, and refrained from any matters pertaining to them -for ever after. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXVI - -WHOM THE KING HONOURS - - -In the days of King Se-jong students of the Confucian College were -having a picnic to celebrate the Spring Festival. They met in a wood -to the north of the college, near a beautiful spring of water, and were -drinking and feasting the night through. While they were thus enjoying -themselves the rooms of the college were left deserted. One student -from the country, a backwoodsman in his way, who was of no account to -others, thought that while the rest went away to enjoy themselves some -one ought to stay behind to guard the sacred precincts of the temple; -so he decided that he would forgo the pleasures of the picnic, stay -behind and watch. - -The King at that time sent a eunuch to the college to see how many of -the students had remained on guard. The eunuch returned, saying that -all had gone off on the picnic, except one man, a raw countryman, -who was in sole charge. The King at once sent for the man, asking -him to come just as he was in his common clothes. - -On his arrival his Majesty asked, "When all have gone off for a gay -time, why is it that you remain alone?" - -He replied, "I, too, would like to have gone, but to leave the sacred -temple wholly deserted did not seem to me right, so I stayed." - -The King was greatly pleased with this reply, and asked again, -"Do you know how to write verses?" - -The reply was, "I know only very little about it." - -The King then said, "I have one-half of a verse here which runs thus-- - - - 'After the rains the mountains weep.' - - -You write me a mate for this line to go with it." - -At once the student replied-- - - - "Before the wind the grass is tipsy." - - -The King, delighted, praised him for his skill and made him a special -graduate on the spot, gave him his diploma, flowers for his hat, -and issued a proclamation saying that he had passed the Al-song -Examination. At once he ordered for him the head-gear, the red coat, -a horse to ride on, two boys to go before, flute-players and harpers, -saying, "Go now to the picnic-party and show yourself." - -While the picnickers were thus engaged, suddenly they heard the sound -of flutes and harps, and they questioned as to what it could mean. This -was not the time for new graduates to go abroad. While they looked, -behold, here came a victorious candidate, dressed in ceremonial robes, -heralded by boys, and riding on the King's palfrey, to greet them. On -closer view they saw that it was the uncouth countryman whom they had -left behind at the Temple. They asked what it meant, and then learned, -to their amazement, that the King had so honoured him. The company, -in consternation and surprise, broke up and returned home at once. - -This special graduate became later, through the favour of the King, -a great and noted man. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXVII - -THE FORTUNES OF YOO - - -There was a man of Yong-nam, named Yoo, who lived in the days of -Se-jong. He had studied the classics, had passed his examinations, -and had become a petty official attached to the Confucian College. He -was not even of the sixth degree, so that promotion was out of the -question. He was a countryman who had no friends and no influence, -and though he had long been in Seoul there was no likelihood of any -advancement. Such being the case, disheartened and lonely, he decided -to leave the city and go back to his country home. - -There was a palace secretary who knew this countryman, and who went -to say good-bye to him before he left. - -Taking advantage of the opportunity, the countryman said, "I have -long been in Seoul, but have never yet seen the royal office of the -secretaries. Might I accompany you some day when you take your turn?" - -The secretary said, "In the daytime there is always a crowd of people -who gather there for business, and no one is allowed in without a -special pass. I am going in to-morrow, however, and intend to sleep -there, so that in the evening we could have a good chance to look the -Palace over. People are not allowed to sleep in the Palace as a rule, -but doing so once would not be specially noticed." The secretary then -gave orders to the military guard who accompanied him to escort this -man in the next day. - -As the secretary had arranged, the countryman, on the evening -following, made his way into the Palace enclosure, but what was his -surprise to find that, for some reason or other, the secretary had not -come. The gates, also, were closed behind him, so that he could not -get out. Really he was in a fix. There chanced to be a body-servant -of the secretary in the room, and he, feeling sorry for the stranger, -arranged a hidden corner where he might pass the night, and then -quietly take his departure in the morning. - -The night was beautifully clear, and apparently every one slept but -Yoo. He was wide awake, and wondering to himself if he might not go -quietly out and see the place. - -It was the time of the rainy season, and a portion of the wall had -fallen from the enclosure just in front. So Yoo climbed over this -broken wall, and, not knowing where he went, found himself suddenly in -the royal quarters. It was a beautiful park, with trees, and lakes, -and walks. "Whose house is this," thought Yoo, "with its beautiful -garden?" Suddenly a man appeared, with a nice new cap on his head, -carrying a staff in his hand, and accompanied by a servant, walking -slowly towards him. It was no other than King Se-jong, taking a stroll -in the moonlight with one of his eunuchs. - -When they met Yoo had no idea that it was the King. His Majesty asked, -"Who are you, and how did you get in here?" - -He told who he was, and how he had agreed to come in with the -secretary; how the secretary had failed; how the gates were shut -and he was a prisoner for the night; how he had seen the bright -moonlight and wished to walk out, and, finding the broken wall, -had come over. "Whose house is this, anyway?" asked Yoo. - -The King replied, "I am the master of this house." His Majesty then -asked him in, and made him sit down on a mat beside him. So they talked -and chatted together. The King learned that he had passed special -examinations in the classics, and inquiring how it was that Yoo had -had no better office, Yoo replied that he was an unknown countryman, -that his family had no influence, and that, while he desired office, -he was forestalled by the powerful families of the capital. "Who is -there," he asked, "that would bother himself about me? Thus all my -hopes have failed, and I have just decided to leave the city and go -back home and live out my days there." - -The King asked again, "You know the classics so well, do you know -something also of the Book of Changes?" - -He replied, "The deeper parts I do not know, but the easier parts -only." - -Then the King ordered a eunuch to bring the Book of Changes. It was the -time when his Majesty was reading it for himself. The book was brought -and opened in the moonlight. The King looked up a part that had given -him special difficulty, and this the stranger explained character by -character, giving the meaning with convincing clearness. The King -was delighted and wondered greatly, and so they read together all -through the night. When they separated the King said, "You have all -this knowledge and yet have never been made use of? Alas, for my -country!" said he, sighing. - -Yoo remarked that he would like to go straight home now, if the master -would kindly open the door for him. - -The King said, however, that it was too early yet, and that he -might be arrested by the guards who were about. "Go then," said he, -"to where you were, and when it is broad daylight you can go through -the open gate." - -Yoo then bade good-bye, and went back over the broken wall to his -corner in the secretary's room. When morning came he went out through -the main gateway and returned to his home. - -On the following day the King sent a special secretary and had Yoo -appointed to the office of Overseer of Literature. On the promulgation -of this the officials gathered in the public court, and protested -in high dudgeon against so great an office being given to an unknown -person. - -His Majesty, however, said, "If you are so opposed to it, I'll desist." - -But the day following he appointed him to an office one degree still -higher. Again they all protested, and his Majesty said, "Really, -if you so object, I'll drop the matter." - -The day following he appointed him to an office still one degree -higher. Again they all protested and he apparently yielded to them. But -the day following higher still he was promoted, and again the protests -poured in, so much so that his Majesty seemed to yield. On the day -following this the King wrote out for him the office of Vice-President -of all the Literati. - -The high officials gathered again and inquired of one another as -to what the King meant, and what they had better do about it. "If -we do not in some way prevent it, he will appoint him as President -of the Literati." They decided to drop the matter for the present, -and see later what was best to do. - -A royal banquet was announced to take place, when all the officials -gathered. On this occasion the high Ministers of State said quietly -to the King, "It is not fitting that so obscure a person have so -important an office. Your Majesty's promoting him as you have done -has thrown the whole official body into a state of consternation. On -our protest you have merely promoted him more. What is your Majesty's -reason, please, for this action?" - -The King made no reply, but ordered a eunuch to bring the Book -of Changes. He opened it at the place of special difficulty, and -inquired as to its meaning. Even among the highest ministers not -one could give an answer. He inquired by name of this one and that, -but all were silent. The King then said, "I am greatly interested -in the reading of the Book of Changes; it is the great book of the -sages. Any one who understands it surely ought to be promoted. You, -all of you, fail to grasp its meaning, while Yoo, whom you protest -against, has explained it all to me. Now what have you to say? Yoo's -being promoted thus is just as it ought to be. Why do you object? I -shall promote him still more and more, so cease from all opposition." - -They were afraid and ashamed, and did not again mention it. - -Yoo from that time on became the royal teacher of the Choo-yuk (Book -of Changes), and rose higher and higher in rank, till he became Head -of the Confucian College and first in influence, surpassing all. - - - -Note.--Many people of ability have no chance for promotion. It is -difficult to have one's gifts known in high places; how much more -difficult before a king? The good fortune that fell to the first -scholar was of God's appointment. By caring for a vacant house the -honour came to him, and he was promoted. The other's going thus -unbidden into the Palace was a great wrong, but by royal favour he -was pardoned, received and honoured. - -By one line of poetry a man's ability was made manifest, and by -one explanation of the Choo-yuk another's path was opened to high -promotion. - -If Se-jong had not been a great and enlightened king, how could it -have happened? Very rare are such happenings, indeed! So all men -wondered over what had befallen these two. I, however, wondered more -over the King's sagacity in finding them. To my day his virtue and -accomplishments are known, so that the world calls him Korea's King -of the Golden Age. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXVIII - -AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HOBGOBLIN - - -I got myself into trouble in the year Pyong-sin, and was locked up; a -military man by the name of Choi Won-so, who was captain of the guard, -was involved in it and locked up as well. We often met in prison and -whiled away the hours talking together. On a certain day the talk -turned on goblins, when Captain Choi said, "When I was young I met -with a hobgoblin, which, by the fraction of a hair, almost cost me -my life. A strange case indeed!" - -I asked him to tell me of it, when he replied, "I had originally no -home in Seoul, but hearing of a vacant place in Belt Town, I made -application and got it. We went there, my father and the rest of the -family occupying the inner quarters, while I lived in the front room. - -"One night, late, when I was half asleep, the door suddenly opened, -and a woman came in and stood just before the lamp. I saw her clearly, -and knew that she was from the home of a scholar friend, for I had -seen her before and had been greatly attracted by her beauty, but had -never had a chance to meet her. Now, seeing her enter the room thus, -I greeted her gladly, but she made no reply. I arose to take her by -the hand, when she began walking backwards, so that my hand never -reached her. I rushed towards her, but she hastened her backward pace, -so that she eluded me. We reached the gate, which she opened with a -rear kick, and I followed on after, till she suddenly disappeared. I -searched on all sides, but not a trace was there of her. I thought -she had merely hidden herself, and never dreamed of anything else. - -"On the next night she came again and stood before the lamp just as -she had done the night previous. I got up and again tried to take -hold of her, but again she began her peculiar pace backwards, till -she passed out at the gate and disappeared just as she had done the -day before. I was once more surprised and disappointed, but did not -think of her being a hobgoblin. - -"A few days later, at night, I had lain down, when suddenly there -was a sound of crackling paper overhead from above the ceiling. A -forbidding, creepy sound it seemed in the midnight. A moment later -a curtain was let down that divided the room into two parts. Again, -later, a large fire of coals descended right in front of me, while an -immense heat filled the place. Where I was seemed all on fire, with -no way of escape possible. In terror for my life, I knew not what to -do. On the first cock-crow of morning the noise ceased, the curtain -went up, and the fire of coals was gone. The place was as though -swept with a broom, so clean from every trace of what had happened. - -"The following night I was again alone, but had not yet undressed -or lain down, when a great stout man suddenly opened the door and -came in. He had on his head a soldier's felt hat, and on his body -a blue tunic like one of the underlings of the yamen. He took hold -of me and tried to drag me out. I was then young and vigorous, and -had no intention of yielding to him, so we entered on a tussle. The -moon was bright and the night clear, but I, unable to hold my own, -was pulled out into the court. He lifted me up and swung me round -and round, then went up to the highest terrace and threw me down, -so that I was terribly stunned. He stood in front of me and kept -me a prisoner. There was a garden to the rear of the house, and a -wall round it. I looked, and within the wall were a dozen or so of -people. They were all dressed in military hats and coats, and they -kept shouting out, 'Don't hurt him, don't hurt him.' - -"The man that mishandled me, however, said in reply, 'It's none of -your business, none of your business'; but they still kept up the cry, -'Don't hurt him, don't hurt him'; and he, on the other hand, cried, -'Never you mind; none of your business.' They shouted, 'The man is -a gentleman of the military class; do not hurt him.' - -"The fellow merely said in reply, 'Even though he is, it's none of -your business'; so he took me by the two hands and flung me up into -the air, till I went half-way and more to heaven. Then in my fall I -went shooting past Kyong-keui Province, past Choong-chong, and at last -fell to the ground in Chulla. In my flight through space I saw all the -county towns of the three provinces as clear as day. Again in Chulla -he tossed me up once more. Again I went shooting up into the sky and -falling northward, till I found myself at home, lying stupefied below -the verandah terrace. Once more I could hear the voices of the group -in the garden shouting, 'Don't hurt him--hurt him.' But the man said, -'None of your business--your business.' - -"He took me up once more and flung me up again, and away I went -speeding off to Chulla, and back I came again, two or three times -in all. - -"Then one of the group in the garden came forward, took my tormentor -by the hand and led him away. They all met for a little to talk and -laugh over the matter, and then scattered and were gone, so that they -were not seen again. - -"I lay motionless at the foot of the terrace till the following -morning, when my father found me and had me taken in hand and cared -for, so that I came to, and we all left the haunted house, never to -go back." - - - -Note.--There are various reasons by which a place may be denominated -a "haunted house." The fact that there are hobgoblins in it makes it -haunted. If a good or "superior man" enters such a place the goblins -move away, and no word of being haunted will be heard. Choi saw the -goblin and was greatly injured. - -I understand that it is not only a question of men fearing the goblins, -but they also fear men. The fact that there are so few people that -they fear is the saddest case of all. Choi was afraid of the goblins, -that is why they troubled him. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXIX - -THE SNAKE'S REVENGE - - -There lived in ancient days an archer, whose home was near the -Water Gate of Seoul. He was a man of great strength and famous for -his valour. - -Water Gate has reference to a hole under the city wall, by which the -waters of the Grand Canal find their exit. In it are iron pickets to -prevent people's entering or departing by that way. - -On a certain afternoon when this military officer was taking a walk, -a great snake was seen making its way by means of the Water Gate. The -snake's head had already passed between the bars, but its body, being -larger, could not get through, so there it was held fast. The soldier -drew an arrow, and, fitting it into the string, shot the snake in the -head. Its head being fatally injured, the creature died. The archer -then drew it out, pounded it into a pulp, and left it. - -A little time later the man's wife conceived and bore a son. From the -first the child was afraid of its father, and when it saw him it used -to cry and seem greatly frightened. As it grew it hated the sight of -its father more and more. The man became suspicious of this, and so, -instead of loving his son, he grew to dislike him. - -On a certain day, when there were just the two of them in the room, -the officer lay down to have a midday siesta, covering his face with -his sleeve, but all the while keeping his eye on the boy to see what -he would do. The child glared at his father, and thinking him asleep, -got a knife and made a thrust at him. The man jumped, grabbed the -knife, and then with a club gave the boy a blow that left him dead -on the spot. He pounded him into a pulp, left him and went away. The -mother, however, in tears, covered the little form with a quilt and -prepared for its burial. In a little the quilt began to move, and she -in alarm raised it to see what had happened, when lo! beneath it the -child was gone and there lay coiled a huge snake instead. The mother -jumped back in fear, left the room and did not again enter. - -When evening came the husband returned and heard the dreadful story -from his wife. He went in and looked, and now all had metamorphosed -into a huge snake. On the head of it was the scar mark of the arrow -that he had shot. He said to the snake, "You and I were originally -not enemies, I therefore did wrong in shooting you as I did; but your -intention to take revenge through becoming my son was a horrible -deed. Such a thing as this is proof that my suspicions of you were -right and just. You became my son in order to kill me, your father; -why, therefore, should I not in my turn kill you? If you attempt -it again, it will certainly end in my taking your life. You have -already had your revenge, and have once more transmigrated into your -original shape, let us drop the past and be friends from now on. What -do you say?" - -He repeated this over and urged his proposals, while the snake with -bowed head seemed to listen intently. He then opened the door and -said, "Now you may go as you please." The snake then departed, making -straight for the Water Gate, and passed out between the bars. It did -not again appear. - - - -Note.--Man is a spiritual being, and different from all other -created things, and though a snake has power of venom, it is still an -insignificant thing compared with a man. The snake died, and by means -of the transmigration of its soul took its revenge. Man dies, but I -have never heard that he can transmigrate as the snake did. Why is it -that though a spiritual being he is unable to do what beasts do? I have -seen many innocent men killed, but not one of them has ever returned -to take his revenge on the lawless one who did it, and so I wonder -more than ever over these stories of the snake. The Superior Man's -knowing nothing of the law that governs these things is a regret to me. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXX - -THE BRAVE MAGISTRATE - - -In olden times in one of the counties of North Ham-kyong Province, -there was an evil-smelling goblin that caused great destruction to -life. Successive magistrates appeared, but in ten days or so after -arrival, in each case they died in great agony, so that no man wished -to have the billet or anything to do with the place. A hundred or -more were asked to take the post, but they all refused. At last one -brave soldier, who was without any influence socially or politically, -accepted. He was a courageous man, strong and fearless. He thought, -"Even though there is a devil there, all men will not die, surely. I -shall make a trial of him." So he said his farewell, and entered -on his office. He found himself alone in the yamen, as all others -had taken flight. He constantly carried a long knife at his belt, -and went thus armed, for he noticed from the first day a fishy, -stinking odour, that grew gradually more and more marked. - -After five or six days he took note, too, that what looked like a -mist would frequently make its entry by the outer gate, and from this -mist came this stinking smell. Daily it grew more and more annoying, -so that he could not stand it longer. In ten days or so, when the -time arrived for him to die, the yamen-runners and servants, who had -returned, again ran away. The magistrate kept a jar of whisky by his -side, from which he drank frequently to fortify his soul. On this -day he grew very drunk, and thus waited. At last he saw something -coming through the main gateway that seemed wrapped in fog, three -or four embraces in waist size, and fifteen feet or so high. There -was no head to it, nor were body or arms visible. Only on the top -were two dreadful eyes rolling wildly. The magistrate jumped up at -once, rushed toward it, gave a great shout and struck it with his -sword. When he gave it the blow there was the sound of thunder, and -the whole thing dissipated. Also the foul smell that accompanied it -disappeared at once. - -The magistrate then, in a fit of intoxication, fell prone. The -retainers, all thinking him dead, gathered in the courtyard to prepare -for his burial. They saw him fallen to the earth, but they remarked -that the bodies of others who had died from this evil had all been -left on the verandah, but his was in the lower court. They raised him -up in order to prepare him for burial, when suddenly he came to life, -looked at them in anger, and asked what they meant. Fear and amazement -possessed them. From that time on there was no more smell. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXI - -THE TEMPLE TO THE GOD OF WAR - - -[Yi Hang-bok.--When he was a child a blind fortune-teller came and -cast his future, saying, "This boy will be very great indeed." - -At seven years of age his father gave him for subject to write a -verse on "The Harp and the Sword," and he wrote-- - - - "The Sword pertains to the Hand of the Warrior - And the Harp to the Music of the Ancients." - - -At eight he took the subject of the "Willow before the Door," -and wrote-- - - - "The east wind brushes the brow of the cliff - And the willow on the edge nods fresh and green." - - -On seeing a picture of a great banquet among the fierce Turks of -Central Asia, he wrote thus-- - - - "The hunt is off in the wild dark hills, - And the moon is cold and gray, - While the tramping feet of a thousand horse - Ring on the frosty way. - In the tents of the Turk the music thrills - And the wine-cups chink for joy, - 'Mid the noise of the dancer's savage tread - And the lilt of the wild hautboy." - - -At twelve years of age he was proud, we are told, and haughty. He -dressed well, and was envied by the poorer lads of the place, and once -he took off his coat and gave it to a boy who looked with envy on -him. He gave his shoes as well, and came back barefoot. His mother, -wishing to know his mind in the matter, pretended to reprimand him, -but he replied, saying, "Mother, when others wanted it so, how could -I refuse giving?" His mother pondered these things in her heart. - -When he was fifteen he was strong and well-built, and liked -vigorous exercise, so that he was a noted wrestler and skilful at -shuttlecock. His mother, however, frowned upon these things, saying -that they were not dignified, so that he gave them up and confined his -attention to literary studies, graduating at twenty-five years of age. - -In 1592, during the Japanese War, when the King escaped to Eui-ju, -Yi Hang-bok went with him in his flight, and there he met the Chinese -(Ming) representative, who said in surprise to his Majesty, "Do you -mean to tell me that you have men in Cho-sen like Yi Hang-bok?" Yang -Ho, the general of the rescuing forces, also continually referred to -him for advice and counsel. He lived to see the troubles in the reign -of the wicked Kwang-hai, and at last went into exile to Puk-chong. When -he crossed the Iron Pass near Wonsan, he wrote-- - - - "From the giddy height of the Iron Peak, - I call on the passing cloud, - To take up a lonely exile's tears - In the folds of its feathery shroud, - And drop them as rain on the Palace Gates, - On the King, and his shameless crowd."] - - - - -The Story - -During the Japanese War in the reign of Son-jo, the Mings sent a great -army that came east, drove out the enemy and restored peace. At that -time the general of the Mings informed his Korean Majesty that the -victory was due to the help of Kwan, the God of War. "This being -the case," said he, "you ought not to continue without temples in -which to express your gratitude to him." So they built him houses of -worship and offered him sacrifice. The Temples built were one to the -south and one to the east of the city. In examining sites for these -they could not agree on the one to the south. Some wanted it nearer -the wall and some farther away. At that time an official, called Yi -Hang-bok, was in charge of the conference. On a certain day when Yi -was at home a military officer called and wished to see him. Ordering -him in he found him a great strapping fellow, splendidly built. His -request was that Yi should send out all his retainers till he talked -to him privately. They were sent out, and then the stranger gave his -message. After he had finished, he said good-bye and left. - -Yi had at that time an old friend stopping with him. The friend -went out with the servants when they were asked to leave, and now -he came back again. When he came in he noticed that the face of the -master had a very peculiar expression, and he asked him the reason of -it. Yi made no reply at first, but later told his friend that a very -extraordinary thing had happened. The military man who had come and -called was none other than a messenger of the God of War. His coming, -too, was on account of their not yet having decided in regard to the -site for the Temple. "He came," said Yi, "to show me where it ought -to be. He urged that it was not a matter for time only, but for the -eternities to come. If we do not get it right the God of War will -find no peace. I told him in reply that I would do my best. Was this -not strange?" - -The friend who heard this was greatly exercised, but Yi warned him -not to repeat it to any one. Yi used all his efforts, and at last -the building was placed on the approved site, where it now stands. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXII - -A VISIT FROM THE SHADES - - -[Choi Yu-won.--(The story of meeting his mother's ghost is reported -to be of this man.) - -Choi Yu-won matriculated in 1579 and graduated in 1602, becoming Chief -Justice and having conferred on him the rank of prince. When he was a -boy his great-aunt once gave him cloth for a suit of clothes, but he -refused to accept of it, and from this his aunt prophesied that he -would yet become a famous man. He studied in the home of the great -teacher Yul-gok, and Yul-gok also foretold that the day would come -when he would be an honour to Korea. - -Yu-won once met Chang Han-kang and inquired of him concerning Pyon-wha -Keui-jil (a law by which the weak became strong, the wicked good, -and the stupid wise). He also asked that if one be truly transformed -will the soul change as well as the body, or the body only? Chang -replied, "Both are changed, for how could the body change without -the soul?" Yu-won asked Yul-gok concerning this also, and Yul-gok -replied that Chang's words were true. - -In 1607 Choi Yu-won memorialized the King, calling attention to a -letter received from Japan in answer to a communication sent by his -Majesty, which had on its address the name of the Prime Minister, -written a space lower than good form required. The Korean envoy had not -protested, as duty would require of him, and yet the King had advanced -him in rank. The various officials commended him for his courage. - -In 1612, while he was Chief Justice, King Kwang-hai tried to degrade -the Queen Dowager, who was not his own mother, he being born of a -concubine, but Yu-won besought him with tears not to do so illegal -and unnatural a thing. Still the King overrode all opposition, and -did according to his unfilial will. In it all Choi Yu-won was proven -a good man and a just. He used to say to his companions, even as a -youth, "Death is dreadful, but still, better death for righteousness' -sake and honour than life in disgrace." Another saying of his runs, -"All one's study is for the development of character; if it ends not -in that it is in vain." - -Korea's ancient belief was that the blood of a faithful son served -as an elixir of life to the dying, so that when his mother was at the -point of death Yu-won with a knife cut flesh from his thigh till the -blood flowed, and with this he prepared his magic dose.] - - - - -The Story - -There was a minister in olden days who once, when he was Palace -Secretary, was getting ready for office in the morning. He had on -his ceremonial dress. It was rather early, and as he leaned on his -arm-rest for a moment, sleep overcame him. He dreamt, and in the -dream he thought he was mounted and on his journey. He was crossing -the bridge at the entrance to East Palace Street, when suddenly he saw -his mother coming towards him on foot. He at once dismounted, bowed, -and said, "Why do you come thus, mother, not in a chair, but on foot?" - -She replied, "I have already left the world, and things are not where -I am as they are where you are, and so I walk." - -The secretary asked, "Where are you going, please?" - -She replied, "We have a servant living at Yong-san, and they are -having a witches' prayer service there just now, so I am going to -partake of the sacrifice." - -"But," said the secretary, "we have sacrificial days, many of them, -at our own home, those of the four seasons, also on the first and -fifteenth of each month. Why do you go to a servant's house and not -to mine?" - -The mother replied, "Your sacrifices are of no interest to me, I like -the prayers of the witches. If there is no medium we spirits find no -satisfaction. I am in a hurry," said she, "and cannot wait longer," -so she spoke her farewell and was gone. - -The secretary awoke with a start, but felt that he had actually seen -what had come to pass. - -He then called a servant and told him to go at once to So-and-So's -house in Yong-san, and tell a certain servant to come that night -without fail. "Go quickly," said the secretary, "so that you can be -back before I enter the Palace." Then he sat down to meditate over it. - -In a little the servant had gone and come again. It was not yet -broad daylight, and because it was cold the servant did not enter -straight, but went first into the kitchen to warm his hands before -the fire. There was a fellow-servant there who asked him, "Have you -had something to drink?" - -He replied, "They are having a big witch business on at Yong-san, and -while the mutang (witch) was performing, she said that the spirit that -possessed her was the mother of the master here. On my appearance she -called out my name and said, 'This is a servant from our house.' Then -she called me and gave me a big glass of spirit. She added further, -'On my way here I met my son going into the Palace.'" - -The secretary, overhearing this talk from the room where he was -waiting, broke down and began to cry. He called in the servant and made -fuller inquiry, and more than ever he felt assured that his mother's -spirit had really gone that morning to share in the koot (witches' -sacrificial ceremony). He then called the mutang, and in behalf of -the spirit of his mother made her a great offering. Ever afterwards -he sacrificed to her four times a year at each returning season. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXIII - -THE FEARLESS CAPTAIN - - -There was formerly a soldier, Yee Man-ji of Yong-nam, a strong -and muscular fellow, and brave as a lion. He had green eyes and a -terrible countenance. Frequently he said, "Fear! What is fear?" On a -certain day when he was in his house a sudden storm of rain came on, -when there were flashes of lightning and heavy claps of thunder. At -one of them a great ball of fire came tumbling into his home and went -rolling over the verandah, through the rooms, into the kitchen and -out into the yard, and again into the servants' quarters. Several -times it went and came bouncing about. Its blazing light and the -accompanying noise made it a thing of terror. - -Yee sat in the outer verandah, wholly undisturbed. He thought -to himself, "I have done no wrong, therefore why need I fear the -lightning?" A moment later a flash struck the large elm tree in front -of the house and smashed it to pieces. The rain then ceased and the -thunder likewise. - -Yee turned to see how it fared with his family, and found them all -fallen senseless. With the greatest of difficulty he had them restored -to life. During that year they all fell ill and died, and Yee came -to Seoul and became a Captain of the Right Guard. Shortly after he -went to North Ham-kyong Province. There he took a second wife and -settled down. All his predecessors had died of goblin influences, -and the fact that calamity had overtaken them while in the official -quarters had caused them to use one of the village houses instead. - -Yee, however, determined to live down all fear and go back to the -old quarters, which he extensively repaired. - -One night his wife was in the inner room while he was alone in the -public office with a light burning before him. In the second watch or -thereabout, a strange-looking object came out of the inner quarters. It -looked like the stump of a tree wrapped in black sackcloth. There -was no outline or definite shape to it, and it came jumping along and -sat itself immediately before Yee Man-ji. Also two other objects came -following in its wake, shaped just like the first one. The three then -sat in a row before Yee, coming little by little closer and closer to -him. Yee moved away till he had backed up against the wall and could -go no farther. Then he said, "Who are you, anyhow; what kind of devil, -pray, that you dare to push towards me so in my office? If you have -any complaint or matter to set right, say so, and I'll see to it." - -The middle devil said in reply, "I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry." - -Yee answered, "Hungry, are you? Very well, now just move back and I'll -have food prepared for you in abundance." He then repeated a magic -formula that he had learned, and snapped his fingers. The three devils -seemed to be afraid of this. Then Man-ji suddenly closed his fist -and struck a blow at the first devil. It dodged, however, most deftly -and he missed, but hit the floor a sounding blow that cut his hand. - -Then they all shouted, "We'll go, we'll go, since you treat guests -thus." At once they bundled out of the room and disappeared. - -On the following day he had oxen killed and a sacrifice offered to -these devils, and they returned no more. - - - -Note.--Men have been killed by goblins. This is not so much due to the -fact that goblins are wicked as to the fact that men are afraid of -them. Many died in North Ham-kyong, but those again who were brave, -and clove them with a knife, or struck them down, lived. If they had -been afraid, they too would have died. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXIV - -THE KING OF YOM-NA (HELL) - - -[Pak Chom was one of the Royal Censors, and died in the Japanese War -of 1592.] - - - - -The Story - -In Yon-nan County, Whang-hai Province, there was a certain literary -graduate whose name I have forgotten. He fell ill one day and remained -in his room, leaning helplessly against his arm-rest. Suddenly several -spirit soldiers appeared to him, saying, "The Governor of the lower -hell has ordered your arrest," so they bound him with a chain about -his neck, and led him away. They journeyed for many hundreds of miles, -and at last reached a place that had a very high wall. The spirits -then took him within the walls and went on for a long distance. - -There was within this enclosure a great structure whose height reached -to heaven. They arrived at the gate, and the spirits who had him in -hand led him in, and when they entered the inner courtyard they laid -him down on his face. - -Glancing up he saw what looked like a king seated on a throne; grouped -about him on each side were attendant officers. There were also scores -of secretaries and soldiers going and coming on pressing errands. The -King's appearance was most terrible, and his commands such as to fill -one with awe. The graduate felt the perspiration break out on his back, -and he dared not look up. In a little a secretary came forward, stood -in front of the raised dais to transmit commands, and the King asked, -"Where do you come from? What is your name? How old are you? What do -you do for a living? Tell me the truth now, and no dissembling." - -The scholar, frightened to death, replied, "My clan name is So-and-so, -and my given name is So-and-so. I am so old, and I have lived for -several generations at Yon-nan, Whang-hai Province. I am stupid and -ill-equipped by nature, so have not done anything special. I have -heard all my life that if you say your beads with love and pity in -your heart you will escape hell, and so have given my time to calling -on the Buddha, and dispensing alms." - -The secretary, hearing this, went at once and reported it to the -King. After some time he came back with a message, saying, "Come -up closer to the steps, for you are not the person intended. It -happens that you bear the same name and you have thus been wrongly -arrested. You may go now." - -The scholar joined his hands and made a deep bow. Again the secretary -transmitted a message from the King, saying, "My house, when on earth, -was in such a place in such and such a ward of Seoul. When you go -back I want to send a message by you. My coming here is long, and -the outer coat I wear is worn to shreds. Ask my people to send me a -new outer coat. If you do so I shall be greatly obliged, so see that -you do not forget." - -The scholar said, "Your Majesty's message given me thus direct I -shall pass on without fail, but the ways of the two worlds, the dark -world and the light, are so different that when I give the message -the hearers will say I am talking nonsense. True, I'll give it just -as you have commanded, but what about it if they refuse to listen? I -ought to have some evidence as proof to help me out." - -The King made answer, "Your words are true, very true. This will -help you: When I was on earth," said he, "one of my head buttons [1] -that I wore had a broken edge, and I hid it in the third volume of -the Book of History. I alone know of it, no one else in the world. If -you give this as a proof they will listen." - -The scholar replied, "That will be satisfactory, but again, how shall -I do in case they make the new coat?" - -The reply was, "Prepare a sacrifice, offer the coat by fire, and it -will reach me." - -He then bade good-bye, and the King sent with him two soldier -guards. He asked the soldiers, as they came out, who the one seated -on the throne was. "He is the King of Hades," said they; "his surname -is Pak and his given name is Oo." - -They arrived at the bank of a river, and the two soldiers pushed him -into the water. He awoke with a start, and found that he had been -dead for three days. - -When he recovered from his sickness he came up to Seoul, searched out -the house indicated, and made careful inquiry as to the name, finding -that it was no other than Pak Oo. Pak Oo had two sons, who at that -time had graduated and were holding office. The graduate wanted to -see the sons of this King of Hades, but the gatekeeper would not let -him in. Therefore he stood before the red gate waiting helplessly till -the sun went down. Then came out from the inner quarters of the house -an old servant, to whom he earnestly made petition that he might see -the master. On being thus requested, the servant returned and reported -it to the master, who, a little later, ordered him in. On entering, -he saw two gentlemen who seemed to be chiefs. They had him sit down, -and then questioned him as to who he was and what he had to say. - -He replied, "I am a student living in Yon-nan County, Whang-hai -Province. On such and such a day I died and went into the other world, -where your honorable father gave me such and such a commission." - -The two listened for a little and then, without waiting to hear all -that he had to say, grew very angry and began to scold him, saying, -"How dare such a scarecrow as you come into our house and say such -things as these? This is stuff and nonsense that you talk. Pitch him -out," they shouted to the servants. - -He, however, called back saying, "I have a proof; listen. If it fails, -why then, pitch me out." - -One of the two said, "What possible proof can you have?" Then the -scholar told with great exactness and care the story of the head -button. - -The two, in astonishment over this, had the book taken down and -examined, and sure enough in Vol. III of the Book of History was the -button referred to. Not a single particular had failed. It proved -to be a button that they had missed after the death of their father, -and that they had searched for in vain. - -Accepting the message now as true, they all entered upon a period -of mourning. - -The women of the family also called in the scholar and asked him -specially of what he had seen. So they made the outer coat, chose a -day, and offered it by fire before the ancestral altar. Three days -after the sacrifice the scholar dreamed, and the family of Pak dreamed -too, that the King of Hades had come and given to each one of them his -thanks for the coat. They long kept the scholar at their home, treating -him with great respect, and became his firm friends for ever after. - -Pak Oo was a great-grandson of Minister Pak Chom. While he held office -he was honest and just and was highly honoured by the people. When he -was Mayor of Hai-ju there arose a dispute between him and the Governor, -which proved also that Pak was the honest man. - -When I was at Hai-ju, Choi Yu-chom, a graduate, told me this story. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXV - -HONG'S EXPERIENCES IN HADES - - -Hong Nai-pom was a military graduate who was born in the year -A.D. 1561, and lived in the city of Pyeng-yang. He passed his -examination in the year 1603, and in the year 1637 attained to -the Third Degree. He was 82 in the year 1643, and his son Sonn -memorialized the King asking that his father be given rank appropriate -to his age. At that time a certain Han Hong-kil was chief of the Royal -Secretaries, and he refused to pass on the request to his Majesty; but -in the year 1644, when the Crown Prince was returning from his exile -in China, he came by way of Pyeng-yang. Sonn took advantage of this to -present the same request to the Crown Prince. His Highness received -it, and had it brought to the notice of the King. In consequence, -Hong received the rank of Second Degree. - -On receiving it he said, "This year I shall die," and a little later -he died. - -In the year 1594, Hong fell ill of typhus fever, and after ten days -of suffering, died. They prepared his body for burial, and placed -it in a coffin. Then the friends and relatives left, and his wife -remained alone in charge. Of a sudden the body turned itself and -fell with a thud to the ground. The woman, frightened, fainted away, -and the other members of the family came rushing to her help. From -this time on the body resumed its functions, and Hong lived. - -Said he, "In my dream I went to a certain region, a place of great fear -where many persons were standing around, and awful ogres, some of them -wearing bulls' heads, and some with faces of wild beasts. They crowded -about and jumped and pounced toward me in all directions. A scribe -robed in black sat on a platform and addressed me, saying, 'There are -three religions on earth, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. According -to Buddhism, you know that heaven and hell are places that decide -between man's good and evil deeds. You have ever been a blasphemer -of the Buddha, and a denier of a future life, acting always as though -you knew everything, blustering and storming. You are now to be sent -to hell, and ten thousand kalpas [2] will not see you out of it.' - -"Then two or three constables carrying spears came and took me off. I -screamed, 'You are wrong, I am innocently condemned.' Just at that -moment a certain Buddha, with a face of shining gold, came smiling -toward me, and said, 'There is truly a mistake somewhere; this man -must attain to the age of eighty-three and become an officer of the -Second Degree ere he dies.' Then addressing me he asked, 'How is it -that you have come here? The order was that a certain Hong of Chon-ju -be arrested and brought, not you; but now that you have come, look -about the place before you go, and tell the world afterwards of what -you have seen.' - -"The guards, on hearing this, took me in hand and brought me first -to a prison-house, where a sign was posted up, marked, 'Stirrers up -of Strife.' I saw in this prison a great brazier-shaped pit, built -of stones and filled with fire. Flames arose and forked tongues. The -stirrers up of strife were taken and made to sit close before it. I -then saw one infernal guard take a long rod of iron, heat it red-hot, -and put out the eyes of the guilty ones. I saw also that the offenders -were hung up like dried fish. The guides who accompanied me, said, -'While these were on earth they did not love their brethren, but -looked at others as enemies. They scoffed at the laws of God and -sought only selfish gain, so they are punished.' - -"The next hell was marked, 'Liars.' In that hell I saw an iron pillar -of several yards in height, and great stones placed before it. The -offenders were called up, and made to kneel before the pillar. Then I -saw an executioner take a knife and drive a hole through the tongues -of the offenders, pass an iron chain through each, and hang them to -the pillar so that they dangled by their tongues several feet from the -ground. A stone was then taken and tied to each culprit's feet. The -stones thus bearing down, and the chains being fast to the pillar, -their tongues were pulled out a foot or more, and their eyes rolled in -their sockets. Their agonies were appalling. The guides again said, -'These offenders when on earth used their tongues skilfully to tell -lies and to separate friend from friend, and so they are punished.' - -"The next hell had inscribed on it, 'Deceivers.' I saw in it many -scores of people. There were ogres that cut the flesh from their -bodies, and fed it to starving demons. These ate and ate, and the -flesh was cut and cut till only the bones remained. When the winds of -hell blew, flesh returned to them; then metal snakes and copper dogs -crowded in to bite them and suck their blood. Their screams of pain -made the earth to tremble. The guides said to me, 'When these offenders -were on earth they held high office, and while they pretended to be -true and good they received bribes in secret and were doers of all -evil. As Ministers of State they ate the fat of the land and sucked -the blood of the people, and yet advertised themselves as benefactors -and were highly applauded. While in reality they lived as thieves, -they pretended to be holy, as Confucius and Mencius are holy. They -were deceivers of the world, and robbers, and so are punished thus.' - -"The guides then said, 'It is not necessary that you see all the -hells.' They said to one another, 'Let's take him yonder and show -him;' so they went some distance to the south-east. There was a -great house with a sign painted thus, 'The Home of the Blessed.' As -I looked, there were beautiful haloes encircling it, and clouds of -glory. There were hundreds of priests in cassock and surplice. Some -carried fresh-blown lotus flowers; some were seated like the Buddha; -some were reading prayers. - -"The guides said, 'These when on earth kept the faith, and with -undivided hearts served the Buddha, and so have escaped the Eight -Sorrows and the Ten Punishments, and are now in the home of the happy, -which is called heaven.' When we had seen all these things we returned. - -"The golden-faced Buddha said to me, 'Not many on earth believe in -the Buddha, and few know of heaven and hell. What do you think of it?' - -"I bowed low and thanked him. - -"Then the black-coated scribe said, 'I am sending this man away; see -him safely off.' The spirit soldiers took me with them, and while on -the way I awakened with a start, and found that I had been dead for -four days." - -Hong's mind was filled with pride on this account, and he frequently -boasted of it. His age and Second Degree of rank came about just as -the Buddha had predicted. - -His experience, alas! was used as a means to deceive people, for the -Superior Man does not talk of these strange and wonderful things. - -Yi Tan, a Chinaman of the Song Kingdom, used to say, "If there is -no heaven, there is no heaven, but if there is one, the Superior -Man alone can attain to it. If there is no hell, there is no hell, -but if there is one the bad man must inherit it." - -If we examine Hong's story, while it looks like a yarn to deceive -the world, it really is a story to arouse one to right action. I, -Im Bang, have recorded it like Toi-chi, saying, "Don't find fault -with the story, but learn its lesson." - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXVI - -HAUNTED HOUSES - - -There once lived a man in Seoul called Yi Chang, who frequently told -as an experience of his own the following story: He was poor and -had no home of his own, so he lived much in quarters loaned him by -others. When hard pressed he even went into haunted houses and lived -there. Once, after failing to find a place, he heard of one such house -in Ink Town (one of the wards of Seoul), at the foot of South Mountain, -which had been haunted for generations and was now left vacant. Chang -investigated the matter, and finally decided to take possession. - -First, to find whether it was really haunted or not, he called his -elder brothers, Hugh and Haw, and five or six of his relatives, -and had them help clean it out and sleep there. The house had one -upper room that was fast locked. Looking through a chink, there was -seen to be in the room a tablet chair and a stand for it; also there -was an old harp without any strings, a pair of worn shoes, and some -sticks and bits of wood. Nothing else was in the room. Dust lay thick, -as though it had gathered through long years of time. - -The company, after drinking wine, sat round the table and played at -games, watching the night through. When it was late, towards midnight, -they suddenly heard the sound of harps and a great multitude of -voices, though the words were mixed and unintelligible. It was as -though many people were gathered and carousing at a feast. The company -then consulted as to what they should do. One drew a sword and struck -a hole through the partition that looked into the tower. Instantly -there appeared from the other side a sharp blade thrust out towards -them. It was blue in colour. In fear and consternation they desisted -from further interference with the place. But the sound of the harp -and the revelry kept up till the morning. The company broke up at -daylight, withdrew from the place, and never again dared to enter. - -In the South Ward there was another haunted house, of which Chang -desired possession, so he called his friends and brothers once more to -make the experiment and see whether it was really haunted or not. On -entering, they found two dogs within the enclosure, one black and -one tan, lying upon the open verandah, one at each end. Their eyes -were fiery red, and though the company shouted at them they did not -move. They neither barked nor bit. But when midnight came these two -animals got up and went down into the court, and began baying at the -inky sky in a way most ominous. They went jumping back and forth. At -that time, too, there came some one round the corner of the house -dressed in ceremonial robes. The two dogs met him with great delight, -jumping up before and behind in their joy at his coming. He ascended -to the verandah, and sat down. Immediately five or six multi-coloured -demons appeared and bowed before him, in front of the open space. The -man then led the demons and the dogs two or three times round the -house. They rushed up into the verandah and jumped down again into the -court; backwards and forwards they came and went, till at last all of -them mysteriously disappeared. The devils went into a hole underneath -the floor, while the dogs went up to their quarters and lay down. - -The company from the inner room had seen this. When daylight came -they examined the place, looked through the chinks of the floor, -but saw only an old, worn-out sieve and a few discarded brooms. They -went behind the house and found another old broom poked into the -chimney. They ordered a servant to gather them up and have them -burned. The dogs lay as they were all day long, and neither ate nor -moved. Some of the party wished to kill the brutes, but were afraid, -so fearsome was their appearance. - -This night again they remained, desiring to see if the same phenomena -would appear. Again at midnight the two dogs got down into the court -and began barking up at the sky. The man in ceremonial robes again -came, and the devils, just as the day before. - -The company, in fear and disgust, left the following morning, and -did not try it again. - -A friend, hearing this of Chang, went and asked about it from Hugh -and Haw, and they confirmed the story. - -There is still another tale of a graduate who was out of house and -home and went into a haunted dwelling in Ink Town, which was said -to have had the tower where the mysterious sounds were heard. They -opened the door, broke out the window, took out the old harp, the -spirit chair, the shoes and sticks, and had them burned. Before -the fire had finished its work, one of the servants fell down and -died. The graduate, seeing this, in fear and dismay put out the fire, -restored the things and left the house. - -Again there was another homeless man who tried it. In the night a woman -in a blue skirt came down from the loft, and acted in a peculiar and -uncanny way. The man, seeing this, picked up his belongings and left. - -Again, in South Kettle Town, there were a number of woodmen who in -the early morning were passing behind the haunted house, when they -found an old woman sitting weeping under a tree. They thinking her -an evil bogey, one man came up behind and gave her a thrust with his -sickle. The witch rushed off into the house, her height appearing to -be only about one cubit and a span. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXVII - -IM, THE HUNTER - - -[Im Kyong-up.--One of Korea's most famous generals, who fought in -behalf of China in 1628 against the Manchus. He is worshipped to-day -in many parts of Korea.] - - - - -The Story - -When General Im Kyong-up was young he lived in the town of Tallai. In -those days he loved the chase, and constantly practised riding -and hunting. Once he went off on an excursion to track the deer -in Wol-lak Mountains. He carried only a sword, and made the chase -on foot. In his pursuit of the animal he went as far as Tai-paik -Mountain. There night overtook him, and the way was hidden in the -darkness. There were yawning chasms and great horns and cliffs on -all sides. While he was in a state of perplexity he met a woodman, -and asked him where the road was and how he ought to go. The woodman -directed him to a cliff opposite, "where," said he, "there is a -house." Im heard this and crossed over to the farther ridge. On -approaching more nearly he found a great tiled mansion standing alone -without a single house about it. He went in by the main gateway, but -found all quiet and dark and no one in sight. It was a vacant house, -evidently deserted. After travelling all day in the hills Im was full -of fears and creepy feelings. So he viewed the place with mistrust, -fearing that there might be hill goblins in it or tree devils, -but a moment later some one opened the room door and shouted out, -"Do you sleep here? Have you had something to eat?" - -Im looked and discovered that it was the same person that had directed -him on his way. He said in reply, "I have not eaten anything and am -hungry." So the man opened the wall box and brought him out wine and -meat. He, being exceedingly hungry, ate all. Then they sat down to -talk together, and after a little the woodman got up, opened the box -once more, and took from it a great sword. Im asked, "What is this -you have; do you intend to kill me?" - -The woodman laughed and said, "No, no, but to-night there is something -on hand worth the seeing. Will you come with me and not be afraid?" - -Im said, "Of course I am not afraid; I want to see." - -It was then about midnight, and the woodman, with the sword in -his hand, took Im and went to one side through a succession of -gates that seemed never ending. At last they came to a place where -lights were reflected on a pond of water. There was a high pavilion -apparently in the middle of the lake, and from the inside of it came -the lights. There were sounds, too, of laughter and talking that came -from the upper storey. Through the sliding doors he could distinguish -two people seated together. There was another pavilion to the right -of the lake and a large tree near it, up which the woodman told Im -to climb. - -"When you get well up," said he, "take your belt, tie yourself fast -to the trunk and keep perfectly still." - -Im climbed the tree as directed, and made himself secure. From this -point of vantage he looked intently, and the first thing he saw was -the woodman give a leap that cleared the lake and landed him in the -pavilion. At once he ascended to the upper storey, and now Im could -distinguish three persons sitting talking and laughing. He heard the -woodman, after drinking, say to his neighbour, "We have made our wager, -now let's see it out." The man replied, "Let's do so." Then both arose, -came down to the entrance, and vaulted off into mid-air, where they -disappeared from sight. Nothing could be distinguished now but the -clashing of steel and flashes of fire, which kept up for a long time. - -In beholding this from the tree top, where he was stationed, his -bones grew cold and his hair stood stiff on end. He knew not what to -do. Then a moment later he heard something fall to the ground with -a great thud. A cry of victory arose too, and he recognized that it -was the woodman's voice. Chills ran all over him, and goose-flesh -covered his skin; only after a long time could he gain control of -himself. He came down from the tree and the woodman met him, took him -suddenly under his arm, and vaulted over into the pavilion. Here he -met a beautiful woman with hair like fleecy clouds. Before the fight -the woman's voice was evidently full of hilarity, but now she was -overcome with grief and tears. - -The woodman spoke roughly to her, saying, "Do you not know that you, -a wicked woman, have caused the death of a great man?" The woodman -said also to Im, "You have courage and valour in your way, but it is -not sufficient to meet a world like this. I will now give you this -woman, and this house, so you can bid farewell to the dusty world -and live here in peace and quiet for the rest of your days." - -Im replied, "What I have seen to-night I am at a loss to -understand. I'd like to know the meaning of it first; please tell -me. After hearing that I'll do what you ask." - -The woodman said, "I am not an ordinary mortal of the world, but am an -outlaw of the hills and woods. I am a robber, really, and by robbing -have many such a house as this. Not only here but in all the provinces -I have homes abundant, a beautiful woman in each, and rich and dainty -fare. All unexpectedly this woman has neglected me for another man, -and he and she have several times tried to kill me. There being no -help for it, I had to kill him. I have killed the man, but I ought -truly to have killed the woman. Take this place, then, off my hands, -will you, and the woman too?" - -But Im asked, "Who was the man, and where did he live?" - -"There were," said the woodman, "mighty possibilities in him, -though he lived humbly inside the South Gate of Seoul and sold cut -tobacco. He came here frequently, and I knew it, though I winked at -it all until they attempted to kill me, and that brought matters -to a head. It was not my wish to kill him," and here the woodman -broke down and cried. "Alas, alas!" said he, "I have killed a great -and gifted man. Think it over," said he; "you have courage, but -not enough to make any mark in the world. You will fail half-way, -the Fates have so decided. Cease from any vain ambitions, for there -is no way by which your name can ever become famous. Do what I say, -then, and take over this woman and this home." - -Im, however, shook his head and said, "I can't do it." - -The woodman asked, "Why can you not? If you do not, there is nothing -for this woman but death, so here I'll have done with it," and he -struck her with his sword and cut off her head. - -The day following he said to Im, "Since you are determined to go -forth and do valiantly, I cannot stop you, but if a man goes forth -thus and does not know the use of the sword he is helpless, and at -the mercy of the foe. Stay with me a little and learn. I'll teach you." - -Im stayed for six days and learned the use of the sword. - - -Anon. - - - - - - - - -XXXVIII - -THE MAGIC INVASION OF SEOUL - - -A gentleman of Seoul was one day crossing the Han River in a boat. In -the crossing, he nodded for a moment, fell asleep and dreamed a -dream. In his dream he met a man who had Gothic eyebrows and almond -eyes, whose face was red as ripened dates, and whose height was eight -cubits and a span. He was dressed in green and had a long beard that -came down to his belt-string. A man of majestic appearance he was, -with a great sword at his side and he rode on a red horse. - -He asked the gentleman to open his hand, which he did, and then the -august stranger dashed a pen-mark on it as the sign of the God of -War. Said he, "When you cross the river, do not go direct to Seoul, -but wait at the landing. Seven horses will shortly appear, loaded with -network hampers, all proceeding on their journey to the capital. You -are to call the horsemen, open your hand, and show them the sign. When -they see it they will all commit suicide in your very presence. After -that, you are to take the loads and pile them up, but don't look -into them. Then you are to go at once and report the matter to the -Palace and have them all burned. The matter is of immense importance, -so do not fail in the slightest particular." - -The gentleman gave a great start of terror and awoke. He looked at -his hand and there, indeed, was the strange mark. Not only so, but the -ink had not yet dried upon it. He was astonished beyond measure, but -did as the dream had indicated, and waited on the river's bank. In a -little there came, as he was advised, the seven loads on seven horses, -coming from the far-distant South. There were attendants in charge, -and one man wearing an official coat came along behind. When they had -crossed the river the gentleman called them to him and said, "I have -something to say to you; come close to me." These men, unsuspecting, -though with somewhat of a frightened look, closed up. He then showed -them his hand with the mark, and asked them if they knew what it -was. When they saw it, first of all, the man in the official coat -turned and with one bound jumped over the cliff into the river. The -eight or nine who accompanied the loads likewise all rushed after -him and dashed into the water. - -The scholar then called the boatmen, and explained to them that the -things in the hampers were dangerous, that he would have to make it -known to the Palace, and that in the meantime they were to keep close -guard, but that they were not to touch them or look at them. - -He hurried as fast as possible, and reported the matter to the Board -of War. The Board sent an official, and had the loads brought into -Seoul, and then, as had been directed, they were piled high with wood -and set on fire. When the fire developed, the baskets broke open, -and little figures of men and horses, each an inch or so long, in -countless numbers, came tumbling out. - -When the officials saw this they were frozen with fear; their hearts -ceased beating and their tongues lolled out. In a little, however, -the hampers were all burned up. - -These were the creation of a magician, and were intended for a monster -invasion of Seoul, until warned by Kwan. - -From that time on the people of Seoul began faithful offerings to -the God of War, for had he not saved the city? - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XXXIX - -THE AWFUL LITTLE GOBLIN - - -There was an occasion for a celebration in the home of a nobleman -of Seoul, whereupon a feast, to which were invited all the family -friends, was prepared. There was a great crowd of men and women. In -front of the women's quarters there suddenly appeared an uncombed, -ugly-looking boy about fifteen years of age. The host and guests, -thinking him a coolie who had come in the train of some visitor, did -not ask specially concerning him, but one of the women guests, seeing -him in the inner quarters, sent a servant to reprimand him and put -him out. The boy, however, did not move, so the servant said to him, -"Who are you, anyway, and with whom did you come, that you enter the -women's quarters, and even when told to go out do not go?" - -The boy, however, stood stock-still, just as he had been, with no -word of reply. - -The company looked at him in doubt, and began to ask one another -whose he was and with whom he had come. Again they had the servant -make inquiry, but still there was no reply. The women then grew very -angry, and ordered him to be put out. Several took hold of him and -tried to pull him, but he was like a fixed rock, fast in the earth, -absolutely immovable. In helpless rage they informed the men. - -The men, hearing this, sent several strong servants, who took hold -all at once, but he did not budge a hair. They asked, "Who are you, -anyway?" but he gave no reply. The crowd, then enraged, sent ten strong -men with ropes to bind him, but like a giant mountain he remained fast, -so that they recognized that he could not be moved by man's power. - -One guest remarked, "But he, too, is human; why cannot he be -moved?" They then sent five or six giant fellows with clubs to smash -him to pieces, and they laid on with all their might. It looked as -though he would be crushed like an egg-shell, while the sound of -their pounding was like reverberating thunder. But just as before, -not a hair did he turn, not a wink did he give. - -Then the crowd began to fear, saying, "This is not a man, but a god," -so they entered the courtyard, one and all, and began to bow before -him, joining their hands and supplicating earnestly. They kept this -up for a long time. - -At last the boy gave a sarcastic smile, turned round, went out of -the gate and disappeared. - -The company, frightened out of their wits, called off the feast. From -that day on, the people of that house were taken ill, including host -and guests. Those who scolded him, those who tied him with ropes, -those who pounded him, all died in a few days. Other members of the -company, too, contracted typhus and the like, and died also. - -It was commonly held that the boy was the Too-uk Spirit, but we cannot -definitely say. Strange, indeed! - - - -Note.--When the time comes for a clan to disappear from the earth, -calamity befalls it. Even though a great spirit should come in at -the door at such a feast time, if the guests had done as Confucius -suggests, "Be reverent and distant," instead of insulting him and -making him more malignant than ever, they would have escaped. Still, -devils and men were never intended to dwell together. - - -Im Bang. - - - - - - - - -XL - -GOD'S WAY - - -In a certain town there lived a man of fierce and ungovernable -disposition, who in moments of anger used to beat his mother. One -day this parent, thus beaten, screamed out, "Oh, God, why do you not -strike dead this wicked man who beats his mother?" - -The beating over, the son thrust his sickle through his belt and -went slowly off to the fields where he was engaged by a neighbour -in reaping buckwheat. The day was fine, and the sky beautifully -clear. Suddenly a dark fleck of cloud appeared in mid-heaven, and -a little later all the sky became black. Furious thunder followed, -and rain came on. The village people looked out toward the field, -where the flashes of lightning were specially noticeable. They seemed -to see there a man with lifted sickle trying to ward them off. When -the storm had cleared away, they went to see, and lo, they found the -man who had beaten his mother struck dead and riven to pieces. - -God takes note of evil doers on this earth, and deals with them as -they deserve. How greatly should we fear! - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLI - -THE OLD MAN IN THE DREAM - - -Kwon Jai was a man high in rank and well advanced in years. He was, -however, much given to sport and various kinds of pleasure. One -night he had a dream, when an old man came to him, who bowed low, -and in tears said, "Sir, Minister Hong wishes to kill off me and all -my posterity. Please save me, won't you?" - -Kwon asked, "How can I save you?" The old man replied, "Hong will -assuredly ask Your Excellency to help him. Desist from it, please, -for if you do, Hong will give it up and I shall live and all mine." - -A little later there came a rap at the door, when Kwon awakened -and asked, "Who is there?" It was Hong, who that day had planned -an excursion to Lotus Lake to fish for turtles, and now had come -specially to invite Kwon to go with him. - -Then Kwon knew that the turtle had appeared to him in a dream in -the form of an old man, so he declined, saying he was ill. I learned -later that Hong also did not go. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLII - -THE PERFECT PRIEST - - -There was once a priest called Namnu who had perfected his ways in -the Buddhistic doctrine. Whenever he had clothing of his own he would -willingly undress and give it to those who were cold. His spirit was -gentle with no creases or corners in it. Everybody, high and low, -rich and poor, called him by the nickname of Softy. Whenever he saw -any one sentenced to a flogging in the temple or official yamen, -Namnu invariably begged that he might take the culprit's place. Once, -when there was a great function in progress at Pagoda Temple and many -high officials were assembled, Softy, too, was seen kneeling at the -side and taking part. He suddenly remarked to Prince Hong of Yon-san, -"You are indeed a very great man." - -Hong replied, "What do you mean by 'great man,' you impudent brat? Take -that," and he gave him a box with his fist on the ear. Softy laughed, -and said, "Please, Hong, don't do that, it hurts! it hurts!" - -Later I was in the train of Prince Yi of Yun-song, and other high -officials were present, when we stopped for a little before the -Temple. Softy was there, and he looked at Yi and said, "I know your -face, but I have forgotten your name." Afterwards he said, "Oh, -I remember now, you are Yi Sok-hyong." The priests of the monastery -who heard this familiarity were scandalized, and hurried to make no -end of apology to the Prince, saying, "Softy was born so, God made -him so. Please, Your Excellency, forgive him." The Prince forgave -him and so he was not disturbed. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLIII - -THE PROPITIOUS MAGPIE - - -People say that when the magpie builds its nest directly south of a -home that the master of the house will be promoted in office. King -T'ai-jong had a friend once who was very poor and had failed in all -his projects. After various fruitless attempts he decided to wait till -the King went out on procession and then to send a servant to build -an imitation magpie's nest in some propitious place before him. The -King saw it and asked the man what he was doing. He said in reply that -when a magpie builds its nest straight south of a home the master of -the house instantly gets promotion. His master, he said, had waited so -long and nothing had come, that he was building an imitation nest to -bring it about. The King took pity on him and ordered his appointment -at once. - -When I was young myself a magpie built its nest before our home, -but I, along with other boys, cut off the branch so that the whole -nest fell to the ground, and there were the young with their pitiful -yellow mouths. I felt sorry and afraid that they would die, so on a -propitious site to the south I had the nest hung up on a neutie tree, -where the young all lived and flourished and flew away. In that very -winter my father was promoted three degrees in rank and was attached -to the office of the Prime Minister. - -Afterwards I built a summer-house at Chong-pa, and before the house, -directly facing south, magpies built a nest in a date tree. I had -a woman slave, and she pulled it down and used the nest for fuel, -but they came again the next year and built once more. The year -following was 1469 when Ye-jong came to the throne. That year again -I was promoted. In the spring of 1471 magpies came and built their -nest in a tree just south of my office. I laughed and said, "There is -a spiritual power in the magpie surely, as men have said from olden -times and as I myself have proven." - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLIV - -THE "OLD BUDDHA" - - -Prime Minister Choi Yun-tok was in mourning once for his mother. With -a single horse and one servant he made a journey to the south where -the road led through the county of Kai-ryong. At that very time two -or three of the district magistrates had pitched a tent on the bank -of the river and were having refreshments. They said to one another, -"Who is that mourner that goes riding by without dismounting? It must -be some country farmer who has never learned proper manners. We shall -certainly have to teach him a lesson." - -They sent an attendant to arrest and bring his servant, whom they -asked, "Who is your master?" - -He replied, "Choi, the Old Buddha." - -"But what's his real name?" they demanded. - -"The old Buddha," was the reply. - -Then they grew very angry at this, and said, "Your master has offended -in not dismounting, and you offend in concealing his name. Both -slave and master are equally ill-mannered." And so they beat him over -the head. - -Then the servant said slowly, "He is called Choi the Buddha, but his -real name is Yun-tok, and he is now on his way to his country home -in Chang-won." At once they recognized that it was no other than the -Prime Minister, and great fear overcame them. They struck their tent, -cleared away the eatables, and ran to make their deepest salaam and -to ask pardon for their sin. - -The old Buddha was a special name by which this famous minister -was known. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLV - -A WONDERFUL MEDICINE - - -Prince Cheung had been First Minister of the land for thirty years. He -was a man just and upright, now nearly ninety years of age. His son -was called Whal, and was second in influence only to his father. Both -were greatly renowned in the age in which they lived, and His Majesty -treated them with special regard. Prince Cheung's home was suddenly -attacked by goblins and devils, and when a young official came to call -on him, these mysterious beings in broad daylight snatched the hat -from his head and crumpled it up. They threw stones, too, and kept on -throwing them so that all the court was reduced to confusion. Prince -Cheung made his escape and went to live in another house, where he -prepared a special medicine called sal-kwi-whan (kill-devil-pills), -which he offered in prayer. From that time the goblins departed, and -now after five or six years no sign of them has reappeared. Prince -Cheung, too, is well and strong and free from sickness. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLVI - -FAITHFUL MO - - -Prince Ha had a slave who was a landed proprieter and lived in Yang-ju -county. He had a daughter, fairest of the fair, whom he called Mo -(Nobody), beautiful beyond expression. An Yun was a noted scholar, -a man of distinction in letters. He saw Mo, fell in love with her -and took her for his wife. Prince Ha heard of this and was furiously -angry. Said he, "How is it that you, a slave, dare to marry with -a man of the aristocracy?" He had her arrested and brought home, -intending to marry her to one of his bondsmen. Mo learned of this -with tears and sorrow, but knew not what to do. At last she made her -escape over the wall and went back to An. An was delighted beyond -expression to see her; but, in view of the old prince, he knew not -what to do. Together they took an oath to die rather than to be parted. - -Later Prince Ha, on learning of this, sent his underlings to arrest -her again and carry her off. After this all trace of her was lost -till Mo was discovered one day in a room hanging by the neck dead. - -Months of sorrow passed over An till once, under cover of the night, -he was returning from the Confucian Temple to his house over the -ridge of Camel Mountain. It was early autumn and the wooded tops were -shimmering in the moonlight. All the world had sunk softly to rest and -no passers were on the way. An was just then musing longingly of Mo, -and in heartbroken accents repeating love verses to her memory, when -suddenly a soft footfall was heard as though coming from among the -pines. He took careful notice and there was Mo. An knew that she was -long dead, and so must have known that it was her spirit, but because -he was so buried in thought of her, doubting nothing, he ran to her -and caught her by the hand, saying, "How did you come here?" but she -disappeared. An gave a great cry and broke into tears. On account -of this he fell ill. He ate, but his grief was so great he could not -swallow, and a little later he died of a broken heart. - -Kim Champan, who was of the same age as I, and my special friend, was -also a cousin of An, and he frequently spoke of this. Yu Hyo-jang, -also, An's nephew by marriage, told the story many times. Said he, -"Faithful unto death was she. For even a woman of the literati, -who has been born and brought up at the gates of ceremonial form, -it is a difficult matter enough to die, but for a slave, the lowest -of the low, who knew not the first thing of Ceremony, Righteousness, -Truth or Devotion, what about her? To the end, out of love for her -husband, she held fast to her purity and yielded up her life without -a blemish. Even of the faithful among the ancients was there ever a -better than Mo?" - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLVII - -THE RENOWNED MAING - - -Minister of State Maing Sa-song once upon a time, dressed in plain -clothes, started south on a long journey. On the way he was overtaken -by rain, and turned into a side pavilion for rest and shelter. There -was a young scholar already in the pavilion by the name of Whang -Eui-hon, who with his two hands behind his back was reading the -pavilion inscription board, on which verses were written. Long he read -and long he looked about as though no one else were there. At last -he turned to the old man, and said, "Well, grand-dad, do you know -the flavour of verses like these?" The famous Minister, pretending -ignorance, arose and said, "An old countryman like myself, could you -expect him to know? Please tell me the meaning." - -Whang said, "These verses were written by the great men of the -past. What they saw and experienced they wrote down to inspire the -souls of those who were to come after them. They are like pictures -of sea and land, for there are living pictures in poetry, you know." - -The Minister said, "Indeed, that's wonderful; but if it were not for -men like yourself how should I ever come to know these things?" - -A little later came pack-horses loaded with all sorts of things; -servants and retainers, too, a great company of them, tent poles, -canvas packs and other equipment, a long procession. - -Whang, surprised by this, made inquiry, when, to his -amazement, he learned that the old man was none other than Maing -Sa-song. Unconsciously he dropped on to his knees in a deep and long -obeisance. The Minister laughed and said, "That will do; there is no -difference in the value of mere men, they are high or low according -to the thoughts that prompt them, but unfortunately all are born with -a proud heart. You are not a common scholar, why, therefore, should -you be so proud to begin with and so humble now?" The Minister took -him by the hand, led him to his mat, made him sit down, comforted -him and sent him away. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLVIII - -THE SENSES - - -The eyes are round like gems, so that they can roll about and see -things; the ears have holes in them so that they can hear; the nose has -openings by which it can perceive smell; and the mouth is horizontal -and slit so that it can inhale and exhale the breath; the tongue is -like an organ reed so that it can make sounds and talk. Three of the -four have each their particular office to fulfil, while the mouth has -two offices. But the member that distinguishes the good from the bad -is the heart, so that without the heart, even though you have eyes -you cannot see, though you have ears you cannot hear, though you -have a nose you cannot smell, and though you have a mouth you cannot -breathe, so they say that without the heart "seeing you cannot see, -and hearing you cannot hear." - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -XLIX - -WHO DECIDES, GOD OR THE KING? - - -King Tai-jong was having a rest in Heung-yang Palace, while outside -two eunuchs were talking together over the law that governs the -affairs of men, as to whether it is man or God. A said, "Riches and -honour are all in the king's hand." B said, "Nothing of the kind; -every atom of wealth and every degree of promotion are all ordered -of God. Even the king himself has no part in it and no power." - -So they argued, each that he was right, without ever coming to an -agreement. - -The King, overhearing what was said, wrote a secret despatch, saying, -"Raise the Bearer of this letter one degree in rank." He sealed it -and commanded A to take it to Se-jong, who was then in charge of this -office. A made his bow and departed, but just when he was about to -leave the palace enclosure a furious pain took him in the stomach, -so that he begged B to take his place and go into the city. - -The next day, when the record of promotions was placed before the King, -he read how B had been advanced, but not one word was there about A. - -King Tai-jong made inquiry, and when he knew the circumstances he -gave a sudden start of wonder and remained long in deep thought. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -L - -THREE THINGS MASTERED - - -There was a relative of the king, named Im Sung-jong, who was a gifted -man in thought and purpose. He was the first performer of his time on -the harp. King Se-jong said of him, "Im's harp knows but one master, -and follows no other man." - -His home was outside the South Gate, and every morning he was seen -kneeling on the sill of his front door beating his hands upwards and -downwards on his knees, and this practice he carried on for three -years. People could not imagine what he meant by it, but thought him -mad. Thus he learned the motions required for the harp. - -Also he blew with his mouth and practised with his fingers day and -night without stopping, so that when people called on him he would -see them but would not perceive them. He kept this up for three years -and so learned the motions for the flute. - -He was a lightly built man in body, and poor at riding and at -archery. He often sighed over this defect, and said, "Though I am -weak and stupid and not able to shoot a long distance, I shall yet -know how to hit the target and make the bull's-eye. This also must be -acquired by practice." So every morning he took his bow and arrows -and went off into the hills. There he shot all day long, keeping it -up for three years, till he became a renowned archer. Thus you may -perceive the kind of man he was. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -LI - -STRANGELY STRICKEN DEAD - - -There was once a man called Kim Tok-saing, a soldier of fortune, who -had been specially honoured at the Court of Tai-jong. He had several -times been generalissimo of the army, and on his various campaigns -had had an intimate friend accompany him, a friend whom he greatly -loved. But Kim had been dead now for some ten years and more, when one -night this friend of his was awakened with a start and gave a great -outcry. He slept again, but a little later was disturbed once more by -a fright, at which he called out. His wife, not liking this, inquired -as to what he meant. The friend said, "I have just seen General Kim -riding on a white horse, with bow and arrows at his belt. He called -to me and said, 'A thief has just entered my home, and I have come to -shoot him dead.' He went and again returned, and as he drew an arrow -from his quiver, I saw that there were blood marks on it. He said, -'I have just shot him, he is dead.'" The husband and wife in fear -and wonder talked over it together. - -When morning came the friend went to General Kim's former home to -make inquiry. He learned that that very night Kim's young widow had -decided to remarry, but as soon as the chosen fiancé had entered her -home, a terrible pain shot him through, and before morning came he -died in great agony. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -LII - -THE MYSTERIOUS HOI TREE - - -Prince Pa-song's house was situated just inside of the great East Gate, -and before it was a large Hoi tree. On a certain night the Prince's -son-in-law was passing by the roadway that led in front of the archers' -pavilion. There he saw a great company of bowmen, more than he could -number, all shooting together at the target. A moment later he saw -them practising riding, some throwing spears, some hurling bowls, some -shooting from horseback, so that the road in front of the pavilion was -blocked against all comers. Some shouted as he came by, "Look at that -impudent rascal! He attempts to ride by without dismounting." They -caught him and beat him, paying no attention to his cries for mercy, -and having no pity for the pain he suffered, till one tall fellow came -out of their serried ranks and said in an angry voice to the crowd, -"He is my master; why do you treat him so?" He undid his bonds, -took him by the arm and led him home. When the son-in-law reached -the gate he looked back and saw the man walk under the Hoi tree and -disappear. He then learned, too, that all the crowd of archers were -spirits and not men, and that the tall one who had befriended him was a -spirit too, and that he had come forth from their particular Hoi tree. - - -Yi Ryuk. - - - - - - - - -LIII - -TA-HONG - - -[Sim Heui-su studied as a young man at the feet of No Su-sin, who was -sent as an exile to a distant island in the sea. Thither he followed -his master and worked at the Sacred Books. He matriculated in 1570 -and graduated in 1572. In 1589 he remonstrated with King Son-jo over -the disorders of his reign, and was the means of quelling a great -national disturbance; but he made a faux pas one day when he said -laughingly to a friend-- - - - "These sea-gull waves ride so high, - Who can tame them?" - - -Those who heard caught at this, and it became a source of unpopularity, -as it indicated an unfavourable opinion of the Court. - -In 1592, when the King made his escape to Eui-ju, before the invading -Japanese army, he was the State's Chief Secretary, and after the -return of the King he became Chief Justice. He resigned office, but the -King refused to accept his resignation, saying, "I cannot do without -you." He became chief of the literati and Special Adviser. Afterwards -he became Minister of the Right, then of the Left, at which time -he wrote out ten suggestions for His Majesty to follow. He saw the -wrongs done around the King, and resigned office again and again, -but was constantly recalled. - -In 1608 Im Suk-yong, a young candidate writing for his matriculation, -wrote an essay exposing the wrongs of the Court. Sim heard of this, and -took the young man under his protection. The King, reading the essay, -was furiously angry, and ordered the degradation of Im, but Sim said, -"He is with me; I am behind what he wrote and approve; degrade me and -not him," and so the King withdrew his displeasure. He was faithful -of the faithful. - -When he was old he went and lived in Tun-san in a little tumble-down -hut, like the poorest of the literati. He called himself "Water-thunder -Muddy-man," a name derived from the Book of Changes. - -He died in 1622 at the age of seventy-four, and is recorded as one -of Korea's great patriots.] - - - - -The Story - - -Minister Sim Heui-su was, when young, handsome as polished marble, and -white as the snow, rarely and beautifully formed. When eight years of -age he was already an adept at the character, and a wonder in the eyes -of his people. The boy's nickname was Soondong (the godlike one). From -the passing of his first examination, step by step he advanced, -till at last he became First Minister of the land. When old he was -honoured as the most renowned of all ministers. At seventy he still -held office, and one day, when occupied with the affairs of State, -he suddenly said to those about him, "To-day is my last on earth, -and my farewell wishes to you all are that you may prosper and do -bravely and well." - -His associates replied in wonder, "Your Excellency is still strong -and hearty, and able for many years of work; why do you speak so?" - -Sim laughingly made answer, "Our span of life is fixed. Why should -I not know? We cannot pass the predestined limit. Please feel no -regret. Use all your efforts to serve His Majesty the King, and make -grateful acknowledgment of his many favours." - -Thus he exhorted them, and took his departure. Every one wondered -over this strange announcement. From that day on he returned no more, -it being said that he was ailing. - -There was at that time attached to the War Office a young secretary -directly under Sim. Hearing that his master was ill, the young man -went to pay his respects and to make inquiry. Sim called him into -his private room, where all was quiet. Said he, "I am about to die, -and this is a long farewell, so take good care of yourself, and do -your part honourably." - -The young man looked, and in Sim's eyes were tears. He said, "Your -Excellency is still vigorous, and even though you are slightly ailing, -there is surely no cause for anxiety. I am at a loss to understand -your tears, and what you mean by saying that you are about to die. I -would like to ask the reason." - -Sim smiled and said, "I have never told any person, but since you -ask and there is no longer cause for concealment, I shall tell you -the whole story. When I was young certain things happened in my life -that may make you smile. - -"At about sixteen years of age I was said to be a handsome boy and -fair to see. Once in Seoul, when a banquet was in progress and many -dancing-girls and other representatives of good cheer were called, -I went too, with a half-dozen comrades, to see. There was among the -dancing-girls a young woman whose face was very beautiful. She was not -like an earthly person, but like some angelic being. Inquiring as to -her name, some of those seated near said it was Ta-hong (Flower-bud). - -"When all was over and the guests had separated, I went home, but -I thought of Ta-hong's pretty face, and recalled her repeatedly, -over and over; seemingly I could not forget her. Ten days or so -later I was returning from my teacher's house along the main street, -carrying my books under my arm, when I suddenly met a pretty girl, -who was beautifully dressed and riding a handsome horse. She alighted -just in front of me, and to my surprise, taking my hand, said, -'Are you not Sim Heui-su?' - -"In my astonishment I looked at her and saw that it was Ta-hong. I -said, 'Yes, but how do you know me?' I was not married then, nor had -I my hair done up, and as there were many people in the street looking -on I was very much ashamed. Flower-bud, with a look of gladness in her -face, said to her pony-boy, 'I have something to see to just now; you -return and say to the master that I shall be present at the banquet -to-morrow.' Then we went aside into a neighbouring house and sat -down. She said, 'Did you not on such and such a day go to such and -such a Minister's house and look on at the gathering?' I answered, -'Yes, I did.' 'I saw you,' said she, 'and to me your face was like a -god's. I asked those present who you were, and they said your family -name was Sim and your given-name Heui-su, and that your character -and gifts were very superior. From that day on I longed to meet you, -but as there was no possibility of this I could only think of you. Our -meeting thus is surely of God's appointment.' - -"I replied laughingly, 'I, too, felt just the same towards you.' - -"Then Ta-hong said, 'We cannot meet here; let's go to my aunt's home in -the next ward, where it's quiet, and talk there.' We went to the aunt's -home. It was neat and clean and somewhat isolated, and apparently -the aunt loved Flower-bud with all the devotion of a mother. From -that day forth we plighted our troth together. Flower-bud had never -had a lover; I was her first and only choice. She said, however, -'This plan of ours cannot be consummated to-day; let us separate for -the present and make plans for our union in the future.' I asked her -how we could do so, and she replied, 'I have sworn my soul to you, -and it is decided for ever, but you have your parents to think of, -and you have not yet had a wife chosen, so there will be no chance -of their advising you to have a second wife as my social standing -would require for me. As I reflect upon your ability and chances for -promotion, I see you already a Minister of State. Let us separate -just now, and I'll keep myself for you till the time when you win -the first place at the Examination and have your three days of public -rejoicing. Then we'll meet once more. Let us make a compact never to be -broken. So then, until you have won your honours, do not think of me, -please. Do not be anxious, either, lest I should be taken from you, -for I have a plan by which to hide myself away in safety. Know that -on the day when you win your honours we shall meet again.' - -"On this we clasped hands and spoke our farewells as though we -parted easily. Where she was going I did not ask, but simply came -home with a distressed and burdened heart, feeling that I had lost -everything. On my return I found that my parents, who had missed me, -were in a terrible state of consternation, but so delighted were they -at my safe return that they scarcely asked where I had been. I did -not tell them either, but gave another excuse. - -"At first I could not desist from thoughts of Ta-hong. After a long -time only was I able to regain my composure. From that time forth with -all my might I went at my lessons. Day and night I pegged away, not for -the sake of the Examination, but for the sake of once more meeting her. - -"In two years or so my parents appointed my marriage. I did not -dare to refuse, had to accept, but had no heart in it, and no joy in -their choice. - -"My gift for study was very marked, and by diligence I grew to be -superior to all my competitors. It was five years after my farewell -to Ta-hong that I won my honours. I was still but a youngster, and -all the world rejoiced in my success. But my joy was in the secret -understanding that the time had come for me to meet Ta-hong. On -the first day of my graduation honours I expected to meet her, but -did not. The second day passed, but I saw nothing of her, and the -third day was passing and no word had reached me. My heart was so -disturbed that I found not the slightest joy in the honours of the -occasion. Evening was falling, when my father said to me, 'I have a -friend of my younger days, who now lives in Chang-eui ward, and you -must go and call on him this evening before the three days are over,' -and so, there being no help for it, I went to pay my call. As I was -returning the sun had gone down and it was dark, and just as I was -passing a high gateway, I heard the Sillai call. [3] It was the home -of an old Minister, a man whom I did not know, but he being a high -noble there was nothing for me to do but to dismount and enter. Here -I found the master himself, an old gentleman, who put me through -my humble exercises, and then ordered me gently to come up and sit -beside him. He talked to me very kindly, and entertained me with -all sorts of refreshments. Then he lifted his glass and inquired, -'Would you like to meet a very beautiful person?' I did not know what -he meant, and so asked, 'What beautiful person?' The old man said, -'The most beautiful in the world to you. She has long been a member -of my household.' Then he ordered a servant to call her. When she -came it was my lost Ta-hong. I was startled, delighted, surprised, -and speechless almost. 'How do you come here?' I gasped. - -"She laughed and said, 'Is this not within the three days of your -public celebration, and according to the agreement by which we parted?' - -"The old man said, 'She is a wonderful woman. Her thoughts are high -and noble, and her history is quite unique. I will tell it to you. I -am an old man of eighty, and my wife and I have had no children, -but on a certain day this young girl came to us saying, "May I have -the place of slave with you, to wait on you and do your bidding?" - -"'In surprise I asked the reason for this strange request, and she -said, "I am not running away from any master, so do not mistrust me." - -"'Still, I did not wish to take her in, and told her so, but she begged -so persuasively that I yielded and let her stay, appointed her work to -do, and watched her behaviour. She became a slave of her own accord, -and simply lived to please us, preparing our meals during the day, -and caring for our rooms for the night; responding to calls; ever -ready to do our bidding; faithful beyond compare. We feeble old folks, -often ill, found her a source of comfort and cheer unheard of, making -life perfect peace and joy. Her needle, too, was exceedingly skilful, -and according to the seasons she prepared all that we needed. Naturally -we loved and pitied her more than I can say. My wife thought more of -her than ever mother did of a daughter. During the day she was always -at hand, and at night she slept by her side. At one time I asked her -quietly concerning her past history. She said she was originally the -child of a free-man, but that her parents had died when she was very -young, and, having no place to go to, an old woman of the village -had taken her in and brought her up. "Being so young," said she, -"I was safe from harm. At last I met a young master with whom I -plighted a hundred years of troth, a beautiful boy, none was ever -like him. I determined to meet him again, but only after he had won -his honours in the arena. If I had remained at the home of the old -mother I could not have kept myself safe, and preserved my honour; -I would have been helpless; so I came here for safety and to serve -you. It is a plan by which to hide myself for a year or so, and then -when he wins I shall ask your leave to go." - -"'I then asked who the person was with whom she had made this contract, -and she told me your name. I am so old that I no longer think of taking -wives and concubines, but she called herself my concubine so as to -be safe, and thus the years have passed. We watched the Examination -reports, but till this time your name was absent. Through it all -she expressed not a single word of anxiety, but kept up heart saying -that before long your name would appear. So confident was she that -not a shadow of disappointment was in her face. This time on looking -over the list I found your name, and told her. She heard it without -any special manifestation of joy, saying she knew it would come. She -also said, "When we parted I promised to meet him before the three -days of public celebration were over, and now I must make good my -promise." So she climbed to the upper pavilion to watch the public -way. But this ward being somewhat remote she did not see you going -by on the first day, nor on the second. This morning she went again, -saying, "He will surely pass to-day"; and so it came about. She said, -"He is coming; call him in." - -"'I am an old man and have read much history, and have heard of many -famous women. There are many examples of devotion that move the heart, -but I never saw so faithful a life nor one so devoted to another. God -taking note of this has brought all her purposes to pass. And now, -not to let this moment of joy go by, you must stay with me to-night.' - -"When I met Ta-hong I was most happy, especially as I heard of her -years of faithfulness. As to the invitation I declined it, saying I -could not think, even though we had so agreed, of taking away one who -waited in attendance upon His Excellency. But the old man laughed, -saying, 'She is not mine. I simply let her be called my concubine in -name lest my nephews or some younger members of the clan should steal -her away. She is first of all a faithful woman: I have not known her -like before.' - -"The old man then had the horse sent back and the servants, also a -letter to my parents saying that I would stay the night. He ordered the -servants to prepare a room, to put in beautiful screens and embroidered -matting, to hang up lights and to decorate as for a bridegroom. Thus -he celebrated our meeting. - -"Next morning I bade good-bye, and went and told my parents all about -my meeting with Ta-hong and what had happened. They gave consent that -I should have her, and she was brought and made a member of our family, -really my only wife. - -"Her life and behaviour being beyond that of the ordinary, in serving -those above her and in helping those below, she fulfilled all the -requirements of the ancient code. Her work, too, was faithfully done, -and her gifts in the way of music and chess were most exceptional. I -loved her as I never can tell. - -"A little later I went as magistrate to Keumsan county in Chulla -Province, and Ta-hong went with me. We were there for two years. She -declined our too frequent happy times together, saying that it -interfered with efficiency and duty. One day, all unexpectedly, she -came to me and requested that we should have a little quiet time, -with no others present, as she had something special to tell me. I -asked her what it was, and she said to me, 'I am going to die, for -my span of life is finished; so let us be glad once more and forget -all the sorrows of the world.' I wondered when I heard this. I could -not think it true, and asked her how she could tell beforehand that -she was going to die. She said, 'I know, there is no mistake about it.' - -"In four or five days she fell ill, but not seriously, and yet a day or -two later she died. She said to me when dying, 'Our life is ordered, -God decides it all. While I lived I gave myself to you, and you most -kindly responded in return. I have no regrets. As I die I ask only -that my body be buried where it may rest by the side of my master -when he passes away, so that when we meet in the regions beyond I -shall be with you once again.' When she had so said she died. - -"Her face was beautiful, not like the face of the dead, but like the -face of the living. I was plunged into deepest grief, prepared her -body with my own hands for burial. Our custom is that when a second -wife dies she is not buried with the family, but I made some excuse -and had her interred in our family site in the county of Ko-yang. I -did so to carry out her wishes. When I came as far as Keum-chang on -my sad journey, I wrote a verse-- - - - 'O beautiful Bud, of the beautiful Flower, - We bear thy form on the willow bier; - Whither has gone thy sweet perfumed soul? - The rains fall on us - To tell us of thy tears and of thy faithful way.' - - -"I wrote this as a love tribute to my faithful Ta-hong. After her -death, whenever anything serious was to happen in my home, she always -came to tell me beforehand, and never was there a mistake in her -announcements. For several years it has continued thus, till a few -days ago she appeared in a dream saying, 'Master, the time of your -departure has come, and we are to meet again. I am now making ready -for your glad reception.' - -"For this reason I have bidden all my associates farewell. Last night -she came once more and said to me, 'To-morrow is your day.' We wept -together in the dream as we met and talked. In the morning, when I -awoke, marks of tears were still upon my cheeks. This is not because -I fear to die, but because I have seen my Ta-hong. Now that you -have asked me I have told you all. Tell it to no one." So Sim died, -as was foretold, on the day following. Strange, indeed! - - -Im Bang. - - - THE END - - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] The head button is the insignia of rank, and is consequently a -valuable heirloom in a Korean home.--J. S. G. - -[2] Kalpa means a Buddhistic age. - -[3] A shrill whistle by which graduates command the presence of a -new graduate to haze or honour, as they please. - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Korean Folk Tales, by Im Bang and Yi Ryuk - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KOREAN FOLK TALES *** - -***** This file should be named 51002-8.txt or 51002-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/0/51002/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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