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PREFACE
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,
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BIOGRAPHICAL
BIOGRAPHICAL
[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
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KOREAN IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES I CHARAN
KOREAN IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES I CHARAN
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 pa
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II THE STORY OF CHANG TO-RYONG
II THE STORY OF CHANG TO-RYONG
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
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III A STORY OF THE FOX
III A STORY OF THE FOX
[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 t
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The Story
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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 al
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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 (
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Im Bang. 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
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VII THE ILL-FATED PRIEST
VII THE ILL-FATED PRIEST
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 followi
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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
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IX THE VISIT OF THE MAN OF GOD
IX THE VISIT OF THE MAN OF GOD
Im Bang. [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
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[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] 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
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[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, an
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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, sta
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XIII THE MAN ON THE ROAD
XIII THE MAN ON THE ROAD
Im Bang. 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 hi
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XIV THE OLD MAN WHO BECAME A FISH
XIV THE OLD MAN WHO BECAME A FISH
[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 geoman
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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,”
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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
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XVII THE OLD WOMAN WHO BECAME A GOBLIN
XVII THE OLD WOMAN WHO BECAME A GOBLIN
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
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XVIII THE GRATEFUL GHOST
XVIII THE GRATEFUL GHOST
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. [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 di
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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 hou
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XX THE RESOURCEFUL WIFE
XX THE RESOURCEFUL WIFE
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, ca
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XXI THE BOXED-UP GOVERNOR
XXI THE BOXED-UP GOVERNOR
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, an
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XXII THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS
XXII THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS
“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. [Han Chun-kyom was the son of a provincial secr
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XXIII TEN THOUSAND DEVILS
XXIII TEN THOUSAND DEVILS
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
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XXIV THE HOME OF THE FAIRIES
XXIV THE HOME OF THE FAIRIES
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
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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 s
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XXVI WHOM THE KING HONOURS
XXVI WHOM THE KING HONOURS
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
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XXVII THE FORTUNES OF YOO
XXVII THE FORTUNES OF YOO
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 h
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XXVIII AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HOBGOBLIN
XXVIII AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HOBGOBLIN
“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
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XXIX THE SNAKE’S REVENGE
XXIX THE SNAKE’S REVENGE
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
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XXX THE BRAVE MAGISTRATE
XXX THE BRAVE MAGISTRATE
[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.
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[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 wh
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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
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XXXIII THE FEARLESS CAPTAIN
XXXIII THE FEARLESS CAPTAIN
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. [Pak Chom was one of the Royal Censors, and died in the Japanese War
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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
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XXXV HONG’S EXPERIENCES IN HADES
XXXV HONG’S EXPERIENCES IN HADES
“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
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XXXVI HAUNTED HOUSES
XXXVI HAUNTED HOUSES
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 an
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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 v
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XXXVIII THE MAGIC INVASION OF SEOUL
XXXVIII THE MAGIC INVASION OF SEOUL
Im Bang. 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 qu
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XXXIX THE AWFUL LITTLE GOBLIN
XXXIX THE AWFUL LITTLE GOBLIN
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
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XL GOD’S WAY
XL GOD’S WAY
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 a
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XLI THE OLD MAN IN THE DREAM
XLI THE OLD MAN IN THE DREAM
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 f
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XLII THE PERFECT PRIEST
XLII THE PERFECT PRIEST
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 build
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XLIII THE PROPITIOUS MAGPIE
XLIII THE PROPITIOUS MAGPIE
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
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XLIV THE “OLD BUDDHA”
XLIV THE “OLD BUDDHA”
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 a
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XLV A WONDERFUL MEDICINE
XLV A WONDERFUL MEDICINE
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 o
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XLVI FAITHFUL MO
XLVI FAITHFUL MO
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, a
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XLVII THE RENOWNED MAING
XLVII THE RENOWNED MAING
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
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XLVIII THE SENSES
XLVIII THE SENSES
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
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XLIX WHO DECIDES, GOD OR THE KING?
XLIX WHO DECIDES, GOD OR THE KING?
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 thou
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L THREE THINGS MASTERED
L THREE THINGS MASTERED
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
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LI STRANGELY STRICKEN DEAD
LI STRANGELY STRICKEN DEAD
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 ag
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LII THE MYSTERIOUS HOI TREE
LII THE MYSTERIOUS HOI TREE
[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 hea
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The Story
The Story
“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 as
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SOME ROMANTIC VOLUMES IN EVERYMAN’S LIBRARY
SOME ROMANTIC VOLUMES IN EVERYMAN’S LIBRARY
Translated by Margaret Armour The Story of Burnt Njal The High History of the Holy Grail Translated by Dr. Sebastian Evans SEND FOR FREE ANNOTATED CATALOGUE OF 640 VOLUMES, COVERING 13 DEPARTMENTS OF LITERATURE J. M. DENT & SONS, Ltd. Aldine House, Bedford Street, W.C. JOLLY CALLE AND OTHER SWEDISH FAIRY TALES By HELENA NYBLOM With Illustrations in Colour by CHARLES FOLKARD Square Crown 8vo. Outlook. —“This volume of Swedish fairy tales is marked with a great simplicity and a very real l
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Corrections
Corrections
The following corrections have been applied to the text:...
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