Korean tales : Imps, ghosts and fairies E-Book

Pang Im

• Herausgeber: upaper
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 217

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

This book is a work that was translated into English by James Gale, based on Korean folktales, myths, and legends compiled by Im Pang and Yi Yuk.
It captures the mystical and fantastical world of traditional Korea, featuring various supernatural beings such as goblins, ghosts, spirits, and fairies. Through these stories, readers can gain insight into the unique culture and emotions of Korea, while also providing English-speaking readers with an opportunity to discover Korean folktales.

Leseprobe

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author: Pang Im, Yuk Yi

Translator: James Scarth Gale

Language: English

PREFACE

To any one who would like to look somewhat intothe inner soul of the Oriental, and see the peculiar spiritualexistences among which he lives, the following stories will serve astrue interpreters, born as they are of the three great religions of theFar East, Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

An old manuscript copy of Im Bang’s stories cameinto the hands of the translator a year ago, and he gives them now tothe Western world that they may serve as introductory essays to themysteries, and, what many call, absurdities of Asia. Very gruesomeindeed, and unlovely, some of them are, but they picture faithfully theconditions under which Im Bang himself, and many past generations ofKoreans, have lived.

The thirteen short stories by Yi Ryuk are taken from areprint of old Korean writings issued last year (1911), by a Japanesepublishing company. Three anonymous stories are also added, “TheGeomancer,” to show how Mother Earth has given anxiety to herchicks of children; “Im, the Hunter,”to tell of the actualities that exist in the upper air; and “TheMan who lost his Legs,” as a sample of Korea’s Sinbad.

The biographical notes that accompany the stories aretaken very largely from the Kuk-cho In-mul-chi,“Korea’s Record of Famous Men.”

J. S. Gale.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Im Bang was born in 1640, the son of a provincialgovernor. He was very bright as a boy and from earliest years fond ofstudy, becoming a great scholar. He matriculated first in his class in1660, and graduated in 1663. He was a disciple of Song Si-yol, one ofKorea’s first writers. In 1719, when he was in his eightiethyear, he became governor of Seoul, and held as well the office ofsecretary of the Cabinet. In the year 1721 he got into difficultiesover the choice of the Heir Apparent, and in 1722, on account of a parthe played in a disturbance in the government, he was exiled to NorthKorea, where he died.

(From Kuk-cho In-mul-chi, “Korea’sRecord of Famous Men.”)

Yi Ryuk lived in the reign ofKing Se-jo, matriculated in 1459, and graduated first in his class in1564. He was a man of many offices and many distinctions in the way ofliterary excellence.

“Korea’s Record of Famous Men.”

CONTENTS

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

I

CHARAN

[Some think that love, strong, true, andself-sacrificing, is not to be found in the Orient; but the story ofCharan, which comes down four hundred years and more, proves thecontrary, for it still has the fresh, sweet flavour of a romance ofyesterday; albeit the setting of the East provides an odd andinteresting background.]

In the days of King Sung-jong (A.D. 1488–1495) one of Korea’s noted men becamegovernor of Pyong-an Province. Now Pyong-an stands first of all theeight provinces in the attainments of erudition and polite society.Many of her literati are good musicians, and show ability in theaffairs of State.

At the time of this story there was a famous dancinggirl in Pyong-an whose name was Charan. She was very beautiful, andsang and danced to the delight of all beholders. Her ability, too, wasspecially marked, for she understood the classics and was acquaintedwith history. The brightest of all the geisha was she, famousand far-renowned.

The Governor’s family consisted of a son, whoseage was sixteen, and whose face was comely as a picture. Though soyoung, he was thoroughly grounded in Chinese, and was a gifted scholar.His judgment was excellent, and he had a fine appreciation of literaryform, so that the moment he lifted his pen the written line took onadmirable expression. His name became known as Keydong (The GiftedLad). The Governor had no other children, neither son nor daughter, sohis heart was wrapped up in this boy. On his birthday he had all theofficials invited and other special guests, who came to drink hishealth. There were present also a company of dancing-girls and a largeband of musicians. The Governor, during a lull in the banquet, calledhis son to him, and ordered the chief of the dancing-girls to chooseone of the prettiest of their number, that he and she might dancetogether and delight the assembled guests. On hearing this, thecompany, with one accord, called for Charan, as the one suited by her talents, attainmentsand age to be a fitting partner for his son. They came out and dancedlike fairies, graceful as the wavings of the willow, light and airy asthe swallow. All who saw them were charmed. The Governor, too, greatlypleased, called Charan to him, had her sit on the dais, treated her toa share in the banquet, gave her a present of silk, and commanded thatfrom that day forth she be the special dancing maiden to attend uponhis son.

From this birthday forth they became fast friendstogether. They thought the world of each other. More than all thedelightful stories of history was their love—such as had neverbeen seen.

The Governor’s term of office was extended for sixyears more, and so they remained in the north country. Finally, at thetime of return, he and his wife were in great anxiety over their sonbeing 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 notpossibly decide, so they concluded to refer the matter to the sonhimself. They called him and said, “Even parents cannot decide asto the love of their son for a maiden. What ought we to do? You loveCharan so that it will be very hard for you to part, and yet to have adancing-girl before you are married is not goodform, and will interfere with your marriage prospects and promotion.However, the having of a second wife is a common custom in Korea, andone that the world recognizes. Do as you think best in thematter.” The son replied, “There is no difficulty; when sheis before my eyes, of course she is everything, but when the time comesfor me to start for home she will be like a pair of worn shoes, setaside; so please do not be anxious.”

The Governor and his wife were greatly delighted, andsaid he was a “superior man” indeed.

When the time came to part Charan cried bitterly, sothat those standing by could not bear to look at her; but the sonshowed not the slightest sign of emotion. Those looking on were filledwith wonder at his fortitude. Although he had already loved Charan forsix years, he had never been separated from her for a single day, so heknew not what it meant to say Good-bye, nor did he know how it felt tobe parted.

The Governor returned to Seoul to fill the office ofChief Justice, and the son came also. After this return thoughts oflove for Charan possessed Keydong, though he never expressed them inword or manner. It was almost the time of the Kam-seeExamination. The father, therefore, ordered his son to go with some ofhis friends to a neighbouring monastery to study andprepare. They went, and one night, after the day’s work was overand all were asleep, the young man stole out into the courtyard. It waswinter, with frost and snow and a cold, clear moon. The mountains weredeep and the world was quiet, so that the slightest sound could beheard. The young man looked up at the moon and his thoughts were fullof sorrow. He so wished to see Charan that he could no longer controlhimself, and fearing that he would lose his reason, he decided thatvery night to set out for far-distant Pyong-an. He had on a furhead-dress, a thick coat, a leather belt and a heavy pair of shoes.When he had gone less than ten lee, however, his feet wereblistered, and he had to go into a neighbouring village and change hisleather shoes for straw sandals, and his expensive head-cover for anordinary servant’s hat. He went thus on his way, begging as hewent. He was often very hungry, and when night came, was very, verycold. He was a rich man’s son and had always dressed in silk andeaten dainty fare, and had never in his life walked more than a fewfeet from his father’s door. Now there lay before him a journeyof hundreds of miles. He went stumbling along through the snow, makingbut poor progress. Hungry, and frozen nearly to death, he had neverknown such suffering before. His clothes were torn and his face became worn down andblackened till he looked like a goblin. Still on he went, little bylittle, day after day, till at last, when a whole month had gone by, hereached Pyong-an.

Straight to Charan’s home he went, but Charan wasnot there, only her mother. She looked at him, but did not recognizehim. He said he was the former Governor’s son and that out oflove for Charan he had walked five hundred lee. “Where isshe?” he asked. The mother heard, but instead of being pleasedwas very angry. She said, “My daughter is now with the son of thenew Governor, and I never see her at all; she never comes home, and shehas been away for two or three months. Even though you have made thislong journey there is no possible way to meet her.”

She did not invite him in, so cold was her welcome. Hethought 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 shallI do?” While thus in this dilemma a plan occurred to him. Therewas a scribe in Pyong-an, who, during his father’s term ofoffice, had offended, and was sentenced to death. There wereextenuating circumstances, however, and he, when he went to pay hismorning salutations, had besought and secured his pardon. His father,out of regard for his son’s petition, had forgiven thescribe. He thought, “I was the means ofsaving the man’s life, he will take me in;” so he wentstraight from Charan’s to the house of the scribe. But at firstthis writer did not recognize him. When he gave his name and told whohe was, the scribe gave a great start, and fell at his feet makingobeisance. 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 thepossibility of his meeting Charan. The scribe said, “I am afraidthat there is no way for you to meet her alone, but if you would liketo see even her face, I think I can manage it. Will youconsent?”

He asked as to the plan. It was this: It being now atime of snow, daily coolies were called to sweep it away from the innercourt of the Governor’s yamen, and just now the scribe wasin charge of this particular work. Said he, “If you will join thesweepers, take a broom and go in; you will no doubt catch a glimpse ofCharan as she is said to be in the Hill Kiosk. I know of no otherplan.”

Keydong consented. In the early morning he mixed withthe company of sweepers and went with his broom into the innerenclosure, where the Hill Kiosk was, and so they worked at sweeping.Just then the Governor’s son was sitting by the open window andCharan was by him, but not visible from theoutside. The other workers, being all practised hands, swept well;Keydong alone handled his broom to no advantage, knowing not how tosweep. The Governor’s son, watching the process, looked out andlaughed, called Charan and invited her to see this sweeper. Charanstepped 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 thedisappointment of the sweeper, who came back in despair to thescribe’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 roomand began to cry. The Governor’s son looked in surprise anddispleasure, and asked, “Why do you cry?” She did not replyat once, but after two or three insistent demands told the reason thus:“I am a low class woman; you are mistaken in thinking highly ofme, or counting me of worth. Already I have not been home for two wholemonths and more. This is a special compliment and a high honour, and sothere is not the slightest reason for any complaint on my part. Butstill, I think of my home, which is poor, and my mother. It iscustomary on the anniversary of my father’s death to prepare foodfrom the official quarters, and offer a sacrifice to his spirit,but here I am imprisoned and to-morrow is thesacrificial 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 fairstatement that he trusted her fully and without a question.Sympathetically he asked, “Why didn’t you tell mebefore?” He prepared the food and told her to hurry home andcarry out the ceremony. So Charan came like flaming fire back to herhouse, and said to her mother, “Keydong has come and I have seenhim. Is he not here? Tell me where he is if you know.” The mothersaid, “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 nopossible way for you to meet, so he went away and where he is I knownot.”

Then Charan broke down and began to cry. “Oh, mymother, 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 himup. We were each sixteen when chosen to dance together, and while itmay be said that men chose us, it is truer still to say that God hathchosen. We grew into each other’s lives, and there was never suchlove as ours. Though he forgot and left me, I can never forget and cannever give him up. The Governor, too, called me the beloved wife of hisson, and did not once refer to my low station.He cherished me and gave me many gifts. ’Twas all like heaven andnot like earth. To the city of Pyong-an gentry and officials gather asmen crowd into a boat; I have seen so many, but for grace and abilityno one was ever like Keydong. I must find him, and even though he castsme aside I never shall forget him. I have not kept myself even untodeath as I should have, because I have been under the power andinfluence of the Governor. How could he ever have come so far for oneso low and vile? He, a gentleman of the highest birth, for the sake ofa wretched dancing-girl has endured all this hardship and come so far.Could you not have thought, mother, of these things and given him atleast some kindly welcome? Could my heart be other than broken?”And a great flow of tears came from Charan’s eyes. She thoughtand thought as to where he could possibly be. “I know of noplace,” said she, “unless it be at such and such ascribe’s home.” Quick as thought she flew thence, and therethey 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 wasnight Charan said, “When to-morrow comes we shall have to part.What shall we do?” They talked it over, and agreed to make theirescape that night. So Charan got together herclothing, 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 wentwhile the city slept. They followed the road that leads toward themountains that lie between Yang-tok and Maing-san counties. There theyfound a country house, where they put up, and where theGovernor’s son became a sort of better-class servant. He did notknow how to do anything well, but Charan understood weaving and sewing,and so they lived. After some time they got a little thatched hut bythemselves in the village and lived there. Charan was a beautifulsewing-woman, and ceased not day and night to ply her needle, and soldher treasures and her jewels to make ends meet. Charan, too, knew howto make friends, and was praised and loved by all the village.Everybody felt sorry for the hard times that had befallen thismysterious young couple, and helped them so that the days passedpeacefully and happily together.

To return in the story: On awaking in the morning in thetemple where he and his friends had gone to study, they found Keydongmissing. All was in a state of confusion as to what had become of theson of the Chief Justice. They hunted for him far and wide, but he wasnowhere to be found, so word was sent to the parents accordingly. Therewas untold consternation in the home of theformer governor. So great a loss, what could equal it? They searchedthe country about the temple, but no trace or shadow of him was to befound. Some said they thought he had been inveigled away andmetamorphosed 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 thathe had lost Charan, had Charan’s mother imprisoned and all therelatives, but after a month or so, when the search proved futile, hegave up the matter and let them go.

Charan, at last happy with her chosen one, said one dayto him, “You, a son of the gentry, for the sake of a dancing-girlhave given up parents and home to live in this hidden corner of thehills. It is a matter, too, that touches your filial piety, thisleaving your father and mother in doubt as to whether you are alive ornot. They ought to know. We cannot live here all our lives, neither canwe return home; what do you think we ought to do?” Keydong made ahopeless reply. “I am in distress,” said he, “andknow not.”

Charan said brightly, “I have a plan by which wecan cover over the faults of the past, and win a new start for thefuture. By means of it, you can serve your parents andlook the world in the face. Will you consent?”

“What do you propose?” asked he. Her replywas, “There is only one way, and that is by means of the OfficialExamination. I know of no other. You will understand what I mean, eventhough I do not tell you more.”

He said, “Enough, your plan is just the thing tohelp us out. But how can I get hold of the books I need?”

Charan replied, “Don’t be anxious aboutthat, I’ll get the books.” From that day forth she sentthrough all the neighbourhood for books, to be secured at all costs;but there were few or none, it being a mountain village. One day therecame by, all unexpectedly, a pack-peddler, who had in his bundle a bookthat he wished to sell. Some of the village people wanted to buy it forwall-paper. Charan, however, secured it first and showed it to Keydong.It was none other than a special work for Examinations, with all theexercises written out. It was written in small characters, and was ahuge book containing several thousand exercises. Keydong was delighted,and said, “This is enough for all needed preparation.” Shebought 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 anddid silk-spinning. Thus they shared the lighttogether. If he showed any remissness, Charan urged him on, and thusthey worked for two years. To begin with, he, being a highly talentedscholar, made steady advancement day by day. He was a beautiful writerand a master of the pen. His compositions, too, were without a peer,and every indication pointed to his winning the highest place in theKwago (Examination).

At this time a proclamation was issued that there wouldbe a special examination held before His Majesty the King, so Charanmade ready the food required and all necessaries for him to go afoot toSeoul to try his hand.

At last here he was, within the Palace enclosure. HisMajesty came out into the examination arena and posted up the subject.Keydong took his pen and wrote his finished composition. Under theinspiration of the moment his lines came forth like bubbling water. Itwas finished.

When the announcement was made as to the winner, theKing ordered the sealed name of the writer to be opened. It was, andthey found that Keydong was first. At that time his father was PrimeMinister and waiting in attendance upon the King. The King called thePrime Minister, and said, “It looks to me as though the winnerwas your son, but he writes that his father is Chief Justice and notPrime Minister; what can that mean?” He handedthe composition paper to the father, and asked him to look and see. TheMinister gazed at it in wonder, burst into tears, and said, “Itis your servant’s son. Three years ago he went with some friendsto a monastery to study, but one night he disappeared, and though Isearched far and wide I have had no word of him since. I concluded thathe had been destroyed by some wild animal, so I had a funeral serviceheld and the house went into mourning. I had no other children but thisson only. He was greatly gifted and I lost him in this strange way. Thememory has never left me, for it seems as though I had lost him butyesterday. Now that I look at this paper I see indeed that it is thewriting of my son. When I lost him I was Chief Justice, and thus herecords the office; but where he has been for these three years, andhow he comes now to take part in the examination, I knownot.”

The King, hearing this, was greatly astonished, and atonce before all the assembled ministers had him called. Thus he came inhis scholar’s dress into the presence of the King. All theofficials wondered at this summoning of a candidate before theannouncement of the result. The King asked him why he had left themonastery 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 offilial devotion, and deserve condign punishment.” The Kingreplied, 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 benttheir ears to hear. The King sighed, and said to the father,“Your son has repented and made amends for his fault. He has wonfirst place and now stands as a member of the Court. We cannot condemnhim for his love for this woman. Forgive him for all the past and givehim a start for the future.” His Majesty said further, “Thewoman Charan, who has shared your life in the lonely mountains, is nocommon woman. Her plans, too, for your restoration were the plans of amaster hand. She is no dancing-girl, this Charan. Let no other be yourlawful wife but she only; let her be raised to equal rank with herhusband, and let her children and her children’s children holdhighest office in the realm.” So was Keydong honoured with thewinner’s crown, and so the Prime Minister received his son backto life at the hands of the King. The winner’s cap was placedupon his head, and the whole house was whirled into raptures ofjoy.

So the Minister sent forth a palanquin and servants tobring up Charan. In a great festival of joy shewas proclaimed the wife of the Minister’s son. Later he becameone of Korea’s first men of State, and they lived their happylife to a good old age. They had two sons, both graduates and men whoheld high office.

Im Bang.

II

THE STORY OF CHANG TO-RYONG

[Taoism has been one of the great religions ofKorea. Its main thought is expressed in the phrase su-simyon-song, “to correct the mind and reform the nature”;while Buddhism’s is myong-sim kyon-song, “toenlighten 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 offleshly being. In the Taoist world of the genii, there are three greatdivisions: the upper genii, who live with God; the midway genii, whohave 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 wefind in the story of Chang To-ryong.]