Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Faries

Yuk Yi, Pang Im

Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Faries

Sharp Ink Publishing

2024

Contact: [email protected]

ISBN 978-80-283-2958-7

Table of Contents

PREFACE

BIOGRAPHICAL

KOREAN IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES

I

CHARAN

II

THE STORY OF CHANG TO-RYONG

III

A STORY OF THE FOX

IV

CHEUNG PUK-CHANG, THE SEER

The Story

V

YUN SE-PYONG, THE WIZARD

The Story

VI

THE WILD-CAT WOMAN

The Story

VII

THE ILL-FATED PRIEST

VIII

THE VISION OF THE HOLY MAN

The Story

IX

THE VISIT OF THE MAN OF GOD

X

THE LITERARY MAN OF IMSIL

The Story

XI

THE SOLDIER OF KANG-WHA

The Story

XII

CURSED BY THE SNAKE

The Story

XIII

THE MAN ON THE ROAD

XIV

THE OLD MAN WHO BECAME A FISH

XV

THE GEOMANCER

The Story

XVI

THE MAN WHO BECAME A PIG

The Story

XVII

THE OLD WOMAN WHO BECAME A GOBLIN

XVIII

THE GRATEFUL GHOST

XIX

THE PLUCKY MAIDEN

The Story

XX

THE RESOURCEFUL WIFE

XXI

THE BOXED-UP GOVERNOR

XXII

THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS

XXIII

TEN THOUSAND DEVILS

XXIV

THE HOME OF THE FAIRIES

XXV

THE HONEST WITCH

The Story

XXVI

WHOM THE KING HONOURS

XXVII

THE FORTUNES OF YOO

XXVIII

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HOBGOBLIN

XXIX

THE SNAKE’S REVENGE

XXX

THE BRAVE MAGISTRATE

XXXI

THE TEMPLE TO THE GOD OF WAR

The Story

XXXII

A VISIT FROM THE SHADES

The Story

XXXIII

THE FEARLESS CAPTAIN

XXXIV

THE KING OF YOM-NA (HELL)

The Story

XXXV

HONG’S EXPERIENCES IN HADES

XXXVI

HAUNTED HOUSES

XXXVII

IM, THE HUNTER

The Story

XXXVIII

THE MAGIC INVASION OF SEOUL

XXXIX

THE AWFUL LITTLE GOBLIN

XL

GOD’S WAY

XLI

THE OLD MAN IN THE DREAM

XLII

THE PERFECT PRIEST

XLIII

THE PROPITIOUS MAGPIE

XLIV

THE OLD BUDDHA

XLV

A WONDERFUL MEDICINE

XLVI

FAITHFUL MO

XLVII

THE RENOWNED MAING

XLVIII

THE SENSES

XLIX

WHO DECIDES, GOD OR THE KING?

L

THREE THINGS MASTERED

LI

STRANGELY STRICKEN DEAD

LII

THE MYSTERIOUS HOI TREE

LIII

TA-HONG

The Story

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

All rights reserved

TO

MY LITTLE SON

GEORGE JAMES MORLEY

THE DAYS OF WHOSE YEARS

ARE

TWO EASTERN SPRINGS AND AUTUMNS

PREFACE

Table of Contents

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.

BIOGRAPHICAL

Table of Contents

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

Table of Contents

[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