[...]... 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 and, year (1911), by a Japanese publishing company Three anonymous stories are also added, " The Geomancer," to show how Mother... reign of King Se-jo, matriculated in his class in 1564 He was a man and graduated first in of many offices and many 1459, distinctions in the way of literary excellence " Korea's Record of XI Famous Men." KOREAN IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES i CHARAN [SOME think that love, strong, true, and self- not to be found in the Orient; but the of Charan, which comes down four hundred story years and more, proves the... Pyong-an Province Now Pyong-an stands first the eight provinces in the attainments of erudition and polite society Many of her literati of all are good musicians, and show of State B ability in the affairs KOREAN 2 IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES was a famous whose name was Pyong-an dancing-girl Charan She was very beautiful, and sang and danced to the delight of all beholders Her ability, too, was specially marked,... called "Even parents cannot decide as of their son for a maiden You They Charan so part, and yet love to that to him and to the love What ought we it will to do? be very hard for have a dancing-girl before KOREAN 4 IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES 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... along miles fare, walked more than a few door Now hundreds of feet the snow, making but poor progress and frozen nearly to death, he had never Hungry, known such suffering before His clothes were through KOREAN 6 torn till and IMPS, his face he looked like GHOSTS AND FAIRIES became worn down and blackened a goblin after day, by little, day month had gone till Still on he went, little when a whole at last,... 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 8 KOREAN IMPS, from the outside GHOSTS AND FAIRIES 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,... grew and there was never such love as ours Though he forgot and left me, I can The never forget and can never give him up still into each other's lives, Governor, too, called me the beloved wife of his KOREAN 10 IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES and did not once refer to my low station He cherished me and gave me many gifts 'Twas all To the city of like heaven and not like earth and officials gather as men Pyong-an... story 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 12 KOREAN GHOSTS AND FAIRIES IMPS, was untold consternation So great a in the home of the former what could equal it? governor searched the country about the temple, but They no trace or shadow of him was... needed' preparation." She bought it and gave it to him, and there he pegged away day after day It In the night he studied by candle-light, while she by his side and did silk-spinning Thus they sat 14 KOREAN IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES If he showed any light together Charan urged him on, and thus they remissness, worked for two years To begin with, he, being a highly talented scholar, made steady advancement... 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 16 KOREAN left my IMPS, GHOSTS AND FAIRIES parents, have broken all the laws of filial devotion, and deserve condign punishment." The King replied, saying, "There is no law of conceal- ment before the King . class="bi x0 y0 w2 h2" alt="" KOREAN IMPS GHOSTS AND FAIRIES