Korean Folk Tales

Three years ago he went with some friends to a monastery tostudy, but one night he disappeared, and though I searched far andwide I have had no word of him since. I concluded that he had beendestroyed by some wild animal, so I had a funeral service held andthe house went into mourning. I had no other children but this sononly. 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 know not."The King, hearing this, was greatly astonished, and at oncebefore all the assembled ministers had him called. Thus he came inhis scholar's dress into the presence of the King. All the officialswondered at this summoning of a candidate before theannouncement of the result. The King asked him why he had leftthe monastery and where he had been for these three years. Hebowed low, and said, "I have been a very wicked man, have left myparents, have broken all the laws of filial devotion, and deservecondign punishment." The King replied, saying, "There is no law ofconcealment before the King. I shall not condemn you even thoughyou are guilty; tell me all." Then he told his story to the King. All theofficials on each side bent their ears to hear. The King sighed, andsaid to the father, "Your son has repented and made amends for hisfault. He has won first place and now stands as a member of theCourt. We cannot condemn him for his love for this woman. Forgivehim for all the past and give him a start for the future." His Majestysaid further, "The woman Charan, who has shared your life in thelonely mountains, is no common woman. Her plans, too, for yourrestoration 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 beraised to equal rank with her husband, and let her children and herchildren's children hold highest office in the realm." So wasKeydong honoured with the winner's crown, and so the PrimeMinister received his son back to life at the hands of the King. Thewinner's cap was placed upon his head, and the whole house waswhirled into raptures of joy.So the Minister sent forth a palanquin and servants to bring upCharan. In a great festival of joy she was proclaimed the wife of theMinister's son.