The three works translated in this volume are generally recognized as the most significant products of traditional Korean fiction. Kuunmong was written in the reign of King Sukchong (1674-1720); lnhyŏn Wanghu chŏn describes events of that reign; and Ch’unhyang ka is a romance set in the same period, which came to be regarded as an ideal age of peace and prosperity. The second and third stories, however, did not attain the form in which they are here translated until the nineteenth century.
The three stories were translated independently of each other between 1968 and 1971 at the request of the Asia Society of New York. Mrs Bonnie Crown, director of the Society’s literature program, noticed that the theme of woman’s life and ideals is common to all three tales and suggested they should be published in one book.
I am responsible for all introductory matter and for the translations of Kuunmong and Ch’unhyang ka. I have also edited Professor Kim Chong-un’s translation of lnhyŏn Wanghu chŏn, principally in order to unify the treatment of technicalities. I refer chiefly to four matters. Chinese names are transliterated as Chinese, Korean names as Korean; the ages of characters, and the counting of time in general are expressed according to western computation, and are thus one or two years less than the figures given in the original texts, which use Korean computation; and year dates are given according to the western era only, disregarding the Chinese sixty-fold numeration system, except where that system has some significance beyond bare chronology. The text has not been annotated, because the book is intended for the general reader’s enjoyment. Explanatory phrases have been inserted into the translation where it seemed necessary to illuminate what would otherwise be merely mystifying allusions. Students requiring critical texts and detailed references can be expected to be capable of using Korean editions.
The illustrations to Kuunmong are taken from Gale’s The Cloud Dream of the Nine (London 1922), which contains a picture for each of the sixteen chapters in the Chinese text, inscribed with the appropriate chapter heading. The English legends provided here, however, identify the incidents represented.
I am grateful for the generous help of many people; especially Professor Chŏng Kyu-bok of Korea University; Professor Pak Yo-sun of Sungjŏn University; Mr. Choi Woon-sok of Korean National Commission for Unesco for editing, layout and proofreading; and to my wife, Joan, for improving the English style of The History of Queen Inhyŏn.
Taejŏn, Korea
3 December 1973
Richard Rutt