Chung Yu-Chang. (1450—1540 A.D.)
He studied the So-hak for thirty years, saying, “When I live up to what I have learned in it, I shall pass on to something else.” He was deeply devoted to his mother and when she died, spent three years by her grave. During this time he meditated on the teaching of the sages and on her great piety. The world considered Chung Yu-Chang an unfriendly creature, but he had a deep love for Chum-pil-chai, another noted scholar. Between the two men existed one of those unique friendships of the pen already mentioned. Chung Yu-Chang attained to such complete mastery of his body that neither heat, cold, hunger, thirst nor pain had power to disturb him. He spent many years alone in the Chiri Hills where he built a hut and learned to understand the language of the rush reeds and of the bamboos which he grew.
The rush rods flutter in the dying wind.
They whisper softly to me through the dusk.
Through them I watch the setting sun go down.
Above them now the rising yellow moon
Pours her soft light. Between their pointed spears
She weaves a silver veil of river mist.
The rush rods flutter gently by my door.
The ripening barley whispers. All is peace.
The hills of Chiri hide me from the world.
Between them, slowly floating down the stream,
Alone I row my boat into the night.