The Tale of Shim Chung [antikvár]

mk PREFACE The Tale of Shim Chung is a story b'ased on a Korean legend. According to records as far back as the period of Three Kingdoms (1 B.C.-7 A.D.), already such motives used in the Tale of Shim Chung are to be found. In this respect the Tale of Filial Jieun and the Recofds of Yunki (histoiry of !a Buddhist itemple), to name of few, can be mentioned. The former is the story of a girl who sold herself to a richman in order to provide her mother a better life. Her noble sacrifice was known throughout the country and admired by all. The latter is the story of a girl named Hongjang who sold herself to seamen in the hope that her father's lost eyesight would be restored. According to the story, she was so beautiful that she v/as made the queen of the land and her father's eyes were opened at the joy of their reunion. Such stories remained for many centuries the favorites of the people. As time went by, many additions _ 1 _