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Chun Yang, a MythSource painting
Korean

Chun Yang

01Identity

Chun Yang in Korean tradition

In Nam Won, Chun Yang is known as a skilled dancing girl, but Allen’s tale places her marriage and her own choices at the centre of her life. She loves Toh Ryung, the son of the former magistrate, and marries him before he leaves for the capital to sit his examinations. When a new magistrate orders Chun Yang to serve him, she refuses: she is already married and will not submit to his demand. He answers her refusal with violence and imprisonment.

Chun Yang’s ordeal does not make her a passive figure waiting for rescue. She continues to resist the magistrate while Toh Ryung returns under disguise as a royal inspector. When she is summoned to court, she expects another punishment; only when she hears her husband’s familiar voice does she understand that their separation is ending. Her story joins a young woman’s defence of her marriage to a public challenge against a magistrate who abuses his power.

SourceKorean Tales / Being a collection of stories translated from the Korean folk lore, together with introductory chapters descriptive of Korea: printed pp. 116-151; CHUN YANG

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Chun Yang

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Chun Yang Resists the Corrupt Magistrate

Chun Yang and Toh Ryung married after they met in Nam Won. Toh Ryung was the son of the former magistrate, but his father was transferred to another post. The young husband left for the capital to take his examinations and promised to return. Chun Yang stayed in Nam Won while he was away. A new magistrate arrived and summoned her, intending to make her serve him. She refused because she was married. The magistrate grew angry and ordered her to be brought to court. Chun Yang continued to refuse his demands, and he had her beaten and imprisoned.

Toh Ryung passed his examinations and received a royal appointment as an inspector. He travelled back to Nam Won in disguise so that he could learn how the people were treated. Farmers told him that the magistrate had imprisoned Chun Yang for rejecting him. Toh Ryung went to the office, revealed his authority and ordered the magistrate sent to the capital. He then had Chun Yang brought before him. She thought the summons meant further punishment and would not look up until he spoke in his own voice. She recognised her husband and fainted. The two were reunited, and the magistrate’s power over her ended.

Chun Yang Resists the Corrupt Magistrate, a MythSource painting of the scene