Chapter II

Chapter II A Glimpse of Chin See

THE Hermit Yang left the world while the

mother and son remained and lived together.

Already before So-yoo (Song-jin) was in his

teens he manifested extraordinary attractiveness and

ability. The governor of his county called him the Mar-

vellous Lad, and recommended him to the Court. But

So-yoo on account of his mother declined all favours.

When he was fifteen or thereabouts, with his frank and

handsome face, he was said to resemble Panak [8]

of ancient China. His physical strength, too, was

unrivalled, and his skill in the classics and com-

position was excellent. In astronomy and geomancy

he was well trained, while in military knowledge,

such as tossing the spear and fencing with the short

sword, he was indeed a great wonder. Nothing

could stand before him. In his former existence he

had been a man of refined tastes, so his mind was

clear and his heart kindly disposed and liberal. He

deftly solved the mysteries of life as one would split

the bamboo. Different altogether was he from the

common run of men.

Said he one day to his mother : " When my father

went up to heaven he entrusted the reputation and

honour of his home to me, and yet here we are so

poor that you are compelled to toil and struggle. To

live here like a mere watch-dog or a turtle that drags

its tail and makes no effort to rise in the world means

that we shall be blotted out as a family. I shall never

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

comfort your heart, and shall fail of the trust that

my father has imposed in me. I hear just now that

Government Examinations are to be held and that

they are open to any candidate of the empire. May

I not leave you for a little and try my skill ? "

While Yoo See, his mother, had no desire to re-

strain this good purpose on the part of her son, she

feared for the long journey that he would have to

take. However, since his spirit was awake and anxious

to go she gave her consent. Selling what few treasures

she had she provided means for the journey.

He then bade her good-bye, and with a limping

donkey and a little serving-boy to accompany him,

he set out on the way. The views of mountain and

stream by which he passed were specially fine, and

since the opening of the examination was still some-

what distant, he lingered as he went along looking

at points of interest and seeking out old landmarks

and records.

At a certain place as he went by he saw a neat and

tidy house surrounded by a beautiful grove of shady

willow trees. A blue line of smoke, like silken rolls

unwinding, rose skyward. In a retired part of the

enclosure he saw a picturesque pavilion with a beau-

tifully kept approach. He slowed up his beast and

went near to enjoy the prospect. The encircling

boughs and leaves barely permitted him to make out

through their shade a wonderful fairy world.

So-yoo pushed aside the intervening greenery

and lingered for a time, unwilling to go. He sighed

and said : " In our world of Cho there are many

pretty groves, but none that I ever saw so lovely as

this."

A Glimpse of Chin See

He rapidly composed and wrote a poem, which

ran :

" Willows [9] hung like woven green,

Veiling all the view between,

Planted by some fairy free,

Sheltering her and calling me.

Willows, greenest of the green.

Brushing by her silken screen.

Speak by every waving wand,

Of an unseen fairy hand."

When he had jotted this down he sang it out with

a rich, clear voice, the notes of which resounded like

the clink of silver or the echoing tones of crystal. It

was heard in the top storey of the pavilion, where a

beautiful maiden was having a midday siesta. She

awoke with a start, pushed aside the arm-rest on

which she leaned, and sat up. She then opened the

embroidered shade and looked out through the painted

railing here and there. Whence came this singing?

Suddenly her eyes met those of So-yoo, while her

hair, like a tumbled cloud, rested soft and warm

upon her temples. The long jade pin that held the

plaits together had been pushed aside till it showed

slantwise through her tresses. Her sleepy eyelids

were still somewhat weighted, and her expression

was as though she had just emerged from dream-

land. Rouge and cosmetics had vanished under the

unceremonious hand of sleep, and her natural beauty

was unveiled, a beauty impossible to picture and

such as no painting has ever portrayed.

The two looked at each other with a fixed and

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

startled expression, but said not a word. So-yoo had

sent his boy ahead to order his affairs at the inn, and

now he suddenly returned to announce that it had

been so done. The maiden looked straight at So-

yoo for a moment, and then suddenly recollected

herself, closed the blind and disappeared from view.

A suggestion of sweet fragrance was borne to him

on the breeze.

So-yoo regretted at first that the boy had disturbed

him by his announcement. And now that the blind

had closed it was as though a thousand miles of the

Yang-tze had cut him off from all his expectations.

So he went on his way, looking back at times to see,

but the silken window was made fast and did not

again open. He reached the inn with a sense of loss

and home-sickness upon him, and with his mind

mixed and confused.

The family name of the maiden was Chin, and her

given name Cha-bong. She was the daughter of a

Government Commissioner, and had lost her mother

early in life. No brothers or sisters had she ever had,

and now she had attained to the age when girls do

up their hair, but she was still unmarried.

The Commissioner had gone up to the capital on

official business, and so the daughter was alone when

she thus unexpectedly met the eyes of So-yoo. His

handsome face and manly bearing attracted her

wonderfully. Hearing, too, the verses that he sang

she was carried away with admiration for his skill as

a scholar, and thus she thought to herself :

'* The woman's lot in life is to follow her husband.

Her glory or her shame, her experiences for the span

of life are wrapped up in her lord and master. For

A Glimpse of Chin See

this reason Princess Tak-moon, although a widow,

followed General Sa-ma. I am yet an unmarried girl

and dislike dreadfully to become my own go-be-

tween and propose marriage, but it is said that in

ancient times courtiers chose their own king, so I

shall make inquiry concerning this gentleman and

^find his name and place of residence. I must do so

at once and not wait till my father's return, for who

knows whither he may have gone in the meantime,

or where I may search for him in the four quarters

of the earth."

She unclasped a roll of satin paper, wrote a verse

or two and gave it to her nurse, saying : " Take this

letter to the city guest-hall and give it to the gentle-

man who rode past here on the little donkey and

sang the Willow Song as he went by. Let him know

that my purpose is to find the one that is destined

for me, and on whom I may depend. Know forsooth

that this is a very important matter and one that

forbids your acting in a light or frivolous way. The

gentleman is handsome as the gods ; his eyebrows

are like the loftiest touches of a picture, and his

form among common men is like the phoenix among

feathered fowls. See him now for yourself and give

him this letter."

The nurse replied : " I shall be careful to do just

as you have commanded, but what shall I say if your

father should inquire later ? "

" I shall see to that myself," said Chin See, " so

do not be anxious."

The nurse then left, but returned again in a little

to ask : " What shall I do if the gentleman is already

married or engaged ? "

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

On hearing this the maiden thought for a moment

and then repUed : "If that unfortunately be so I

shall not object to become his secondary wife. He is

young, but whether he is married or not, who can

tell ? "

The nurse then went to the guest-hall and asked

for the gentleman who had sung the Willow Song.

Just at that moment So-yoo stepped out of the ^-

trance into the court, and there he met the old dame

who came bearing the message. He responded at

once and said : " Your humble servant, madam, is

responsible for the Willow Song. Why do you ask

me?"

When the nurse saw his handsome face she no

longer doubted his being the one in question, and

softly said : " We cannot speak here."

So-yoo, wondering, led her into the guest-house,

and when they were seated quietly he asked why she

had come.

" Will your Excellency," said she in answer,

" please tell me where you sang the Willow Song ? "

So-yoo replied : " I am from a far distant part of

the country and have come for the first time into the

neighbourhood of the capital. The beauty of it de-

lights my soul. To-day at noon as I was passing along

the main highway I saw to the north of the road a

little pavilion with a grove of green willows, ex-

quisitely beautiful. I could not restrain my joy, and

so wrote a verse or two which I sang, but why does

your excellent ladyship ask concerning that ? "

The nurse replied : " Did your Excellency meet

anyone at that time, or come face to face with any

stranger ? "

A Glimpse of Chin See

So-yoo made answer: " Your servant came face

to face with a beautiful fairy, who looked down upon

him from the pavilion by the way. Her lovely features

I see still and the fragrance of her presence has filled

the world."

The nurse went on : "I shall speak directly to

the point. The house you mention is the home of my

master, Commissioner Chin, and the lady you refer

to is his daughter. From childhood she has been

pure of heart and gifted in mind and soul, with a

wonderful talent for knowing people. She saw your

Excellency but once and for a moment, yet her desire

is to entrust herself to you for ever ; but the Com-

missioner is away from home in the capital and he

must needs return before any decision can be arrived

at. Most important is the matter, however, and in

the meantime your Excellency may be far enough

away like the floating seaweed on the drift, or the

autumn leaves in the wind that blows. Fearing she

might never again find you, she has sent me to say

that the destiny of life is the all important subject,

while the diffidence of the moment and the fear to

speak of it are but a passing unpleasantness. Thus

has she, contrary to good form and her bringing up,

written this letter and ordered me, her old servant,

to ask your excellent name and place of residence."

When So-yoo heard this he was greatly interested,

as his countenance showed. He thanked her, and

said : " My name is Yang So-yoo, and my home is in

the land of Cho. I am young and not yet married.

Only my aged mother is alive, and while the mar-

riage question is one that will need inquiry on the

part of both our clans, still consent to the contract

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

may be given even here and now, and so for my part

I consent at once, and swear it by the long green

hills of Wha-san and the endless reaches of the Wee-

soo River."

The nurse, delighted at her success, took a letter

from her sleeve, gave it to So-yoo, who tore it open

and found a poem which read :

" Willows waving by the way.

Bade my lord his course to stay.

He, alas, has failed to ken,

Draws his whip and rides again."

When So-yoo had read the verse and noted its

brightness and freshness, he praised it, saying : " No

ancient sage ever wrote more sweetly." Then he

unrolled a sheet of watered paper and wrote his

reply thus :

" Willow catkins soft and dear,

Bid thy soul to never fear.

Ever may they bind us true,

You to me, and me to you."

The nurse received it, placed it in her bosom, and

went out through the main gateway of the guest-

hall, but So-yoo called her again, saying: "The

young lady is a native of Chin, while I belong to

Cho. Once we separate, a thousand miles come be-

tween us. With hills and streams and the windings

of the way, it will be difficult indeed to get messages

back and forth. We have no go-between to make

proof of our contract, so I would like to go by moon-

light and see my lady's beautiful face. What think

A Glimpse of Chin See

you ? In her letter there is some such suggestion, is

there not ? Please ask her."

The nurse consented, and on her return gave the

message to the maiden. " Master Yang has sworn by

the Lotus Hills and the long stretches of the river

that he will be your companion. He praised your

composition most highly, and wrote a reply which

I have brought you." She then handed it to the lady.

The maiden received the letter, read it, and her

face lighted up with joy.

Again the nurse went on to say : " Master Yang

has asked if it would be agreeable to you to have him

come quietly by moonlight and write another message

which you could enjoy together."

Her answer was : " It is not good form for a young

man and a young woman to meet before marriage.

I am promised to him, it is true, and that makes a

difference. If we meet at night, however, it might

cause unseemly rumour, and also my father would

reprimand me for it. Let us wait till noon to-morrow

and meet in the great hall and there seal our happy

contract. Go and tell him, will you ? "

The nurse went once again to the inn and told the

young master what had been said.

He expressed his regret and made reply : " The

lady's pure heart and right ordered words put me

to shame." Several times he urged upon the nurse

that there should be no failure in their plans, and so

she left.

While Master Yang slept in the guest-house his

thoughts were agitated and on the wing, so that he

did not rest well. He got up and waited for the crow-

ing of the cock, impatient at the length of the long

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

spring night. Suddenly the morning star began to

dawn and the awakening drums to beat. He called

his boy and ordered him to feed the donkey. At

this point an unexpected inrush of mounted troops

greeted the city with all the clamour that goes with

an army rabble. Like a great river they went thunder-

ing by, hurrying in from the west. In fear he hastily

gathered up his effects and looked out into the street,

where the whole place seemed filled with armed

men and fleeing people. The confusion was in-

describable, and the earth rang with the thunders of

it, while the wailing of the citizens shook the very

sky.

He asked someone standing by what it meant, and

was told that it was the rebel Koo Sa-ryong [lo] who

had risen against the Government and proclaimed

himself Emperor. His Majesty was away on a visit

of inspection in Yang-joo, and so the whole capital

was in a state of hopeless confusion, with the rebels

everywhere robbing the homes of the people. There

was word, too, that they had locked the gates of the

city so that no one could escape, and were enlisting

by force rich and poor, every man who could bear

arms.

Master Yang, in a state of fear and bewilderment,

got hold of his boy and hastened away with the

donkey toward the south mountain, that stood just

in front, hoping to hide himself among the rocks or

in some cave. He looked up and saw on the highest

peak a little thatched house that seemed to hang in

the shadows of the clouds, with the voices of cranes

echoing about it. Thinking it the home of some

dweller in the city, he went to it, picking his way,

A Glimpse of Chin See

when suddenly he was confronted by a Taoist genius

who, seated on his mat, saw the young man coming

toward him. He got up, greeted him, and asked :

" Are you making your escape from the confusion

of the city, and are you indeed the son of the hermit

Yang who Uved in Hoiram county ? "

So-yoo gave a sudden start of surprise, bowed

low, broke out into expressions of wonder, and said

in reply : " I am indeed the son of the hermit Yang.

Since the departure of my father I have lived with

my old mother, I am dull and slow of intellect and

have learned next to nothing, and yet presumptuously

thinking that I might have some chance to pass the

examination, I came as far as Wha-eum when this

rebellion blocked my way. In trying to make my

escape I entered these mountain recesses and have

been so fortunate as to meet your Excellency. God

has helped me to such a meeting I know. I have not

heard of my father for so long, and as time has gone

by my soul waits more impatiently than ever for

news from him. As I hear your words I am sure

you have definite knowledge of him. I pray you,

lord of the fairies, do not withhold anything, but give

a son the greatest comfort that can come to him. In

what height does my father dwell, please, and how is

he in health ? "

The fairy master smiled and said in reply : " Your

father and I have just had a game of draughts to-

gether on Cha-gak mountain peak, and only said

good-bye a little time ago ; but I cannot tell you

where he has gone. His face is not changed a whit,

nor has his hair grown grey, so you do not need

to be anxious about him,"

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

Yang replied in tears, saying : "I wish the noble

teacher would help me just once to meet my father.'-

But the master smilingly replied : " The love

between son and father is great, but still mortals

and the genii are of two different orders. I should

like to help you, but it is impossible. The hills

where the genii live are distant, and their ten pro-

vinces wide and far-reaching, so that it is impossible

to know just where your father dwells. Now that

you are here, stay for a time, and when the way opens

again it will be all right for you to go."

Though Yang heard that his father was well, still

the fact that the teacher had no intention of bring-

ing about a meeting beclouded his hopes ; tears

rained from his eyes and his goul was in deep dis-

tress. However, the holy man comforted him, saying:

" To meet and to part is one of life's common ex-

periences ; also to part and to meet again. Why do

you cry over the inevitable ? "

Then Yang brushed his tears away, thanked him

and sat down. The teacher pointed to a harp

hanging on the wall and asked : " Can you play

that instrument ? "

Yang replied : "I have some ear for music but

have never had a teacher, and so do not have a

practised hand."

The genius then had the harp brought, gave it to

Yang and told him to try.

Yang took it, placed it on his knees and played a

tune called " The Wind in the Pines."

The teacher, delighted, said : " You have skill

and are really worth teaching." He then took the

harp himself and taught him in succession four

A Glimpse of Chin See

different selections. The music of it was entrancing,

and such as no mortal had ever listened to before.

Yang was by nature a skilful hand at the harp and

had a well-trained mind, so that when he once caught

the spirit of it he was master of the mystery.

The genius sage, seeing this, was delighted, brought

out also his jade flute, and after playing a tune taught

it to Yang, saying : " Even among the ancients it

was rare indeed that two should meet who are masters

of music. Now I present this harp to you and this

jade flute. You will find use for them later on. Guard

them safely and remember what I have told you."

Yang received them, bowed low and spoke his

thanks, " Your humble servant's good fortune in

thus meeting the lord of the genii is due to my ex-

cellent father. He has led the way for me, and you

are my father's friend. How could I serve you other

than as I serve him ? I long to devote my life to you

as your disciple."

The teacher smiled and said in reply : " The

glory and honour of the world lie before you and

are urging you on. There is no withstanding their

power. It would never do for you to spend your

time here in the hills with me. Your world differs

from mine, and you were not intended for my dis-

ciple. Still your earnest thought I shall remember,

and I here present you with the book ' Paing cho-

pang ' in order that you may not forget my love for

you. If you once master this law, though you may not

attain to earthly immortality, still old age will be long

deferred."

Yang again arose, bowed low and received it,,

saying : " The great teacher has said that I am tO'

33 *"

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

enjoy riches and honour. I would like to ask about

my other prospects. I have just decided to arrange

marriage with the daughter of a gentleman of Wha-

eum county, but have been caught by this rebellion

and compelled to fly for my life, without definitely

deciding. Will this wedding turn out propitious or

not ? "

The teacher laughed loudly, saying : " Marriage

is a matter hidden in mystery and one must not talk

lightly of God's plans. Still several beautiful women

are destined for you, and so you have no need

specially for this daughter of Wha-eum."

Yang knelt and received this word and then went

with the teacher to the guest-room, where they

spent the night. Before the day dawned the genius

awoke Yang and said : " The way is now clear for

you to go, and the examination is postponed till the

coming spring. Your mother will be anxiously wait-

ing. Hasten back to her and quiet her faithful heart."

He gave him also money for the way.

Yang, after saying a hundred thanks, set out on

his journey, his harp with him, his flute, and his

sacred book. As he left the place the sadness of

departure was borne in upon his heart, so that he

turned to look back just once more, but already the

house and the genius were gone and only the day

remained with the white clouds sailing by, fresh

and clean.

When Yang entered the hills the willows were in

bloom and the catkins not yet fallen ; and now in a

single night the chrysanthemums were all aglow.

He asked concerning this, and was told that it was

the eighth moon of autumn. He went to seek the

A Glimpse of Chin See

inn where he had stayed, but it had passed through

a war meanwhile and was not the same at all. The

whole world seemed changed, in fact. A great crowd

of candidates was gathered and he asked about the

rebellion. They said that soldiers had been enlisted

from all the provinces and that the rebels had

been put down, that the emperor had returned to

the capital, and that the examination had been post-

poned till the next spring.

Yang went to see the home of Commissioner Chin,

but only the faded willows greeted him, as they

trembled in the wind and frost. Not a trace was

there left of its former beauty. The ornamented

pavilion and the whitened walls were but dust and

ashes. Stones, blackened with smoke, and broken

tiles lay heaped up in the vacated enclosure, while

the surrounding village was all in ruins. There were

no sounds of domestic life, no animals or birds.

Yang mourned over the transitory nature of life's

affairs, and how a happy agreement had ended

in desolation. He caught the willow branches in his

hands, and turning toward the evening sky sang

over the Willow Song that the maiden Chin See

had written. His tears fell and his heart was indescrib-

ably sad. There was no one from whom he could

inquire concerning the catastrophe, so he came back

to the inn and asked of the inn-master : " Can you

tell me what has become of the family of Commis-

sioner Chin ? "

The inn-master twisted a wry face, saying : " Has

not your Excellency heard what became of them }

The Commissioner, it seems, went up to the capital

on official business while his daughter and servants

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

remained at home. It turned out later, after peace

was restored, that Chin had been in league with the

rebels, and so he was arrested and beheaded. The

daughter was taken to the capital. Some say that

she too was condemned ; some that she had be-

come a yamen slave, and only this morning, seeing

a crowd of prisoners passing the door, I asked who

they were and where they were going, and was told

that they were slaves bound for Yong-nam, and

someone added that among them was Chin See, the

Commissioner's daughter."

Yang heard this, and was again cut deep with

sorrow. He remarked : " The master of the South

Hill said that marriage with Chin See would be like

groping blindly in the night. She is dead, I suppose,

and there will be no longer any possibility of in-

quiry." So he packed up his baggage and started for

his native province.

During this time, Yoo See, his mother, had heard

of the war and of the attack made on the capital,

and fearing lest her son should be in danger, she

called on God with all her heart, and prayed till her

face grew thin and her form poor and emaciated. It

seemed as though she could not physically long

endure it. Beholding her son return safe and sound,

she clasped him to her bosom, and wept as for one

who had been dead and come to life again, so trans-

ported was she with joy.

In their talks together the fading year departed.

Winter went its way and the spring came round,

and Yang once again made preparation for departure

to attend the examination.

Yoo See said : " Last year you experienced all

A Glimpse of Chin See

sorts of danger on your way, so that my soul still

trembles as I think of it. You are young yet, and

there is plenty of time for fame and fortune. Still I

must not forbid your going as your wish is mine

also. This Soojoo county is too narrow and isolated

for a scholar's world. No one here is socially your

equal, or with ability or bringing-up sufficient for

your companionship. You are now eighteen, and it

is high time that you decide lest you lose life's fairest

opportunity. In the Taoist Kwan (Temple) of the

capital I have a cousin, the priestess Too-ryon. She

has been a guide to the world of the fairy for many

a year, and yet she is still alive. Her appearance is

commanding and her wisdom very great, I am told.

She is acquainted with all the noted families, too,

and the nobility. If you give her a letter from me she

will treat you like a son, and will certainly assist you

in your selection of a helpmeet. Bear this in mind,"

said she, and wrote the letter.

So-yoo, hearing what his mother had said, told

of his meeting with Chin See of Wha-eum, and at

once his face clouded over with sorrow. Yoo See

sighed and said : " Even though Chin See was so

beautiful she was evidently not destined for you.

It is unlikely that a child of such confasion and

disaster could live. Even though she be not dead, it

would be very difficult to find her. Leave off vain

thoughts of her, I pray, and seek a wife elsewhere.

Comfort your mother and do as she desires."

The young man bade her farewell and started on

his way. He reached Nakyang[ii], and a sudden

storm of rain overtaking him, he made his escape

into a wine shop that stood outside the South Gate,

The Cloud Dream of the Nine

where he purchased a drink. He inquired of the

master, saying : " This is fairly good wine, but

have you no better ? "

The host said : "I have none other than this. If

you desire the best, however, you will find it sold at

the inn at the head of the Chon-jin Bridge. It

is called ' Nakyang Springtime.' One measure of

it costs a thousand cash. The flavour is very good

indeed, but the price is high."

Yang thought for a moment and said : " Nakyang

has been the home of the Emperor since ancient

time, a very busy and splendid city, such as the

world looks on as supreme. I went last year by another

road and so did not see its sights. I shall stop this

time to look through it."