Classic fictionB1

구운몽: 하북으로 간 사신

The Cloud Dream of the Nine: The Envoy to Hebei

Kim Man-jung (1637–1692)

2 min read

Tap a word to translate it. Select text to highlight it or add it to your study plan.

그 무렵 하북의 세 나라가 황제의 명을 따르지 않고 스스로 왕이라 부르며 반란을 일으켰어요.신하들은 군대를 보내야 한다고 했지만, 소유는 먼저 글로 타일러 보자고 말했어요.황제는 소유를 사신으로 보냈고, 소유는 황제의 편지를 들고 하북으로 떠났어요.

소유가 쓴 글은 조리가 있고 위엄이 넘쳐서, 세 나라의 왕들은 글을 읽고 모두 무릎을 꿇었어요.왕들은 다시는 반란을 일으키지 않겠다고 맹세하며 황제에게 많은 선물을 바쳤어요.칼 한 번 쓰지 않고 난리를 가라앉힌 소유의 이름은 온 나라에 널리 퍼졌어요.

도읍으로 돌아오는 길에, 얼굴이 고운 소년 하나가 소유를 따라가겠다고 청했어요.소년은 말을 잘 타고 시도 잘 지어서, 소유는 소년을 곁에 두고 함께 길을 갔어요.낙양에 이르자 소유는 계섬월을 다시 만났고, 섬월은 눈물을 흘리며 기뻐했어요.

그날 밤, 섬월과 함께 있던 소유는 소년이 조용히 방으로 들어오는 것을 보았어요.등불 아래에서 보니, 소년은 사실 남장을 한 여인이었어요.“저는 섬월의 친구 적경홍이에요. 연나라 왕의 궁에 갇혀 지내다가, 나리를 따라가려고 남자 옷을 입고 도망쳐 나왔어요.”

섬월은 웃으며, 두 사람이 어릴 때 평생 한 사람을 함께 모시자고 약속했다고 말했어요.소유는 두 여인의 우정과 용기에 크게 감동했어요.소유는 두 사람을 도읍으로 데려가기로 하고, 황제에게 돌아가 사신의 일을 보고했어요.

황제는 크게 기뻐하며 소유에게 높은 벼슬을 내렸어요.이렇게 소유는 전생의 인연을 하나씩 다시 만나고 있었지만, 여전히 그 사실을 알지 못했어요.

Full translationTry the story first — open this only to check your understanding.

Around that time, three kingdoms in Hebei rose in rebellion, refusing the emperor's orders and calling their rulers kings. The ministers said an army must be sent, but Soyu said they should first try to reason with them in writing. The emperor sent Soyu as his envoy, and Soyu set off for Hebei carrying the emperor's letter.

Soyu's words were so reasonable and so full of authority that the three kings read them and all knelt down. The kings swore never to rebel again and sent the emperor many gifts. Soyu had ended the uprising without once drawing a sword, and his name spread across the whole country.

On the way back to the capital, a fine-featured boy asked to travel with Soyu. The boy rode well and wrote good poems, so Soyu kept him at his side as they travelled. When they reached Luoyang, Soyu met Gye Seomwol again, and she wept for joy.

That night, while Soyu was with Seomwol, he saw the boy quietly come into the room. In the lamplight he saw that the boy was really a woman dressed as a man. "I am Seomwol's friend, Jeok Gyeonghong. I was shut away in the palace of the King of Yan, and I put on men's clothes and ran away so that I could follow you, my lord."

Seomwol laughed and explained that when they were young, the two of them had promised to serve the same man all their lives. Soyu was deeply moved by the two women's friendship and courage. He decided to take them both to the capital, and went back to report to the emperor on his mission.

The emperor was overjoyed and gave Soyu a high post. And so, one by one, Soyu was meeting again the people bound to him from his former life, though he still had no idea of it.

Comprehension Check

1. How did Soyu end the rebellion in Hebei?

2. Who was the boy who followed Soyu really?

3. What had Seomwol and Gyeonghong promised each other when they were young?

Vocabulary

1 / 5Tap to flip

noun

사신

sasin

envoy, royal messenger

황제는 소유를 사신으로 보냈어요.

The emperor sent Soyu as his envoy.

Your Summary

In 1–2 sentences, say how Soyu ended the rebellion in Hebei, and who the boy who followed him really was.

Source: Based on Guunmong (구운몽, The Cloud Dream of the Nine), the classic Korean novel Kim Man-jung wrote around 1687, long in the public domain; James Scarth Gale's 1922 English translation (also public domain) was consulted. Part 7 retells Yang Soyu's mission as envoy to the rebel kingdoms of Hebei, his return to Luoyang, and Jeok Gyeonghong, who follows him disguised as a boy. This simplified retelling in modern Korean and its English translation are original text written for SeoJae Story.

In this book

About this book →

구운몽 · 0 of 11 read

Up next · Part 8 of 11

옥퉁소와 학의 춤

The Jade Flute and the Dancing Cranes · 2 min read

Read the next part

Read this with your book club

Share this chapter with your book club and discuss it together.