What do you think?
Rate this book
Korean Folk Tales
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1913
72 people are currently reading
767 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 21, 2017
اغلب القصص متشابهه
جن وأساطير ملوك وأمراء
تمنيت يكون افضل من كذا
قصة
الحواس . من صاحب القرار الملك ام الله
احلى قصتين عجبتني
بعضها فيها رمزيات ما فهمتها .
خفيف الكتاب ممكن تخلصه بجلسه وحده . بس اعتبره مضيعة للوقت .
جن وأساطير ملوك وأمراء
تمنيت يكون افضل من كذا
قصة
الحواس . من صاحب القرار الملك ام الله
احلى قصتين عجبتني
بعضها فيها رمزيات ما فهمتها .
خفيف الكتاب ممكن تخلصه بجلسه وحده . بس اعتبره مضيعة للوقت .
August 28, 2022
İlk hikayeyi çok beğensem de diğer hikayeler bana çok kısa ve anlamsız geldi. İyi davranışların karşılığı olarak "doğaüstü" bir varlık tarafından zenginlik ve sağlık bahşedilmesi olayının çok sık tekrar ettiğini fark ettim. Kültürel bir öge olduğunu düşündüğümden hoşuma gitti.
January 30, 2022
Muy contenta con este compendio de historias relacionadas con la mitología y cultura de Corea.
Varias historias son semejantes a un libro del mismo estilo que ya leí anteriormente e iba sobre algunas historias y mitos de China.
Resulta muy entretenido, sobre todo si te gusta conocer más este tipo de leyendas.
Varias historias son semejantes a un libro del mismo estilo que ya leí anteriormente e iba sobre algunas historias y mitos de China.
Resulta muy entretenido, sobre todo si te gusta conocer más este tipo de leyendas.
Read
November 7, 2017لطيف
June 29, 2016
نجمة وحدة و يالا
ممل ممل ممل
ممل ممل ممل
June 8, 2020
It did not deserve to read
December 21, 2024
Korean Folk Tales de Im Bang este un volum pe care-l aveam demult pe listă, și sincer, am fost un pic dezamăgită că nu a fost tocmai la ce m-am așteptat. Majoritatea povestirilor, chiar dacă ating tema spiritelor și a creaturilor din folclorul coreean, se axează totuși pe niște personalități ale vremii, cum ar fi oameni politici din 1600 sau diferiți învățați. Nu știu dacă asta e, de fapt, esența folclorului coreean, sau doar e un volum unde accentul e pus pe istorie, și nu pe partea magică a trecutului acestui popor.
March 5, 2017
Early 20th century translations of 53 medieval tales that we would now classify as folk tales. 13 were original recorded by someone the author names as Yi Ryuk and indicates would have been born about 1440. (The 1564 graduation date seems an error.) 37 are by Im Bang, born in 1640, and three are anonymous but of the same Mid-Joseon period.
Gale’s book seems to have played an important role in introducing Korean folk tales to the English speaking world and has come to represent a kind of canon of such tales. Most stories that you will encounter in more recent collections, including both for general readers and for children, are to be found in the collection, along with other stories that are not so much folk tales as tales of unusual events, generally accompanied by a moralizing conclusions, that are well represented in Chinese and Japanese as well as Korean Medieval literature and belong to a common tradition.
(BTW the contexts of Gale’s book are long out of copyright and have been published many times, both in paper and electronically. The version I have is a print-on-demand item by Forgotten Books, ISBN 9781330139004. It has xi + 238 plus 6 unnumbered pages at the end and has been photographically reproduced from the original 1913 publication. I mention this because some versions seem to be significantly shorter and may omit some stories.)
Gale’s book seems to have played an important role in introducing Korean folk tales to the English speaking world and has come to represent a kind of canon of such tales. Most stories that you will encounter in more recent collections, including both for general readers and for children, are to be found in the collection, along with other stories that are not so much folk tales as tales of unusual events, generally accompanied by a moralizing conclusions, that are well represented in Chinese and Japanese as well as Korean Medieval literature and belong to a common tradition.
(BTW the contexts of Gale’s book are long out of copyright and have been published many times, both in paper and electronically. The version I have is a print-on-demand item by Forgotten Books, ISBN 9781330139004. It has xi + 238 plus 6 unnumbered pages at the end and has been photographically reproduced from the original 1913 publication. I mention this because some versions seem to be significantly shorter and may omit some stories.)
October 24, 2018
Un libro de historias coreanas del siglo XVI y XVII
Lo mas sorprendente es que los autores creen estas historias completamente.
En una historia un zorro se convierte en persona y el autor se pregunta cuales seran los mecanismos de tal conversion, pero nunca se plantea que quiza no ocurrio.
Tambien es sorprendente como en muchas historias no pasa nada significativo ni tienen ninguna moral o metafora. Alguien convierte seda en mariposas, las mariposas en seda, se lo enseña a su mujer, pero ella nunca se lo dijo a nadie. Fin.
Es interesante la cantidad de burocracia que habia en la epoca, a imagen y semejanza de China!
Lo mas sorprendente es que los autores creen estas historias completamente.
En una historia un zorro se convierte en persona y el autor se pregunta cuales seran los mecanismos de tal conversion, pero nunca se plantea que quiza no ocurrio.
Tambien es sorprendente como en muchas historias no pasa nada significativo ni tienen ninguna moral o metafora. Alguien convierte seda en mariposas, las mariposas en seda, se lo enseña a su mujer, pero ella nunca se lo dijo a nadie. Fin.
Es interesante la cantidad de burocracia que habia en la epoca, a imagen y semejanza de China!
August 19, 2023
4 stars
Many stories in this book might be considered lacking in length or depth.
Most of them do not take more than a few pages, the plot when it is there, is mostly glossed over. As a reader you don't get to learn much about the characters, sometimes they don't even get names. However one might argue that is not the point.
The stories in this book have a distinct tone and background. Even though you don't get to learn much about the characters or the plot is just bare bones, in the end it leaves you with a life lesson, an image or a chilling feeling.
Many stories in this book might be considered lacking in length or depth.
Most of them do not take more than a few pages, the plot when it is there, is mostly glossed over. As a reader you don't get to learn much about the characters, sometimes they don't even get names. However one might argue that is not the point.
The stories in this book have a distinct tone and background. Even though you don't get to learn much about the characters or the plot is just bare bones, in the end it leaves you with a life lesson, an image or a chilling feeling.
October 21, 2016
كنت متحمسة نوعا ما بما أن اهتمامي بكوريا يكبر كل يوم .. لأكتشف أن الترجمة تمت عبر لغة وسيطة هي الانجليزية .. الروح الكورية للقصص تبخرت مثلا حين قرأت كلمة غيشا ..المعروف أن الغيشا التي تعني الفتاه المرافقة في الثقافة اليابانية ، ما يقابلها في الثقافة الكورية
هي كيسانغ
=/
هي كيسانغ
=/
December 19, 2021
يعرفنا هذا الكتاب على ادب القصة الكورية، حكايات شعبية يتناقلها الاجداد للأحفاد، مازال الكوريون يتناقلون هذه القصص الى اليوم.
18 قصة قصيرة في الكتاب، عن معاني اراد الكاتبين ايصالها، معاني النبل
والاحترام والصدق والأمانه والكثير منها.
الكتاب مصحوب بفهارس توضح للقارئ جانب من ثقافة المجتمع الكوري.
18 قصة قصيرة في الكتاب، عن معاني اراد الكاتبين ايصالها، معاني النبل
والاحترام والصدق والأمانه والكثير منها.
الكتاب مصحوب بفهارس توضح للقارئ جانب من ثقافة المجتمع الكوري.
January 4, 2023
Zápisky za hranicí uvěřitelného je drobná knížečka přinášející většinou velmi krátké příběhy ze staré Koreje, kterou si užijí maximálně hardcore fanoušci různých mýtů a legend či lidových vyprávění, nebo zapálení fanoušci Koreje. Pokud nejste ani jedno, Zápisky vám toho nemají moc co nabídnout.
Příběhy jsou velmi tezovité, stručné, s archetypálními jednorozměrnými postavami, s nekomplikovanými zápletkami postrádajícími napětí či jakékoliv hlubší poselství. U některých si stačí přečíst název, který bývá všeříkající (Jak tlumočník zabil hada na neobydleném ostrově a zbohatl, Zlostná manželka uřízla U Sangdžungovi vousy, Jak odporný démon rozšířil na hostině tyfus, Mladý konfucián vítězí u úřednických zkoušek atd.).
Jako bakalář z koreanistiky jsem si to čtení celkem užil, vrátilo mě do hezkých dob, kdy jsme na hodinách probírali korejskou historii a literaturu. Nezasvěcenému čtenáři, kterého by měl oslovit text samotný, Zápisky spíše zklamou. Klidně to zkuste a třeba vás to osloví, ale moc bych na to nesázel.
Příběhy jsou velmi tezovité, stručné, s archetypálními jednorozměrnými postavami, s nekomplikovanými zápletkami postrádajícími napětí či jakékoliv hlubší poselství. U některých si stačí přečíst název, který bývá všeříkající (Jak tlumočník zabil hada na neobydleném ostrově a zbohatl, Zlostná manželka uřízla U Sangdžungovi vousy, Jak odporný démon rozšířil na hostině tyfus, Mladý konfucián vítězí u úřednických zkoušek atd.).
Jako bakalář z koreanistiky jsem si to čtení celkem užil, vrátilo mě do hezkých dob, kdy jsme na hodinách probírali korejskou historii a literaturu. Nezasvěcenému čtenáři, kterého by měl oslovit text samotný, Zápisky spíše zklamou. Klidně to zkuste a třeba vás to osloví, ale moc bych na to nesázel.
February 13, 2021
The collection of stories contained in this book were interesting, but I can't say that I would have enjoyed reading them if I had never studied Korean history, Korean language or lived amongst Korean people in Korea. For the average reader without context I think the stories might be a little boring and/or confusing. It is long out of print so if you are still interested, you can find it for free on Project Gutenberg.
February 15, 2016
This was OK. I'm sure much of that is due to the translation; there was a lot that would clearly mean something to someone who understood Korean history and culture, but was not explained at all for non-Korean audiences. Still, there were some interesting stories.
On the other hand, this was published in 1913 or thereabouts, and the translator included commentary such as "Some think that love, strong, true, and self-sacrificing, is not to be found in the Orient; but the story of Charan, which comes down four hundred years and more, proves the contrary." A little hard not to wince at stuff like that.
On the other hand, this was published in 1913 or thereabouts, and the translator included commentary such as "Some think that love, strong, true, and self-sacrificing, is not to be found in the Orient; but the story of Charan, which comes down four hundred years and more, proves the contrary." A little hard not to wince at stuff like that.
February 19, 2016
Interesting stories, although some of them are very short and are more like small scenes of a bigger story, except that that bigger story is left untold. So the scene feels unfinished or a little 'useless' in some way.
Many stories carried the moral that good is rewarded and bad is punished, or as the Dutch say: "Who do good, meet good". Another reoccurring theme is the afterlife, hell and heaven and the rebirth or reappearing of animals. Witches (or mudang, female shamans) are mostly good in the tales! :) Whereas goblins are always bad news.
I read this for study and I enjoyed it just as much if I didn't have to read it. ^^
Many stories carried the moral that good is rewarded and bad is punished, or as the Dutch say: "Who do good, meet good". Another reoccurring theme is the afterlife, hell and heaven and the rebirth or reappearing of animals. Witches (or mudang, female shamans) are mostly good in the tales! :) Whereas goblins are always bad news.
I read this for study and I enjoyed it just as much if I didn't have to read it. ^^
September 7, 2021
It is probably unfair to rate this so low considering that I'm MOSTLY sure that the issues I had were with the translation, but my word was this a slog to get through.
There were some details that I just found that I didn't care about or understand why they were included -- matriculation dates come to mind -- and it just seemed odd that there was so much historical context while a number of the tales went: "And then he spoke to so-and-so and was told to go to such-and-such a place, where he then spoke to so-and-so."
There were some details that I just found that I didn't care about or understand why they were included -- matriculation dates come to mind -- and it just seemed odd that there was so much historical context while a number of the tales went: "And then he spoke to so-and-so and was told to go to such-and-such a place, where he then spoke to so-and-so."
October 29, 2024
قصص قصيرة عن المعتقدات المنتشرة في #كوريا قديماً والتي تدور أغلب أساطيرهم حول الأرواح والجن والأشباح والعوالم الأخرى .
الكتاب خفيف ، الترجمة لا بأس بها ، هناك بعض القصص كانت مشوقة وأحببت أن أعرف عنها الكثير ولكنها كانت مختصرة ، أحب أن اقرأ عن الأساطير والحضارات فهو كنز ممتع جداً .
اقتباسات :
" لا يشعر المرء بالحياة أبداً مثل شعوره بها لما يكون على حافة الموت ."
" لماذا نصادف آلاف الأشخاص ، لكننا لا نلتفت إلا لشخص واحد ؟ "
الكتاب خفيف ، الترجمة لا بأس بها ، هناك بعض القصص كانت مشوقة وأحببت أن أعرف عنها الكثير ولكنها كانت مختصرة ، أحب أن اقرأ عن الأساطير والحضارات فهو كنز ممتع جداً .
اقتباسات :
" لا يشعر المرء بالحياة أبداً مثل شعوره بها لما يكون على حافة الموت ."
" لماذا نصادف آلاف الأشخاص ، لكننا لا نلتفت إلا لشخص واحد ؟ "
September 23, 2022
حكايات شعبية من كوريا على نهج ألف ليلة وليلة، جمعت ونشرت بهدف إظهار ما لم يظهر من أدب الإنسانية بعد سطوة الأدب الغربي، فنشرت هذه السلسلة للحكايات الشعبية مستوحاة من أكثر من دولة، كوريا تركيا والفلبين والصين وغيرها كثير.
لكنها خيبت ظني مرتان، الأولى لأجل الترجمة إذ كان بإمكانها أن تكون أفضل، والثانية لأجل قصص المجموعة إذ لا أجد ما أقوله عنها سوى أنها عادية وأغلبها غير هادف.
لكنها خيبت ظني مرتان، الأولى لأجل الترجمة إذ كان بإمكانها أن تكون أفضل، والثانية لأجل قصص المجموعة إذ لا أجد ما أقوله عنها سوى أنها عادية وأغلبها غير هادف.
February 6, 2017
قصص الاشباح والعوالم الاخري دائما ممتعة ، ويبدو ان التراث الكوري عامر بها ، ولسبب ما تبدو بعض القصص هنا وفي الجزء الاول من الكتاب ( مينج المشهور ) مألوفة ومشابهة لبعض القصص في التراث الاسلامي ، كوصف النار ، وقصة الشخص الضخم علي الجزيرة المعزولة
October 27, 2015
قصص قصيرة عن معتقدات وافكار الناس قديما
القصص جيدة لكن بعضها لم تكن واضحه بالنسبة لي لقصرها
القصص جيدة لكن بعضها لم تكن واضحه بالنسبة لي لقصرها
May 4, 2016
Some stories seemed unfinished and others couldn't really see their point; at times I thought maybe the translation wasn't accurate, misinterpreted. other than that I managed to finish it.
May 3, 2019
عجبتني سجين الصندوق.
March 28, 2023
Zábavné příběhy na hranici anekdoty, které dráždí svou fantastikou v jinak reálném prostředí korejského středověku/novověku. Závidím autorovi, že si něčím takovým dokázal krátit dlouhé chvíle.
Read
December 23, 2022Reading this as a European who is almost totally ignorant of Korean history and cultural traditions, it is a fascinating survey of the mystical (goblins), religious (priests), warfaring (long-ago wars against Japan and China), and social (strong ladder of academic and political power, role of women as e.g. being given in marriage by their families) past and ideas of Koreans, before Christianization took over as much as it has.
The stories go far back, referring to events that happened to rulers, politicians, peasants, etc. in the 17th century or earlier. They are barely mappable to the constructs of 'medieval' or 'Baroque' that I'd otherwise be tempted to superimpose based on history elsewhere in the world.
The fairy tales have a hard, realistic edge that makes them far from escapist: beleaguered old age, sickness, violence, revenge, rape, torture, etc. fill the pages.
The stories go far back, referring to events that happened to rulers, politicians, peasants, etc. in the 17th century or earlier. They are barely mappable to the constructs of 'medieval' or 'Baroque' that I'd otherwise be tempted to superimpose based on history elsewhere in the world.
The fairy tales have a hard, realistic edge that makes them far from escapist: beleaguered old age, sickness, violence, revenge, rape, torture, etc. fill the pages.
November 5, 2024
Quizás porque se ha perdido mucho en la traducción coreano->inglés->castellano, o quizás porque los coreanos del siglo XVI se asustaban con nada, lo cierto es que esta colección de relatos del folklore de Corea se lee sosa. Los relatos son una repetición de patrones y los personajes (generalmente eruditos o funcionarios) son de cartón. Por su parte, la moraleja está ausente la mayoría de las veces. Aunque esta edición incluye un prólogo y un breve contexto, habría sido interesante conocer un poco más acerca de cómo se recogieron estos relatos, de dónde exactamente provenían, cuál es su tratamiento a día de hoy, etc. La verdad es que, tras haber leído dos o tres historias, uno entra en polito automático y se alegra de que sean cortas en extensión. Esta es una obra a intercalar con alguna otra novela más interesante que tengas entre manos.
August 4, 2018
ما وجدته مميزا هنا هو تضمن القصص على اسماء شخصيات حقيقية من ملوك واصحاب مناصب عاشت فعلا في كوريا ولعل هذا يعود الى ان الكتاب الاصليين للقصص كانو اشخاص عاشو قريبا من تلك العصور القديمة على خلاف بعض القصص الشعبية التي جمعت في وقت متاخر كثيرا
هناك قصص عديدة عن الارواح ولكن لاحظت انها اقل من تلك الموجودة في نظيرتها اليابانية
يبقى الكتاب ممتع وسهل
هناك قصص عديدة عن الارواح ولكن لاحظت انها اقل من تلك الموجودة في نظيرتها اليابانية
يبقى الكتاب ممتع وسهل
November 16, 2021
Este libro es perfecto, si quieren conocer la Corea antigua desde el punto de vista en leyendas y mitológico lo recomiendo al 100%. Narrado desde diferentes épocas, desde antes y después de las 3 coreas. No apto para la gente sensible ya que igual tiene historias fuertes (violencia). Lean las advertencias.
Read
June 13, 2021I really enjoyed these folk tales; however, I wish that I personally had more background knowledge so I could further understand their importance and relevance. As a result, I decided to not rate this book because I do not feel that I can do so in a just manner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews