KOREA: FACT AND FANCY BEING A REPUBLICATION OF TWO BOOKvS ENTITLED “KOREAN TALES” AND “A CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX” BY Dr. HORACE N. ALLEN LIBRARY OF PRINCETON DEC 1 1 2007 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE SEOUL, KOREA 1904 PUBLISHERS' NOTE. The first part of this volume was published by Dr. Horace N. Allen, in New York, 1889, while he was Secre- tary of the Korean Legation in Washington, under the title of “Korean Tales.” As the book has long been out of print and there seems to be quite a demand for it, we have induced Dr. Allen to allow us to republish it with footnotes bringing certain facts down to date. The last portion of the volume was published by Dr. Allen, for private distribution, in Seoul in 1901 and 1903. There are so many calls for this useful work of reference that we have prevailed upon Dr. Allen to allow us to publish it in the interests of the public. The two books “Korean Tales” and “A Chronological Index” now appear as one volume under the title of “Korea: Fact and Fancy.” Methodist Publishing House, Seoul, Korea, 1904. — CONTENTS. PAGK I. —Introductory 9 The Country, People, and Government. II. —Descriptive 17 Sights in and about the Capital. III. —The Rabbit and other Legends 27 Stories of Birds and Animals. IV.—The Enchanted Wine Jug 35 Or, Why the Cat and Dog are Enemies. V.—Ching Yuh and Kyain Oo 46 The Trials of Two Heavenlj- Lovers. VI. Hyung Bo and Nahl Bo 68 Or, The Swallow- King’s Rewards. VII.—Chun Yang 85 The Faithful Dancing-Girl Wife. VIII.—Sim Chung 109 The Dutiful Daughter. IX.—Hong Kil Tong 121 Or, The Adventures of an Abused Roy, CHRONOLOGiCAL INDEX. Preface to First Edition, - - 141 4 Part I, Pages 145-156.—From the beginning of the Christian Era to the year of the first independent treat3\ 1876. Part II. Pages 157-238.—From the first treat^^ to the .signing of Protoeol with Feb. 1904. Japan, 23, Pages 237-238 give a list of Decorative Honors. Part III. Pages 239-240.—A complete list of Korean Treaties and Agreements. Part IV. Pages 241-259.—Lists of the Foreign Consular and Diplomatic officials in Korea, from the first estab- lishment of Legations and t Consulates. Part V. Pages 260-264.—A list of the Chiefs of the Korean Foreign Office since the establishment of the lat- ter, with a list of Korean Diplomatic Services. Part YI. Pages 265-267.—A list of the Commissioners of Customs of the Korean service. Also a list of the Decorations conferred upon the Emperor of Korea and his officials. Part VII. Pages 268-271.—List of Books on Korea. Alphabetical Index, - - - 272-285 P INTRODUCTORY. Korea, Corea, or Chosen (morning- ealm) occnpies the peninsula hanging down from Manchuria and Rus- sian Siberia between China and Japan, and extending from the 33d to the 43d parallels of north latitude. The area, including the outhnng islands, is abovit one hundred thousand square miles. The ]3opulation, ac- cording to the most reliable estimate, is a little more than sixteen millions. Yet, as the people live in cities, towns, and hamlets, the countiw does not seem to l)e thickly settled. The climate varies much at the extremities of the pen- insula, owing to the fact that the southern portion is somewhat affected by the warm southern currents that give Japan its tropical climate, but which are warded oft from Korea proper by the Japanese islands. The climate of the central and northern provinces is much the same as that of the northern central United States, with fewer changes. The large river at the capital is not uncom- monh" frozen over for weeks at a time during the winter, so that heavy carts pass over on the ice. Ice is alwa3's preserved for general use in summer. The country is decidedh' mountainous, and well watered. HeavA" timber abounds in the northeast. The valler's are ver\' fertile and are well tilled, as the people are mainh' devoted to agriculture. NoTK— opulation. Better information has modified this estimate. Korea probably has no more than eif^ht million inhabitants. 10 KOREA : FACT AND FANCY. The mineral resources have onh' been developed in a crude war', r'et sufficiently to demonstrate the great wealth of the ore deposits. Especialh' is this true in reference to the gold mines. The most pessimistic visitors to Korea are unstinted in their praise of the beautiful sceneiw, which is fulU' ap- preciated b\' the natives as well. From ancient times the\' have had g'uide-books setting forth the natural charms of particular localities and excursions to distant ; places for the sole purpose of enjoying the views are a common occurrence. The King rules as absolute monarch. He is assisted 1w the Prime- Minister and his two associates—the minis- ters of the Left and Right. Next to these come the heads ot the six departments of Eticpiette and Ceremonies, Finance, War, Public Works, Justice, and Registration, with the heads of the two new departments that have been added as the result of the opening up of foreign inter- course—the Foreign (or outside) Office, and the Home (or interior) Office. This bod\' of officials forms the grand council of the King. Each of the eight provinces is ruled Iw a governor, who has under him prefects, local magistrates, super- visors of hamlets, and pett3' officials, so that the whole scale makes a ver\' complete s^'stem and affords no lack of officials. Note — Mineral resources. There are —now (1904) two prosperous milling enterprises in progress in Korea 'I'he American and British concessions, while the Germans, French, Japanese and Russians also have concessions. The American mines are operated on a large scale, running some 240 stamps with a ci'anide plant, and eiiiploj’ing some So western foreigners, 250 Japanese, and hundreds of Chinese and Koreans. The King assumed the title of Emperor in 1^97. The Registration Department does not now exist and the influential Department of the Household has been created. The Council of State took the place of the Cabinet in 1S96. The provinces have been divided so that there are now thirteen instead of eight. N ; INTRODUCTORY. 11 There are several special officers appointed In' the King, one of whom is the government inspector, whose duty it is to go about in disguise, learn the condition of the people, and ascertain if any magistrate abuses his office and oppresses the people unjustly. Any such he may bring to speedy justice. The present Dynastj' has existed 498 years. Being founded by a revolting general named Ye, it is known as the Ye Dynast}'. The King’s name, however, is never used. He is almost sacred to his people. Those officials of sufficietly high rank to go in before him bow to the ground in his presence, and only speak when spoken to then the}^ use a highly honorific language only under- stood at court. The revenues are paid in kind, hence the annual in- come of an official may consist of a certain quantity of rice, and other products, in addition to his mone}' com- pensation. The King, also, has the whole revenue re- sulting from the sale of the ginseng, for which the country is noted. This forms his private purse. The currency is the common copper cash, worth some twelve hundred to the Alexican dollar though now that ; the new mint is in operation, copper, silver, and gold coins are being made. The old perforated cash will, how- ever, be hard to supplant, owing to its convenience in small transactions. Banks proper do not exist; though the government does a kind of banking business in granting orders on various provincial offices, so that a travelling official need not be burdened with much ready mone}'. A number of large brokers at the capital assist in the goveniment financial transactions. All unoccupied land belongs to the King, but any man ma}' take up a homestead, and, after tilling it and paying taxes on it for a period of three years, it becomes his own, and must be purchased should the government need it. Noth— ickel five cent piece.s have largely taken the place of the Copper "cash.” 12 KOREA : FACT AXI) FANCY. Deeds are given in the form of receipts and quit-claims by the seller. These may be registered with the local magistrate. Wills, as understood in western countries, are not executed though a father wishing to provide ; especially for the children of his concubines may make a will, or statement, the proper execution of which devolves iipon the eldest son. Records of the births of males are kept, as are also I'e- eords of death, but these are not always reliable. All males of fifteen years of age are registered fit the Hang Sung Poo, or Department of Registration, which issues to them tablets bearing their name and address. Child- ren are also generally provided with these tablets, to pi'e- vent their getting lost. The people are well built and strong, as a rule. The}' are a loyal, contented race, not grasping, and rather too easy in disposition. They are intelligent and learn with great ease. Possessed of many characteristics in com- mon with their neighbors, the Chinese and Japanese, they yet seem to have a personality indicative of a different parentage, which continually calls forth inquiiw as to their origin. In some slight degree they resemlile the al)origines of America, and it is believed that their ances- tors came from the north : —the cpiestion opens up a fertile field for study.