The Chunhyang Story

THE TALE OF CHUNYHANG

NARRATOR: In the Namwon town of Honan Province, lived a handsome, righteous and the only
son of the governor. One day, Yi Mong Yong asked Pangja where he should go sightseeing.
Pangja told him about the Ojak Bridge and Young Lee got interested to it. While Young Lee is
enjoying the peaceful and beautiful view, he saw a girl with an angelic face.

Yi Mong Yong: Hey Pangja, who’s that girl?

Pangja: Hmmm are you interested to her Master?

Yi Mong Yong: You’re silly.

Pangja: HAHAHAHA oh, it’s Chunyhang, daughter of a courtesan.

Yi Mong Yong: Daughter of a courtesan she is. Go and tell her to come to me.

Pangja: Yes Master.

NARRATOR: Pangja obeyed his master’s command. He walked, ran, and even jumped. He
picked twigs and branches of trees. He even sang song. Finally, he arrived to where Chunyhang
is.

Pangja: Chunyhangggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maid: Hey! You almost kill her!

Pangja: Chunyhang, the governor’s son, Yi Mong Yong, wants you to go to him.

Chunyhang: And why is that so?

Pangja: Well, I think he is already falling for you.

Chunhyang: Well, if that’s the case, then I don’t want to.

NARRATOR: Chunyhang said a proverb, but Pangja didn’t understand it. Chunyhang and her
maid went back home while Pangja went back to his Master.

Pangja: Master Lee! Master Lee! Chunyhang doesn’t want to come. She stated a proverb but I
don’t understand it. Tree? Or a swan? Hehe sorry Master.

Yi Mong Yong: HAHAHA Oh, then she wants me to come to her!

Pangja: Right now?!

Yi Mong Yong: My father only permitted half a day, so let’s go!

NARRATOR: Yi Mong Yong and Pangja, went to Chunyhang’s house. Wolmae, Chunyanhg’s
mother got shocked because the Governor’s son visited them. Yi Mong Yong, asked Wolmae
and Chunyhang that he wants to marry Chunyhang.

Wolmae: But how come a noble man, marry a low-class woman like Chunyhang?

Yi Mong Yong: I like her. I don’t care about our classes. I love her, and that’s what all matters.

Wolmae: I can give you my approval, but it's not my decision. Ch'unyang, what do you think?

Chunyang: Since Master Lee is so insistent, does a lowly girl have a choice? But since the
future is unforeseeable, please vow your eternal love for me.

Mongyong: The sun and moon will never change. My love for you will never change like the sun
and the moon.

Wolmae: His name means 'dream' and 'dragon', It's amazing that my dream is happening to
reality. I had a dream of a blue dragon submerged in a pond full of flowers. That has brought
this wonderful event.

NARRATOR: Then the ceremonial of the secret wedding has begun. Yi Mong Yong signed
Chunyhang’s skirt that symbolizes their marriage. After that night, Yi Mong Yong’s father have
known whathappened. So, Yi Mong Yong, will be sent to Seoul for the exams. Yi Mong Yong
went to Chunyhang to say his goodbye.

Yi Mong Yong: I’m going to Seoul for the exams.

Chunhyang: Do you have to leave me here?

Yi Mong Yong: I promise, I will come back for you my love.

Chunhyang: No, Yi Mong Yong, don’t leave me!

NARRATOR: Then Yi Mong Yong’s journey to Seoul has begun. After how many months, the
new governor has arrived. He called all the courtesans including Chunyhang because he heard
about Chunyhang’s beauty.

Governor: Is it true that you are married to the ex-governor’s son?

Chunhyang: Yes master.

Governor: Then how come he did not take you to Seoul? Listen Chunyhang, you need someone
that will love you and will never leave you.

Chunhyang: No master, I can’t have two husbands.

Governor: But you’ll marry me! If you’ll no obey my command, then I will punish you to death!

Chunhyang: Just kill me if you want! But I will always be faithful to my husband!

Governor: You, Pangja, go get her!

NARRATOR: Then the Pangja’s tied Chunyhang’s hands. Put her to the death chair, in front of
all the people of Namwon. An official grabbed a hard wood. And slapped Chunyhang several
times. Poor Chunyhang screamed and cried so hard, but she is ready to sacrifice her life just
for her love to her husband. The courtesans, including her mother Wolmae, gave Chunyhang
some medicine, gave her water to drink and even sang and said prayers for her. After that,
Chunyhang was put into the prison cell. Meanwhile in Seoul, after how many moths of hard
works and reviews, the examination day has finally come. Several hour have passed, and Yi
Mong Yong got the highest score among all the examinees. He has been awarded as a
Magistrate. He went back to the town of Namwon. He went to Chunyhang’s house. He explored
many towns and wide roads, and be finally antives at Yeonsan Town, the assigned his
descendants to different towns.

How long has it been since heartbreak? When the sun is about to set, he arrives in front of
Ch'unyang's home. He sees Ch'unyang's unyang's mother.

Yi Mong Yong: Anyone home?

Hyangdan: May help you?

Yi Mong Yong: Tell your madam to come out

Hyangdan: Someone is looking for you, Madam. He lookes like a beggar asking for food.

Wolmae: We have nothing here!

Yi Mong Yong: I've arrived. Its Lee Mongyong from Samcheong, Seoul

Wolmae: This can't be. Look at the son of the ex-governur, in a beggar's clothes!

Yi Mong Yong: Take me to Chunyang. She's dying because of me. How can leave without seeing
her?

Yi Mong Yong: Lets go

Hyangdan: You can't go on. The new governor is strict. When the last bell strikes you'll see her
again

Wolmae Prison keeper: Let us in, please

Keeper: its you again. We can't let anyone in until the governor's birthday tomorrow. The
command is very strict, so please leave

Wolmae Don't be stubborn. Take this okay

Wolnae: Wake my dear daughter here

Chunyang :What are you talking about Mother

Yi Mong Yong :Chunyang's it's me. What happened to you

Chanyang: Oh my dear husband, what took you so long Tomorrow at the new governor
birthday feast, I’ll be executed. Don't let anyone touch me besides you. Please, to this for me so
I can rest in peace.
On the next day, the day is bright. The birthday feast takes place at the Kwanghanru Pavilion.
It's a spectacular sight. Crowded with courtesans, musicians, performers, and passerby.

Hakdo: Thank you for sparing your busy time to come today.

Magistrate 1: Why do you think there's so many people outside? Looks like all beggars around
the provinces have come.

Guard 1: Watch where you're going to! You can't go in.

Yi Mong Yong: Step aside, I'm a nobleman too.

Guard 2: Stop! You can't enter unless you have an invitation.

Yi Mong Yong: Let go of me

Hakdo: What's that noise all about?

Guard 2: A nobleman who looks like a beggar insists we let him in.

magistrate: Your Majesty. Although they're outworn, he wears the clothes of a noble. Just sit
him in the comer and send him away after a drink.

Yi Mong Yong: I am obliged to you for giving me good food, and I wish to repay you with a little
poem,

NARRATOR: Yi Mong Yong play the poem Look at the emissary, He runs out the terrace and
flicks open his fan. Hidden in the crowd, the envoy sees the signal and storms out of the crowd.

Yi Mong Yong: In the King's name, you're all under arrest!

Yi Mong Yong: Namwon has the richest rice supply in South and is the basis of the country,
but you stole from the people and made them impoverished.

Yi Mong Yong: Divide what they stole from the poor and give it back to them. Release all the
innocent people in jail. I heard a courtesan's daughter disobeyed the governor. Bring that
Chunyang to me!

Servant 1: Sure, Your Highness.

Yi Mong Yong: How dare you to disobey the governor! How do you expect that you'll live? I
heard you refused him, but will you refuse me also?

Chunyang: I thought the king sent the Royal Emissary to take cared people's pain, but you're
just like the governor and other ca Stop this nonsense and just kill me

Yi Mong Yong :Give this to Chunyang and tell her to took up to me

Courtesan. He wants you to see this

NARRATOR: The ne magistrate was then banished to a far away and without meat, without
wine, and without company. When all this was done, Yi Mong Yong took his bride back to
Seoul and wrote out the story Chunhyang as an appendix to his official report. The King read
and was surprised to find such fidelity in a country girl of low birth the made her chung-yol pu
in Duchess, and declared that her loyalty was proof that the was just as good as anyyangban
daughter, even though her mother was a lowly kisaeng, and that her conduct should be a
model for all women. Chuninyang mas them officially presented to the parents of Las Yi Mong
Yong, and they doorged her as a proper laughter islam in time, Chunhyang bare three sons
and two daughters and they lived happily for many years come.