The Tale of Shunko

A classic Korean novel. A novelization of a beloved sung tale as pansori, set in the early 18th century. The son of the magistrate of Namwon, Jeolla Province, Ri Mongryong (Ri Mongryong) is in a relationship with Chunhyang, a retired courtesan, with whom he pledges his eternal fervor, but their relationship is torn apart when his father is transferred. His successor, magistrate Byeon Hakdo, tries to make Chunhyang his own, but Chunhyang refuses, protecting her chastity, and is tortured, putting his life in danger. Meanwhile, Mongryong passes the civil service examination in the capital, becomes a secret royal prosecutor (a secret prosecutor with a special order from the king) and travels to Namwon, where he punishes the magistrate and rescues Chunhyang from prison. The two become a happy couple. Chunhyang's image as a chaste woman who refuses to bow to power was acclaimed by both the ruling class, who adhered to Confucian ethics, and the common people, who lamented the tyranny of officials, and became a representative Korean classic. The origin of this story can be traced back to various tales, and "The Story of Chunhyang" can be said to be a synthesis of them. This is also the secret of its popularity, but it has also led to the creation of numerous variant versions (such as "The Song of the Fierce Woman Chunhyang" and "The Records of Gwanghanlo"), and there are said to be as many as 90 versions, including those in classical Chinese.

[Akira Tanaka]

"The Story of Chunhyang (translated by Xu Nam-ki) (Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

朝鮮の古典小説。パンソリとして愛唱されていた説話を18世紀初め小説化したもの。全羅道南原府使の息子李夢竜(りぼうりょう)は、退妓の娘春香と二世を契る仲となるが、父の転任で仲を裂かれる。後任の府使卞(べん)学道は春香をわがものにしようと迫るが、春香は操を守って拒み続けたため、拷問を受け命も危うい。一方、夢竜は都で科挙に及第、暗行御史（王の特命を受けた隠密検察官）となって南原に赴き、府使を懲らしめて春香を牢から救い出す。2人は幸せな夫婦となる。権力に屈せぬ貞女というこの春香像は、儒教倫理の固守者である支配層からも、官の横暴を嘆く庶民からも喝采(かっさい)を博し、朝鮮の代表的古典となった。この物語の原型としてはさまざまな説話がたどられ、『春香伝』はそれらを総合したものといえる。人気の秘密はここにもあるが、このことは数多くの異本を生み（『烈女春香守節歌』『広寒楼記』など）、漢文体も含めて約90種に上るという。

［田中　明］

『許南麒訳『春香伝』（岩波文庫）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例