Greenroom

The Tale of Yu Chungnyeol

Anonymous, 1850 · Original title: 유충렬전

Yu Sim, a loyal official of the Ming court, and his wife pray at Mount Heng for a child, and their son Chungnyeol is born with star-shaped marks on his body and an extraordinary gift for learning. But two treacherous ministers, Jeong Handam and Choe Ilgwi, hold power at court and dream of the throne itself, and the honest Yu family stands in their way.

Loyalty to the ruler versus treachery at courtBonds between parents and children, husband and wifeThe trials and growth of a hero sent by heaven

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Public domain: an anonymous classic from around 1850. Everything written here is our own; no modern edition is copied.

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  • 유충렬 Yu Chungnyeol A boy born after his parents' prayers, with stars on his body and a gift for both books and the sword. Main character Appears in part 1
  • 유심(유 주부) Yu Sim (Registrar Yu) An upright official from a founding family of the Ming, who long grieved that he had no child. Main character Appears in part 1
  • 장 부인 Lady Jang Yu Sim's wife, a minister's daughter who urged her husband to pray for a son. Main character Appears in part 1
  • 정한담 Jeong Handam A towering, ambitious commander at court who secretly covets the throne. Main character Appears in part 1
  • 강희주(강 승상) Kang Huiju (Chief Minister Kang) Main character First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
  • 최일귀 Choe Ilgwi The minister of war and Jeong Handam's partner in every scheme. Appears in part 1
  • 천자 The Emperor The emperor of the Ming in the story, worried by enemies abroad and easily swayed at court. Appears in part 1
  • 옥관도사 The Taoist Okgwan First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
  • 강 낭자 Lady Kang First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
  • 이 처사 Hermit Yi First appears in part 2. Read up to part 1 to meet them without spoilers.
  • 백룡사 노승 The Old Monk of Baengnyongsa First appears in part 3. Read up to part 2 to meet them without spoilers.

Part by part

Part 1

처음 ~ 유심이 연경으로 귀양 가기까지

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Part 2

집에 불이 난 밤 ~ 충렬이 강 낭자와 헤어지기까지

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Part 3

백룡사 ~ 충렬이 대원수가 되어 적을 물리치기까지

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Part 4

정한담의 꾀 ~ 변수가에서 천자를 구하기까지

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Part 5

호국 원정 ~ 끝

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