Sample Translations
Jin-myung Kim The Book Forbidden for a Thousand Years E ng l i s h
Book Information
The Book Forbidden for a Thousand Years (천년의 금서) Saeum Publishing corp. / 64 p. For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772
This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
The Book Forbidden for a Thousand Years Written by Kim Jin-myung, Illustrated by Baek Cheol 1 Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Let’s Go to China! Chapter 2. Search for the Missing Aunt Chapter 3. The Forbidden Book Chapter 4. A Puzzle Left by Doctor Han Chapter 5. Symposium on Goguryeo Chapter 6. The Three Re-Encountered Chapter 7. The Secret of the Naming of Daehanminguk (Republic of Korea)
Introduction of Characters
Han Ma-ru A prodigy who can scan and store anything he sees even just once, he sets off on an adventure to China with Doctor Yi Jeong-seo to find his aunt Han Eun-won, who is missing. “I will use my extraordinary talent to find my aunt!”
Yi Jeong-seo With a doctorate in science and member of an international nuclear fusion research
organization, she has excellent reasoning powers, though her behavior is sometimes off the wall. With Ma-ru, she follows the trail of her missing friend Eun-won. “Eun-won, I will find you and reveal the origins of the Korean people’s name!”
Han Eun-won Han Ma-ru’s aunt and Yi Jeong-seo’s friend, she goes missing before an important history council. “Why is Korea called Hanguk?”
Kim Mi-jin A friend of Jeong-seo and Eun-won, she is a professor of astronomy. While doing research with her friend Eun-won on the origin of the word Han, she is found dead. Her mysterious death kicks off the story.
Mok Jin-seok Head of the police detective unit, unconvinced of the official statement finding Kim Mi-jin’s death a suicide, he helps Mar-ru and Jeong-seo in their search and their trip to China.
Fung Tao The number one expert on the ancient Chinese philosopher Wang Fu, he helps Jeong-seo get hold of the book Yuhanjip, the record of Wang Fu’s death.
Si-e Heo A historian at the University of Chengdu, he pretends to help Korean scholars, but actually keeps an eye on them.
2
Juwien Hao He seems to rescue Ma-ru and Jeong-seo from an attack, but he really has a frightening hidden motive.
Chapter 1. Let’s Go to China!
p.10
Jongno Police Station, Seoul
Zz . . . zz . . .
Rrriingg
Woah!
He . . . hello. Jongno Police Station.
This is Bak, calling from the Myeongnyun Police Precinct Office . . .
Yaaaawn . . .
p.11 A body has been found!
3
Wha . . . what?
A woman who lived alone. But something strange about the body.
Woo-woo Woo-woo
Do Not Cross
p.12
I come every other day to clean . . .
Roll
The professor didn’t answer, so I opened the door and saw her hanging there . . . .
What did she teach?
Astronomy, at Hanguk University.
Hmmm . . .
The Four Books and Three Classics? Ancient Chinese texts . . .
4
The Four Books and the Three Classics: These contain the teachings of ancient Chinese sages. The Four Books are Analects of Confucius, Mencius, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean. The Three Classics are Classic of Poetry, Classic of History, and I Ching.
p. 13
Strange. Why hang herself with a rope tied around these books?
Isn’t she a professor of astronomy?
It looks like suicide.
What about murder? She might’ve been knocked out and hanged while unconscious.
I thought of that and checked everything. No evidence of forced entry or attack.
Even a careful attack would leave purple bruises.
Purple bruises: Bruises visible on the skin after death. This occurs when blood is pressed in a corpse. It enables determination of the time of death.
p. 14
There were no bruises on the body. It’s clearly suicide.
5
No suicide note?
No, none. Not even in her computer.
Killed herself without leaving a note?
Keep people away from the scene for now. Make sure the evidence is not disturbed.
Okay.
Woo-woo Woo-woo Woo-woo
p.15
Funeral Home
Screech . . .
Clunk
Trip
Bam
6
p. 16
Mi-jin . . .
Oh my gosh, how could . . . this happen . . .
Um . . . excuse me, please.
Sob . . .
May I introduce myself? I’m head of the unit investigating Prof. Kim Mi-jin’s suicide.
Could I talk to you? I have some questions.
p.17
Do the police suspect Prof. Kim was murdered?
I said suicide . . . Why do you ask about murder?
I got the idea from you.
This woman is very unusual!
7
Excuse me, may I ask you what you do?
Ho…hot!
I’m doing research overseas on energy. 8 Huf huf . . .
p.18
What kind of energy?
Huf huf . . . Plasma control and direction.
Pl . . . plasma . . .
A solid changes to a liquid, then a gas, when infused with energy. And a gas changes to plasma when more energy is put in. That’s why plasma is called “the fourth state of matter,” along with the other three -- solid, liquid, gas. I work with the high-temperature plasma used for nuclear fusion.
Fuel Supply Unit Device for Heating Plasma High-Temperature Plasma
Powerful Magnetic Field
Superconducting Magnet Vacuum Container / Blanket Heat Generation Neutrons
Cool Water Hot Water
Steam Generation Unit Turbine Generator
Nuclear fusion?
Yes, the dream energy. A power plant using nuclear fusion produces 2,000 times as much energy as a nuclear power plant.
p. 19
Unlike a nuclear power plant, which uses deadly radioactivity, nuclear fusion uses just a little bit of water. So, there’s no problem with fuel supply or pollution.
I’m working in France on the fusion research project ITER. We’re cooperating with the US,
9
the EU, Japan, India, China, and Russia. Korea’s in charge of the design and construction of the nuclear reactor, the core technology.
Korea has such an important job?
Sure. I was invited to meet our president because of the first experiment’s success.
Ah, I see. That’s why you’re here now. Actually, I remember seeing something about you in a newspaper recently.
As a Korean, I’m very proud of that. It’s an honor to meet you.
Ha ha ha
p.20
And you were a good friend of the late Prof. Kim, I heard.
We were . . . the trio of beautiful women.
Trio of beautiful women?
Mi-jin was a friend I met in a university club. We also studied together overseas . . .
If there were three of you, who’s the other one? I didn’t see her at the funeral home.
10
Ah, Eun-won . . . ! That’s true . . .
Spring I need to go somewhere now! 11
p. 21
Boss, the wind’s started blowing toward the hidden treasure.
Research Institute of True History Screech . . .
This is where Eun-won’s been doing her research on ancient history . . .
Creak . . .
Is anybody there?
p.22
Thump
Bang!
Ack!
Oh God, what happened? 12 He . . . hey . . . could you please get up?
I’m . . . I’m sorry . . .
Well, that’s okay . . .
Clap Clap
But who are you . . . ?
I’m Han Ma-ru, Prof. Han Eun-won’s nephew and assistant.
Assistant?
Clap Clap
p.23
What happened here? It looks like a storm hit the place!
Somebody must’ve broken in to find something. Judging from the mess, they don’t seem to have found what they wanted . . .
B…broken in? Mi-jin and Eun-won must’ve been connected somehow! 13 Where’s your Aunt Eun-won now?
I don’t know. She disappeared 56 days, 12 hours, and 38 minutes ago, precisely when she put me in charge of this place.
p. 24
The . . . then, you’re all alone here?
That’s right, I’m alone. My parents are overseas on business.
I have to put things in order before Auntie comes back. So just wait for a moment.
Put all this in order? By yourself?
You can’t put research materials in just any order. If you don’t know what’s what and end up with things in the wrong place, it can cause big problems.
Research materials are like a picture puzzle. It’s easy for me.
Uh . . .
No, I can’t leave you here alone. It’s dangerous here.
Jus. . . just a moment. I’m not yet . . .
p. 25 House of Dr. Yi Jeong-seo
From what I can make of this whole mess, Mi-jin and Eun-won -- an astronomer and a historian -- seem to have been researching something together. What could it be?
I’ve made some warm tea for you.
Oh . . . oh, thank you.
Ma-ru, you know, you’re alone, so you shouldn’t follow just anybody. If I were a bad person . . .
Born on April 8, 1978.
Graduated from Samseon Elementary School, Hyehwa Girls Middle and High School, and Hanguk University. Then studied overseas and now working on plasma at ITER.
14
p. 26
At the university, you were nicknamed Clumsy because, although highly intelligent, you’re exceptionally accident-prone. 15 I . . . I’m speechless.
Did Eun-won tell all this to you?
No. I just put it together from what’s written in Auntie’s photo album and the interview you gave.
Dumbstruck . . .
Ting-a-ling You have a message.
It’s from the head of the police unit, Mr. Mok, a photo of where Mi-jin’s body was found. I asked him to send one.
p. 27
This picture reveals several odd things already.
Oh? What?
Look carefully at that knot. It’s not an ordinary one.
Tying knots is a matter of habit. It isn’t easily changed.
Now, I see . . . The knot looks strange. I wonder if Mi-jin made knots that way.
That knot isn’t made by ordinary people. It’s a sailor’s knot.
p.28
What this child can do . . . amazing! But the knot alone can’t lead to a finding of murder. The police haven’t found any clues.
They might have used tetrodotoxin.
Tetrodotoxin . . . . That’s blowfish poison, isn’t it?
Right. This poison paralyzes you the second you come into contact with it, but you stay conscious. Rubbed into the skin, it doesn’t show up in tests for poisoning.
16
You’re right. I remember reading that blowfish poison can be used to render a person immobile. How do you know all this?
Since you asked! I have a special gift, a photographic memory. I can store images of objects and writing in my mind. By combining the images, I can see the unfolding of a process and the meaning of a text.
Right, I remember now . . . Eun-won mentioned a genius nephew . . .
p. 29
Next Day, Hanguk University
If we find those people on Auntie’s schedule, we’ll track her down.
Well . . .
Trip
Ah . . . ah ah ah . . .
p. 30
17
Gah . . .
Whoosh whoosh
Plop
Body fat 25 percent. Diet needed. Heh heh heh
Bang!
Owwww!
Room 201 Prof. Bak Il-gi
I’m Bak Il-gi. What can I do for you?
Grrr . . .
Ha ha. Nice to meet you. I’m Yi Jeong-seo.
18
p.31
We’re looking for Prof. Han Eun-won. We wondered if you know anything of her whereabouts.
How do you know Prof. Han?
She’s my aunt. I heard about you from her. She often meets you for work at the National Institute of Korean History.
Dazzle Dazzle
What an innocent face! Where’s the boy who criticized my body fat?
Brag Brag. . . I read your book The Life of Our Ancestors. It was fun to read.
Ha ha ha . . . Was it? You must be quite interested in history. That’s good to hear.
Prof. Han is very knowledgeable, but also very wise, a rare scholar these days.
Prof. Bak, do you know what she’s working on these days?
p. 32
19
Prof. Han . . . . . . was working on the question of why Korea’s national name is Daehanminguk.
National name?
She seemed to have found some clue and wanted the ancient history committee meeting postponed till July.
But even if Prof. Han had found documentary evidence . . .
Is there a problem?
People think history 3,000 years before Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla is just myth.
p.33
Even Dangun himself is regarded as mythical, and not treated properly in history textbooks. Although I’m a professor of history and member of the National Institute of Korean History . . .
We don’t know why Korea is called Daehanminguk, why Koreans are called Hangukin, why the Korean Peninsula is called Hanbando . . .
Grrr Grrr
20
We can’t explain where the word Han comes from. It’s frustrating!
You mean scholars haven’t clearly found the origin of the name for Korea?
That’s right. Scholars have their opinions, but they offer no valid evidence. 21 But isn’t Prof. Han reliable?
p. 34
Of course. That’s why I had the meeting postponed. But so far, I’ve heard nothing from her . . .
For the council to consider revising accounts of ancient history, we have to turn in the material soon . . .
When did my aunt last contact you?
That was . . . about a month ago. I got a fax.
I put it somewhere . . . Ah! Here it is.
p. 35
Prof. Bak, I’m now in Japan looking for material on Han. May 4, 2012 FRI Tel: 62751235
Why did she send a fax instead of an email? Did she want to give some sort of clue?
I think I know where Auntie Eun-won is.
You said you know where Eun-won is?
I can’t guarantee she’s still there. But I know where to start looking.
p. 36
Where?
China!!
China? Eun-won said she’s in Japan.
Sure, she wrote that she’s in Japan, but the fax number was from Chengdu University in China. That’s where she stays whenever she goes to the International Conference on Asia. It takes place in China.
22
Aha. Eun-won left me a clue. She knew this boy could help.
You’re going to China, aren’t you?
What? Well . . . yes.
Of course, I’m going. But I’m not sure the fax number alone means she’s in China.
p. 37
I’m absolutely certain.
A scientist can’t insist on the truth of guesswork.
No? What do you suggest?
I’ve got to find evidence. Especially since a good friend died.
Hello, this is Mok.
We found out Prof. Han bought a ticket to Japan from Beijing.
I already found out she was in China. Did she leave any clues behind?
23
p. 38
Clues?
Maybe a record of her credit card use? 24 Just a moment . . .
Ah! This is odd. After her plane had left, records show she maxed out her card at Beijing Airport.
So, she’s still in China!
Thanks, Detective Mok. If I need you, I’ll be in touch.
p. 39
Ma-ru, Eun-won is definitely still in China . . . You listening? What are you reading so intently?
I’m skimming and storing material that might be useful in China.
What? You think you can tag along?
Uh-uh. This trip is too dangerous.
Let me come. I’ve figured out most of the clues so far.
p. 40
Well . . . that’s true, but . . .
And letting a clumsy professor go alone is like leaving a baby on a riverbank.
What did you say?
Although there’s no danger of drowning with that much body fat . . .
Smirk
That settles it! You can’t come, no way!
Incheon International Airport
I’ll say it again. At the slightest hint of danger, you’re headed back to Korea. Understood?
Yeah, understood.
25
p. 41
Geez . . . From last night to this morning, she’s repeated that endlessly. It’s torture.
Crash!
Agh!
Oh my gosh!
Tumble
p. 42
Oh, my goodness! Look at her!
How embarrassing!
Uh-oh. I’ll just pretend not to know her.
I . . . I’m so sorry. Are you hurt?
I . . . I’m fine.
26
Let . . . let me help you. Lift
Snatch
Zoom
Oh, how embarrassing . . .
Let’s hurry out of here.
p. 43
Whoooosh
In Auntie’s notebook, I found something she wrote down before leaving for China.
What’s it say?
“Based on the report on observations of the alignment of 5 planets, I grew sure that Dongguk (Eastern Country) was already a big country.
1,000 years later, descendents of Dongguk visited Zhou, which suggests that Dongguk’s perception of itself was just as important as Sino-centrism.”
27
Zhou Dynasty: An ancient Chinese kingdom founded in 1200 B.C., after the Shang Dynasty. Sino-centrism: China as the center of the world, how Chinese see themselves.
p. 44 28 “Astounding! Astounding!”
Who wrote that?
Well . . . it’s surely a quote. But she didn’t give the author’s name.
5 planets . . . that means Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, those 5 aligned.
And from the contents, I would guess that upon seeing the Korean astronomical document, some Chinese scholar is astonished at Korea’s long history.
Exactly. Korea is called the Eastern Country, while they called their nation Zhou . . .
Yeah. This is probably what Eun-won and Mi-jin were working on.
Dongguk (Eastern Country): Meaning the nation to the east of China, it refers Korea.
p. 45
The alignment of the 5 planets . . .
Then . . .
What are you doing?
Looking to see if there are any early Chinese documents mentioning Korean history.
There’s nothing before 300 B.C.
That’s it! Snap!
The Zhou Dynasty declined around 600 B.C., and the planet alignment observed by the Eastern Country took place 1,000 years before that. This means Korea already existed by at least 1600 B.C.
p. 46
So, the actual features of the nation described vaguely in the foundation myth about Dangun are starting to become clearer.
Right. The astronomy document has important evidence about ancient Korean history.
29
Eun-won must be tracking down the quote.
Buzz . . .
Smirk 30 In China, get rid of her, and take him.
p.47
2. Looking for the Missing Aunt
Chengdu University in China
Nice to meet you. I’m Si-e Heo. We spoke on the phone.
Prof. Han has visited here every year, going through historical material on the origins of Han.
But she left some time back, for Japan, I thought.
p. 48
Prof. Han hasn’t returned to Korea.
It’s not clear if she’s missing or just hiding. That’s why we’re here. We thought you might be
able to help.
Oh, I see. I got to know her through a symposium on Goguryeo, and we became friends.
At the symposium, a Chinese scholar presented a thesis on Goguryeo as a province of China, but I strongly disagreed.
It isn’t very easy for a Chinese scholar to do that, is it?
p. 49
No, it isn’t, but Goguryeo certainly belongs to Korean history. These days, through the Northeast Project, China’s trying to twist the history of its minorities by incorporating their earlier, separate histories into Chinese history.
Smirk But I couldn’t just sit and watch it happen, not with my conscience as a scholar.
Northeast Project?
Simply put, China claims that everything that took place within current Chinese borders belongs to Chinese history, even Gojoseon and Goguryeo, for example.
What? That doesn’t make any sense! Oh, I’m getting really steamed up!
31
Thump! Thump!
Northeast Project: A research project conducted since 2002 by the Chinese government to incorporate all the history within current Chinese borders into Chinese history. Part of Korean history, such as the histories of Gojoseon, Buyeo, Goguryeo, and Balhae, took place in what is now China. The Chinese government therefore claims that the histories of these kingdoms belong to Chinese history. For example, they claim that Gojoseon was a Chinese province founded by descendents of the Zhou and Shang dynasties.
p.50
This is . . . like pulling out the roots of the Korean people.
Right. That’s why a scholar like Eun-won works so diligently on the history of ancient Korea, even under difficult conditions.
Ah, Aunt Eun-won. . .
I’ll become a great scholar like Auntie.
What’s your field, Prof. Heo?
My field is the history of the Chinese border area. I’m especially interested in the migrations of humans in the distant past.
32
p. 51
Long ago, the first humans came out of Africa and spread to different parts of the world. My work is on the routes they took. 33 That must be how you got interested in the history of ancient Korea.
Right.
Those early humans moved toward the sunrise for thousands of years after leaving Africa.
Africa -- Europe -- Asia – North America -- South America Atlantic Ocean -- Indian Ocean -- Oceania -- Pacific Ocean
One branch went south of Mesopotamia, through India, to China to create a civilization.
Mesopotamia: One of the four origins of world civilization, including the Yellow River (China), Indus River (India), and Nile River (Egypt). Iraq is there today.
p. 52
Another branch went north of Mesopotamia and then east.
Those who went north were ancestors of Koreans, weren’t they?
Why, you’re very knowledgeable for a young boy.
Poke
What? What’s the matter?
If you can resist, don’t show off your gift here in China.
Oh, you mean I’m your secret weapon?
Huh?
p. 53
Secret weapon? Nonsense!
Hmpf, it’s time you acknowledged my superior ability!
Ahem, you have a good relationship with your son.
I’m not her son!
Grr Grr
34
But . . . you are related to each other somehow?
My younger brother.
My aunt. 35 p. 54
Your younger brother?
Your aunt?
How could you call me your aunt? I don’t even have a nephew!
Hmpf, and “younger brother” makes no sense! Caw Caw
Is this . . . the power of Koreans?
Is there evidence that those who went north have anything to do with Koreans?
The Baikal culture of Siberia and Korean culture overlap an astonishing amount. Anyway, some of those who went north moved further on to North America and then to South America over a long period of time.
Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, South America Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
p. 55
Those living in northern Manchuria then divided into distinct peoples, like Koreans and Japanese.
That’s why the DNA of Japanese is closer to Koreans than to Chinese.
Exactly.
And not only that. Mongolians, American Indians, Japanese, and Koreans are all quite close genetically. The Korean people’s culture developed especially early, and Koreans founded an ancient kingdom.
p. 56
They occupied a large territory covering northern Manchuria, Siberia, and the Korean Peninsula. Proof for this is that seventy percent of the world’s dolmens are found in Manchuria and on the Korean Peninsula.
Did that ancient kingdom exist the same time as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties in China?
36
It was about the same time. Prof. Han is trying to date the ancient Korean kingdom to that period.
That’s why Prof. Han and I tried looking for material about the 2 countries . . .
p. 57
Tried? You mean you couldn’t find any documents on Han.
No, we couldn’t . . . such a pity we found nothing.
Pardon me for asking, but could I see the bibliography of your joint research project?
That? Well . . .
Is there a problem?
No, no . . . but the bibliography has several thousand titles. . .
The meanings of Chinese words from earlier times were quite different from now, so it’s not easy even for an expert to understand them. Ha ha ha.
p. 58
37
If that’s the only problem, you don’t have to worry. We have a secret weapon . . .
Bingo! That’s me!
Ta-dah Wow, it really is overwhelming to see . . . . . . so many books!
p. 59
Okay, let’s get started!
Flick . . . Thump
Input finished!
Can you read Chinese?
Working for an international organization, I’ve had to learn about six languages.
Wow . . . that’s impressive . . .
Tick-tock Tick-tock
38
p. 60
Pant Pant
My eyes are about to pop out. 39 Don’t be a crybaby! Just stand it a little more . . .
I’m so hungry I can’t scan another page.
Grrr . . . Grrr . . .
Your stomach’s growling now.
Okay. I’ll go get some food.
Cola, soda, hamburger, pizza, chicken . . . Buy everything edible!
Yeah, yeah, big eater. I’ll get you what you want.
Wuh, I feel dizzy, like I could faint . . .
Thunk!
p. 61
Ji-myeong-won-ryu-go . . . ?
I…I found it!
“Based on the report on the alignment of 5 planets, I grew sure that Dongguk (Eastern Country) was already a big country. 1,000 years later, descendents of Dongguk visited Zhou, which suggests that Dongguk’s perception of itself was just as important as Sino-centrism. Astounding! Astounding!”
Tap
Dr. Yi, I found the book with the passage Auntie quoted!
p. 62
Wonderful.
Huh . . . who are you?
Heh heh heh
40
I didn’t know things were so expensive in China.
He . . . help me!
Ma . . . Ma-ru!
Thud Thunk
p. 63
Ma-ru!
Wai . . . wait!
Vroom!
Putt Putt Putt Putt
p. 64
Whump!
Wha . . . What the?
41
Sorry!
Thwack!
Ack! 42 Splat!
Aargh!
Vroom!
She’s following us. What should we do?
p. 65
Slow down and let her tag along. There’s a good place ahead to get rid of her.
No, no!
Screech . . .
We’re out of range. There’s no signal.
If I only had that phone card right now . . .
Huh?
p. 66
What’s this?
It’s flour.
Heh heh heh heh
p. 67
You outlaws!
Who’s there?
Did you kill Prof. Kim?
Hitmen never talk about their hits.
Chit Chit Chit
Whump!
43
Whoa!
Unh. Didn’t expect that.
Flap Flap 44 Whew
p. 68
Why . . . why’d you kidnap me?
Clink!
’Cause we found out you’re Prof. Han’s secret weapon.
Tap Tap
We hacked her computers but found nothing. We finally figured out you store everything in your head.
Yank
Even after this job’s finished, we expect you’ll be useful. Surely you agree.
Come out! Stop hiding like a rat!
p. 69
Bang! 45 Tata-ta-ta
Cough Cough
Bwah-ha-ha-ha
You gonna beat us with a stick?
Well, let’s find out. Whump!
p. 70
Get her!
Whoosh!
Whap!
Oof!
Whoosh!
Bang! 46 p. 71
Is that kung fu?
No. You never heard of Muye Dobo Tongji? Swoosh
I learned it in college, though I only got an F. Sprong!
Whap!
Pop!
Fools! Can’t you finish her?
Cough, Cough, Cough
Muye Dobo Tongji: A textbook for martial arts from the late Joseon period.
Commissioned by King Jeongjo, the text was put together by scholars and military officers such as Yi Deok-mu, Bak Je-ga, and Bak Dong-su.
p. 72
Enough fun for now.
Not yet. I’m just getting started.
Ma-ru! Dust explosion!!
Ready!
Smirk
What . . what’re you doing?
Whoosh!
Boom!
p. 73
Swoosh
47
Cough Cough
Ma-ru, hurry! Let’s get out of here!!
Hey! You’re not Ma-ru!
Gasp!
Damn you! I’ll get you!
Bang!
Dust explosion: Dust particles of flammable materials such as flour concentrated in the air within a certain range can be ignited by a spark and cause a dust explosion.
p. 74
Shudder
Smack!
You weren’t strong enough to finish him off.
48
Clump!
Good job, Ma-ru!
p. 75
Slurp-slurp
Good. Nobody seems to have followed us.
Chomp-chomp
Slap
Uh-uh!
This is mine!
Oops.
I think it’s too dangerous for you here, Ma-ru. You’d better go back home.
Can’t . . . breathe . . .
49
Pant-pant
p. 76
I told you not to pig out! 50 Even in Korea, there’s no guarantee I’ll be safe.
Puff
For now, it’s the safest way to look for your aunt.
By the way, I found the book with the passage Auntie wrote down.
You did? What’s the title?
Just a moment . . . Can we order more? Bring chow mein, Szechuan beef, sweet and sour pork!
Argh! Tell me now!
p. 77
The title is Ji-myeong-won-ryu-go.
It documents the origins of place names. The author is Wang Fu.
Wang Fu . . . Eun-won’s research must be focused on Wang Fu.
If we find out more about Wang Fu, we might be able to track Eun-won down. 51 But it might not be so easy to find more about him. His hometown is . . .
In a remote part of China. I know.
How did you know that?
That’s why Eun-won took cash for the trip.
Your brain is impressive.
p. 78
You’re not leaving so soon, are you?
Prof. Han contacted a friend to say she’s doing research in Japan.
I see. That’s good news.
I’ll drive you to the airport.
No, that’s not necessary. We haven’t been in China for long, so we want to do some sightseeing. See you later.
If we asked Prof. Si-e Heo, we could get to Wang Fu’s hometown more easily. 52 p. 79
Eun-won disappeared without telling him anything, and that means something.
So . . . you don’t trust him?
For now, trusting no one is safer.
p. 80
Hao’s Office
You fools!
Unable to get rid of a woman and a boy!
Can’t you take care of business without my help?
Sorry . . . sorry, boss.
Yeah, yeah. Where are they now?
p. 81
Uh . . . well . . . after they left the university, we lost track of them.
Find them! Or wind up with blowfish poison in your food!
Get out, you stupid lowlifes!
Yes, yes.
It’s my fault for ordering that stupid Black Dragon to finish them off. I’ll have to do things again myself . . .
Bump-bump
p. 82
Bumpity-bump Bumpity-bump
Bumpity-bump Bumpity-bump
This bus ride is like a massage chair.
53
Ugh, it’s been three hours. My stomach . . .
But you’re better built for this than I am.
What do you mean?
Your fat rear end is a cushion.
Pat-pat!
p. 83
Bang!
Vroom!
Cough Cough
Which way now?
The map says 12 kilometers further east.
p. 84
54
Whew!
Twelve! That far?
This dirt road will seem much longer than the paved one. 55 Wang . . . Wang Fu’s hometown, Linjing. . . is still far?
Pant-pant
Yes. I learned more about Wang Fu with my smart phone. He lived during the Late Eastern Han Dynasty and was appointed to the government, but soon quit and returned home to study and write the rest of his life.
Pant-pant Pant-pant
The important thing is Wang Fu’s astonishment at the document about the 5 planets’ alignment. That’s why Eun-won wanted to research him.
p. 85
Huh?
Chomp-chomp!
Hee-hee
Chomp-chomp!
You selfish boy! Eating alone!
Pow Pow Pow
I’m a growing boy!
Humph, and I’m a growing woman!
Bam Bam Bam
What are you two doing there?
p. 86
It’s hard to hitchhike here. Where are you headed? I can give you a lift.
Dok-dok-dok-dok
Oh, thank you, thank you!
56
You’re Koreans? What brings you to Linjing?
Dok-dok-dok-dok 57 We’re traveling through China and are curious about the area.
Well, well, you have a good life!
Dok-dok
p. 87
Linjing in Zhenyuan County is where Ma Chao raised an army to avenge himself against Cao Cao, his father’s killer. I learned it from the The Records of the Three Kingdoms. It’s worth visiting.
Dok-dok
Hey, your younger brother is very smart.
Dok-dok
Ugh. Smart? My brother? No, he’s an arrogant troublemaker.
Brother, brother, brother!
The touched-you-last game . . . how childish.
By the way, mister, what do you do?
I deal in medicinal herbs. The Wang family’s done this for ages.
Dok-dok-dok-dok-dok
p. 88
Wang’s your family name?
You know of Wang Fu, then?
Of course. He’s our ancestor.
Dok-dok-dok-dok
Linjing is also known as “Wang Village” because the Wang clan lives together here.
58
Wang Fu studied the origin and meaning of family names, like Yi or Kim. A family name is the way to the root of a family.
Dok-dok-dok-dok-dok
p. 89
I read a book of his on the origin of place names.
Did he write on that, too? One of my cousins told me that Wang Fu studied many things.
Dok-dok-dok
A cousin?
Oh, one of my cousins has learned a lot about Wang Fu.
Oh, really? Actually, I’m very interested in Wang Fu.
Could you introduce us to your cousin?
Well . . . it’s said that people on the road can become fast friends . . .
Dok-dok-dok-dok
59
p. 90
. . . but in Chinese custom, it’s not courteous to visit someone without being invited.
Here, I’d like you to have this.
When did she prepare that?
But this is Goryeo ginseng, isn’t it? Wow, such a valuable thing. I shouldn’t have talked such nonsense.
Don’t worry. I was already thinking of giving you this when you gave us a ride. I hope you might mention to your cousin that we’d like to hear something of great value about Wang Fu.
All right. For now, rest up in the hotel.
I’ll tell my cousin about you. See you tomorrow.
Dok-dok
p. 91
Snore Snore
60
Snore Snore
Wha . . . what’s that sound?
I thought it was an earthquake.
Snore zzzzz He must have been very tired. Asleep, he’s like any other kid.
Snore zzzzz
Some time back, my nephew made a humorous remark.
p. 92
Your genius nephew you told me about?
Right. He said he’s a king.
A king?
Yes, a king!
61
Because Korea’s called Daehanminguk, and his family name is Han, so he’s a king, he said.
Ha ha, he’s got funny ideas.
Speaking as a historian, I felt like I’d been hit in the head when I heard that. 62 What do you mean?
p. 93 Emperor Gojong: The 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty. After his wife, Empress Myeongseong, was assassinated, he changed the nation’s name to Daehanjeguk (Great Han Empire) to strengthen the weakened nation and restore the Korean people’s pride. In doing so, he became Korea’s first emperor.
Dae-han-min-guk derives from Dae-han-je-guk, the Korean Empire declared by Emperor Gojong in 1897. In the Chronicles of Gojong, it says that Daehanjeguk harks back to Samhan, the 3 Hans.
Clunk
And?
From early times, Korean would connect to their glorious past whenever they renamed the
nation. Goryeo was connected to Goguryeo, Joseon to Gojoseon.
That’s right.
But do you think Emperor Gojong really meant to link Korea just to the three weak Han nations in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula?
I can’t see that. It defies common sense. At that time, Gojong must have meant for the new name to confer great power and meaning upon the nation in difficult circumstances, threatened by invasion.
p. 94
Isn’t it possible that han links to some other, more powerful, country, not the Three Hans?
Yes, it probably did.
History is said to be a continuing dialogue between present and past, and you’re on your way toward understanding the past.
Snore Snore
I see now. Everything started with him.
63
64