Kŭmo sinhwa

work by Kim Sisūp

Also known as: “Kŭmo shinhwa”

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July 17, 2026

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The Kŭmo sinhwa is a collection of five stories by Kim Sisŭp, a Korean author from the early Choson period (1392–1598). Written in Chinese, these tales follow the ch'uan-ch'i tradition.1

The stories explore themes such as love affairs between mortals and ghosts, and dream journeys to the Underworld or the Dragon Palace. Kim Sisŭp is also noted for promoting the unity of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, with a particular emphasis on his Neo-Confucian views. The Kŭmo sinhwa is considered the first example of a Korean fictional narrative.12

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Kim Sisŭp
…five stories contained in the Kŭmo sinwha (“New Stories from Golden Turtle Mountain”) are written in Chinese in the tradition of the ch’uan-ch’i. The subject material of these stories include love affairs between mortals and ghosts and dream journeys to the Underworld or to the Dragon Palace. He promoted the…
Read More
…five stories contained in the Kŭmo sinwha (“New Stories from Golden Turtle Mountain”) are written in Chinese in the tradition of the ch’uan-ch’i. The subject material of these stories include love affairs between mortals and ghosts and dream journeys to the Underworld or to the Dragon Palace. He promoted the…
Read More

Korean literature
Early Chosŏn: 1392–1598
…as fictional narratives such as Kŭmo shinhwa (“New Stories from the Golden Turtle”). At the same time, the poets Yi Tal, Paek Kwang-Hŭng, and Ch’oe Kyŏng-Ch’ang established a poetic style that heartily expressed the emotions of life. Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn was one of the few women of the time who achieved…
Read More
…as fictional narratives such as Kŭmo shinhwa (“New Stories from the Golden Turtle”). At the same time, the poets Yi Tal, Paek Kwang-Hŭng, and Ch’oe Kyŏng-Ch’ang established a poetic style that heartily expressed the emotions of life. Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn was one of the few women of the time who achieved…
Read More