Ch'ojŏng-ni p'yŏnji

After creating Han'geul (also spelled Hangul), the Korean alphabet, together with a select group of scholars in 1443, King Sejong (1397-1450) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) traveled to Chojeong Springs in Cheong'won-gun, North Chungcheong Province, to treat his eye disease. Based on this fact, the present volume juxtaposes a fictitious story about the growth of Jang-un, a boy living in Chojeong, as a stonemason despite obstacles and an account of the historical creation of Han'geul. Before the promulgation of the new script, Jang-un encounters a mysterious elderly aristocrat in the mountain while chopping down trees for firewood. Saying that he is from Seoul, the old man teaches the boy the new writing system, telling him to memorize it by the following day. Elated by the proposed prize of a bucket of uncooked rice, Jang-un and his sister diligently learn the new script. Delighted by the boy's efforts, the old gentleman continues his friendship with Jang-un. The boy's happiness is short-lived, however: his sister must go to live with a wealthy family as a maidservant due to a debt and the elderly aristocrat leaves the village at the same time. One day, he is simply shocked to receive a letter from his sister in the new writing system. We can actually put our thoughts on paper! Called to Seoul to work on the construction of a Buddhist temple together with other stonemasons, Jang-un starts to carve a lotus on a mortar based on the skills that he has acquired and practiced. However, in a confrontation with an older stonemason, the mortar breaks. What should Jang-un do now?--Changbi website.