THE HONEST WITCH
[Song Sang-in matriculated in 1601. He was a just man, and feared by the dishonest element of the Court. In 1605 he graduated and became a provincial governor. He nearly lost his life in the disturbances of the reign of King Kwang-hai, and was exiled to Quelpart for a period of ten years, but in the spring of 1623 he was recalled.]
The Story
There was a Korean once, called Song Sang-in, whose mind was upright and whose spirit was true. He hated witches with all his might, and regarded them as deceivers of the people. “By their so-called prayers,” said he, “they devour the people’s goods. There is no limit to the foolishness and extravagance that accompanies them. This doctrine of theirs is all nonsense. Would that I could rid the earth of them and wipe out their names for ever.”
Some time later Song was appointed magistrate of Nam Won County in Chulla Province. On his arrival he issued the following order: “If any witch is found in this county, let her be beaten to death.” The whole place was so thoroughly spied upon that all the witches made their escape to other prefectures. The magistrate thought, “Now we are rid of them, and that ends the matter for this county at any rate.”
On a certain day he went out for a walk, and rested for a time at Kwang-han Pavilion. As he looked out from his coign of vantage, he saw a woman approaching on horseback with a witch’s drum on her head. He looked intently to make sure, and to his astonishment he saw that she was indeed a mutang (witch). He sent a yamen-runner to have her arrested, and when she was brought before him he asked, “Are you a mutang?”
She replied, “Yes, I am.”
“Then,” said he, “you did not know of the official order issued?”
“Oh yes, I heard of it,” was her reply.