{"content_id":"cudi7fqbkz","slug":"janghwa-hongryeonjeon-manuscript-story-and-variant-endings","locale":"en","schema_type":"Article","category":"story","category_name":"Tales","title":"Janghwa Hongryeon jeon: Manuscript Plot and Variant Endings","summary":"This retelling of the story of two sisters clearing their names is based on manuscript 한구000075 in the National Hangeul Museum's collection. It distinguishes the source manuscript's account of the stepmother's subsequent punishment after death from the endings in other versions.","sponsorship_disclosure":null,"affiliate_disclosure":null,"commerce_disclosure":null,"author":{"name":"Injoys Editorial Team","url":"https://injoys.com/ko/about"},"key_points":["The author and date of composition of the work as a whole are unknown.","1818 is the year Park In-su wrote the Classical Chinese version.","In manuscript 한구000075, Jeong Dong-ho clears the sisters' names.","In the selected manuscript, the stepmother is punished after death once the sisters' names are cleared.","The endings of different versions fall into four groups: vindication and punishment, punishment after death, revival, and reincarnation as twins."],"content_markdown":"Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon is a classical novel set in Cheolsan, Pyeongan Province, during the Joseon period. Its author and date of composition are unknown. It retells a traditional story about two sisters who die unjustly and are later cleared of false accusations.\n\nThis article follows manuscript 한구000075 in the collection of the National Hangeul Museum and was prepared in November 2026.\n\n## Plot of Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon\n\nThis retelling follows the sequence of events in manuscript 한구000075. In this version, the magistrate who hears the sisters' story is Jeong Dong-ho. Descriptions of how people die and of brutal punishments have been omitted.\n\n### The Stepmother's False Accusation\n\nAfter losing their mother, Janghwa and Hongnyeon come to live with a stepmother. In the household their father, Jwasu Bae, has formed through remarriage, the sisters find themselves increasingly pushed aside. Their stepmother begins to see the two daughters as obstacles within the family.\n\nWhen talk turns to Janghwa's marriage, the stepmother devises a cruel scheme. She uses a rat to fabricate evidence suggesting that Janghwa had been pregnant and lost the child. The father sees the object and becomes suspicious of his daughter. Janghwa's explanation fails to change the household's judgment.\n\nThe stepmother's son, Jangsoe, also joins the scheme. Janghwa ultimately loses her life without clearing her name. Hongnyeon learns of her older sister's death and also meets a tragic end. There is now no one left to tell the story buried within the household.\n\n### The Sisters Who Visit Each Night\n\nThe dead sisters become wronged spirits and visit the magistrate's office. Late at night, a presence approaches with sounds unlike the footsteps of the living. But the magistrates are overcome with fear. The sisters never manage to tell their full story.\n\nThe sisters also appear before the newly appointed Jeong Dong-ho. They appeal to him about the injustice surrounding their deaths. After hearing them, Jeong Dong-ho begins investigating the case. The voices silenced within the household are heard again at the magistrate's office.\n\nThe investigation does not immediately uncover the truth. The object presented by the stepmother still seems to show Janghwa's wrongdoing. The sisters appear again and ask him to examine the evidence closely. Jeong Dong-ho revisits his initial judgment.\n\n### After Their Names Are Cleared\n\nOnce the true nature of the evidence is established, the stepmother's lie is exposed. The false accusation against Janghwa is also cleared. The stepmother and Jangsoe are punished for their crimes. Jeong Dong-ho arranges the sisters' funeral.\n\nThe sisters express their gratitude that their story has come to light. But this manuscript's story does not stop with the resolution of the case. Its later part goes on to describe the stepmother's punishment in the afterlife. The crimes revealed in the world of the living thus lead to judgment after death.\n\n## Source Text and Origins\n\nThe base text for this retelling is manuscript 한구000075 in the collection of the National Hangeul Museum. A base text is the book used as a reference when transcribing or rewriting a text. Here, the term does not mean the sole original text of the work as a whole.\n\n| Category | Established information | Distinctions to keep in mind |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| The work as a whole | A classical novel of unknown authorship and date | Do not apply the date of a particular version to the entire work |\n| Park In-su's Classical Chinese version | A Classical Chinese version written in 1818 | A separate source from the Hangul manuscript 한구000075 |\n| Base text for this retelling | 한구000075, held by the National Hangeul Museum | The magistrate's name and later developments follow this book |\n| Publicly available facsimile file | A 45-page DJVU file on Wikisource | Distinguish the file's page count from the original book's page count |\n\n### What Does 1818 Mean?\n\n**1818** is the year Park In-su's Classical Chinese version was written. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes the work as a whole as being of unknown authorship and date. These two pieces of information apply to different things.\n\nThe encyclopedia connects the origins of the Classical Chinese version to a tradition about Jeon Dong-heul's handling of a case. This does not mean that every scene in the novel is confirmed as historical fact. The appearance of wronged spirits and judgment after death should be read as parts of the work's narrative. Further explanation is available in the [Encyclopedia of Korean Culture's entry on the work](https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0048918).\n\n### Where Can I Read the Original Text of Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon?\n\nA facsimile of the selected manuscript is available on Wikisource. A facsimile reproduces the appearance of an old book as images. The public file contains 45 pages, including the cover and blank pages. These are images of old handwriting, not a translation into modern language.\n\nThe Wikisource index indicates that this material needs an OCR text layer. It is therefore unlikely that the entire text can be searched or copied. To examine the handwriting and content, readers must read the facsimile images directly. The material is available in the [facsimile file of manuscript 한구000075](https://ko.wikisource.org/wiki/파일:장화홍련전_한구000075.djvu).\n\n## Other Versions and Endings\n\nVersions of Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon fall into four groups according to their endings. A variant version is one whose content has changed as the same work has been passed down. The categories below follow the explanation in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.\n\n| Ending type | Developments after the sisters' names are cleared | Main emphasis of the ending |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Exoneration and punishment | The truth about the sisters' unjust deaths is revealed, and the stepmother is punished | Establishing the truth of the case |\n| Extended punishment in the afterlife | The stepmother is also punished in the afterlife by order of King Yeomra | Judgment that continues after death |\n| The sisters' return to life | The sisters come back to life, and Janghwa marries the magistrate | Recovery of the lives they lost |\n| Rebirth as twins | The sisters are born again as twins to Jwasu Bae and Lady Yun | Family bonds that continue in a new life |\n\nManuscript 한구000075 includes an extension of punishment into the afterlife. Adding a plot in which the sisters are reborn as twins would mix different versions. This is why the final part should be checked separately even when books share the same title.\n\nA return to life must also be distinguished from reincarnation. A return to life means that the dead sisters become alive again. Reincarnation means that they are born anew and begin life again. Simply summarizing both endings as coming back alive erases the difference.\n\nThe magistrate's name is another clue for distinguishing versions. Manuscript 한구000075 gives his name as Jeong Dong-ho. Jeong Dong-u appears in the encyclopedia's plot summary of the Hangul version. Both must also be distinguished from Jeon Dong-heul, who appears in the account of the Classical Chinese version's origins.\n\n## Folk Beliefs in the Story\n\nThis work turns the idea that injustice can remain unresolved after death into a story. The sisters appear because they want their story to be known. Resolving the case begins when a living person listens to them.\n\n### Wronged Spirits and the Resolution of Grievances\n\nA wronged spirit is a ghost that bears a grudge because of an unjust death. Resolving such grievances means releasing the resentment that has built up. In the work, this takes the form of clearing false accusations and consoling the dead.\n\nWithin this structure, the ghosts' appearance reveals a case that needs investigation. The sisters' appeal alone does not settle every judgment. The lies are exposed when the magistrate reexamines the evidence. Supernatural appeals and real-world investigation work together.\n\n- Appearance of wronged spirits: A device revealing that a hidden story remains\n- Reexamination of evidence: An opportunity to distinguish false accusations from facts\n- Funeral and consolation: Acts that once again recognize the dead sisters as deserving care\n- Judgment after death: The idea that responsibility for wrongdoing does not end with death\n\n### The Blue Bird and the Tiger\n\nIn some versions, a blue bird and a tiger intervene in human affairs. The encyclopedia explains their roles in the Jaam and Garam versions. These scenes should not be treated as content shared by every version.\n\n| Being | Role in some versions | Folkloric interpretation |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Blue bird | Tells Hongnyeon where Janghwa is | A being that connects the living and the dead |\n| Tiger | Punishes Jangsoe's wrongdoing | A being that soothes the grievances of the vulnerable and punishes oppression |\n\nThe encyclopedia connects these scenes to a shamanic worldview. Other beings respond to injustices that human power could not prevent. This is an interpretation of symbols within the work. It does not mean that everyone at the time held the same beliefs.\n\n### Reincarnation and Renewed Bonds\n\nIn endings involving reincarnation, family bonds severed by death are renewed. The sisters are born anew as Jwasu Bae's daughters. This development invites readers to imagine life beyond the clearing of false accusations.\n\nSuch compensation, however, is a feature of versions with reincarnation endings. Versions involving punishment after death dwell longer on the perpetrator's responsibility. Versions in which the sisters return to life emphasize their recovery of the lives they lost. Differences between the endings can be read as differences in what is to be restored.\n\n## The Stepmother's and Father's Responsibility\n\nThe tragedy in the work cannot be explained by the stepmother's false accusation alone. The father's failure to listen to his daughters also makes matters worse. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture likewise presents the irresponsibility of the head of the household as one strand of interpretation.\n\nWithin the household, the stepmother's claim overrides the daughter's explanation. At the magistrate's office, that judgment is overturned when the evidence is checked again. This can be read as a tragedy that results when family authority replaces the checking of facts. This statement is an interpretation based on the structure of events.\n\nA note warning against remarriage is also appended to the end of the manuscript. Here, remarriage means a man marrying again after losing his wife. This note shows the moral lesson added to the book. The work's portrayal of a villain is not grounds for applying that portrayal to all remarried families today.\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n### Did These Events Really Happen?\n\nThis article retells a classical novel that cannot be definitively described as a true story. The work's origins are connected to a tradition about Jeon Dong-heul's handling of a case. But the novel's wronged spirits and afterlife cannot be treated as verified events.\n\n### Is Park In-su the Author?\n\nPark In-su wrote the surviving Classical Chinese version dated 1818. The author of the work as a whole is unknown. It would therefore be inaccurate to name Park In-su as the author of every version.\n\n### Do the Sisters Come Back to Life at the End?\n\nIt depends on the version. Versions in which they return to life and versions in which they are reborn as twins form separate groups. The later part of the base text used here continues with the stepmother's punishment after death.\n\n### Why Is the Magistrate's Name Different from the Book I Read?\n\nCharacter names vary between versions. The magistrate in manuscript 한구000075 is named Jeong Dong-ho. When the names differ, check both the book's version and the explanation of its base text.\n\n### Can I Search the Original Text in Modern Language?\n\nThe Wikisource material used here consists of facsimile images of a manuscript. The index indicates that an OCR text layer is needed. This resource does not provide both searchable modern-language text and images of the original.\n\n### What Is the Story's Central Meaning?\n\nIt can be read as expressing the need to uncover the injustices suffered by those who have lost the chance to speak. The sisters' resentment is resolved when their story is heard and the facts are checked. The responsibility of a father who should protect his family is also revealed.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eJanghwa Hongnyeonjeon is a classical novel set in Cheolsan, Pyeongan Province, during the Joseon period. Its author and date of composition are unknown. It retells a traditional story about two sisters who die unjustly and are later cleared of false accusations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis article follows manuscript 한구000075 in the collection of the National Hangeul Museum and was prepared in November 2026.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#plot-of-janghwa-hongnyeonjeon\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"plot-of-janghwa-hongnyeonjeon\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003ePlot of Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis retelling follows the sequence of events in manuscript 한구000075. In this version, the magistrate who hears the sisters' story is Jeong Dong-ho. Descriptions of how people die and of brutal punishments have been omitted.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#the-stepmothers-false-accusation\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"the-stepmothers-false-accusation\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eThe Stepmother's False Accusation\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter losing their mother, Janghwa and Hongnyeon come to live with a stepmother. In the household their father, Jwasu Bae, has formed through remarriage, the sisters find themselves increasingly pushed aside. Their stepmother begins to see the two daughters as obstacles within the family.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen talk turns to Janghwa's marriage, the stepmother devises a cruel scheme. She uses a rat to fabricate evidence suggesting that Janghwa had been pregnant and lost the child. The father sees the object and becomes suspicious of his daughter. Janghwa's explanation fails to change the household's judgment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stepmother's son, Jangsoe, also joins the scheme. Janghwa ultimately loses her life without clearing her name. Hongnyeon learns of her older sister's death and also meets a tragic end. There is now no one left to tell the story buried within the household.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#the-sisters-who-visit-each-night\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"the-sisters-who-visit-each-night\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eThe Sisters Who Visit Each Night\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dead sisters become wronged spirits and visit the magistrate's office. Late at night, a presence approaches with sounds unlike the footsteps of the living. But the magistrates are overcome with fear. The sisters never manage to tell their full story.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sisters also appear before the newly appointed Jeong Dong-ho. They appeal to him about the injustice surrounding their deaths. After hearing them, Jeong Dong-ho begins investigating the case. The voices silenced within the household are heard again at the magistrate's office.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe investigation does not immediately uncover the truth. The object presented by the stepmother still seems to show Janghwa's wrongdoing. The sisters appear again and ask him to examine the evidence closely. Jeong Dong-ho revisits his initial judgment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#after-their-names-are-cleared\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"after-their-names-are-cleared\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eAfter Their Names Are Cleared\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce the true nature of the evidence is established, the stepmother's lie is exposed. The false accusation against Janghwa is also cleared. The stepmother and Jangsoe are punished for their crimes. Jeong Dong-ho arranges the sisters' funeral.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sisters express their gratitude that their story has come to light. But this manuscript's story does not stop with the resolution of the case. Its later part goes on to describe the stepmother's punishment in the afterlife. The crimes revealed in the world of the living thus lead to judgment after death.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#source-text-and-origins\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"source-text-and-origins\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eSource Text and Origins\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe base text for this retelling is manuscript 한구000075 in the collection of the National Hangeul Museum. A base text is the book used as a reference when transcribing or rewriting a text. Here, the term does not mean the sole original text of the work as a whole.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCategory\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEstablished information\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDistinctions to keep in mind\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Category\"\u003eThe work as a whole\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Established information\"\u003eA classical novel of unknown authorship and date\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Distinctions to keep in mind\"\u003eDo not apply the date of a particular version to the entire work\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Category\"\u003ePark In-su's Classical Chinese version\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Established information\"\u003eA Classical Chinese version written in 1818\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Distinctions to keep in mind\"\u003eA separate source from the Hangul manuscript 한구000075\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Category\"\u003eBase text for this retelling\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Established information\"\u003e한구000075, held by the National Hangeul Museum\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Distinctions to keep in mind\"\u003eThe magistrate's name and later developments follow this book\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Category\"\u003ePublicly available facsimile file\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Established information\"\u003eA 45-page DJVU file on Wikisource\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Distinctions to keep in mind\"\u003eDistinguish the file's page count from the original book's page count\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#what-does-1818-mean\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"what-does-1818-mean\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhat Does 1818 Mean?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1818\u003c/strong\u003e is the year Park In-su's Classical Chinese version was written. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture describes the work as a whole as being of unknown authorship and date. These two pieces of information apply to different things.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe encyclopedia connects the origins of the Classical Chinese version to a tradition about Jeon Dong-heul's handling of a case. This does not mean that every scene in the novel is confirmed as historical fact. The appearance of wronged spirits and judgment after death should be read as parts of the work's narrative. Further explanation is available in the \u003ca href=\"https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0048918\"\u003eEncyclopedia of Korean Culture's entry on the work\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#where-can-i-read-the-original-text-of-janghwa-hongnyeonjeon\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"where-can-i-read-the-original-text-of-janghwa-hongnyeonjeon\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhere Can I Read the Original Text of Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA facsimile of the selected manuscript is available on Wikisource. A facsimile reproduces the appearance of an old book as images. The public file contains 45 pages, including the cover and blank pages. These are images of old handwriting, not a translation into modern language.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Wikisource index indicates that this material needs an OCR text layer. It is therefore unlikely that the entire text can be searched or copied. To examine the handwriting and content, readers must read the facsimile images directly. The material is available in the \u003ca href=\"https://ko.wikisource.org/wiki/%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%BC:%EC%9E%A5%ED%99%94%ED%99%8D%EB%A0%A8%EC%A0%84_%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AC000075.djvu\"\u003efacsimile file of manuscript 한구000075\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#other-versions-and-endings\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"other-versions-and-endings\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eOther Versions and Endings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVersions of Janghwa Hongnyeonjeon fall into four groups according to their endings. A variant version is one whose content has changed as the same work has been passed down. The categories below follow the explanation in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEnding type\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDevelopments after the sisters' names are cleared\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMain emphasis of the ending\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Ending type\"\u003eExoneration and punishment\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Developments after the sisters' names are cleared\"\u003eThe truth about the sisters' unjust deaths is revealed, and the stepmother is punished\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Main emphasis of the ending\"\u003eEstablishing the truth of the case\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Ending type\"\u003eExtended punishment in the afterlife\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Developments after the sisters' names are cleared\"\u003eThe stepmother is also punished in the afterlife by order of King Yeomra\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Main emphasis of the ending\"\u003eJudgment that continues after death\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Ending type\"\u003eThe sisters' return to life\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Developments after the sisters' names are cleared\"\u003eThe sisters come back to life, and Janghwa marries the magistrate\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Main emphasis of the ending\"\u003eRecovery of the lives they lost\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Ending type\"\u003eRebirth as twins\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Developments after the sisters' names are cleared\"\u003eThe sisters are born again as twins to Jwasu Bae and Lady Yun\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Main emphasis of the ending\"\u003eFamily bonds that continue in a new life\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eManuscript 한구000075 includes an extension of punishment into the afterlife. Adding a plot in which the sisters are reborn as twins would mix different versions. This is why the final part should be checked separately even when books share the same title.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA return to life must also be distinguished from reincarnation. A return to life means that the dead sisters become alive again. Reincarnation means that they are born anew and begin life again. Simply summarizing both endings as coming back alive erases the difference.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe magistrate's name is another clue for distinguishing versions. Manuscript 한구000075 gives his name as Jeong Dong-ho. Jeong Dong-u appears in the encyclopedia's plot summary of the Hangul version. Both must also be distinguished from Jeon Dong-heul, who appears in the account of the Classical Chinese version's origins.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#folk-beliefs-in-the-story\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"folk-beliefs-in-the-story\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eFolk Beliefs in the Story\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work turns the idea that injustice can remain unresolved after death into a story. The sisters appear because they want their story to be known. Resolving the case begins when a living person listens to them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#wronged-spirits-and-the-resolution-of-grievances\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"wronged-spirits-and-the-resolution-of-grievances\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWronged Spirits and the Resolution of Grievances\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wronged spirit is a ghost that bears a grudge because of an unjust death. Resolving such grievances means releasing the resentment that has built up. In the work, this takes the form of clearing false accusations and consoling the dead.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin this structure, the ghosts' appearance reveals a case that needs investigation. The sisters' appeal alone does not settle every judgment. The lies are exposed when the magistrate reexamines the evidence. Supernatural appeals and real-world investigation work together.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAppearance of wronged spirits: A device revealing that a hidden story remains\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReexamination of evidence: An opportunity to distinguish false accusations from facts\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFuneral and consolation: Acts that once again recognize the dead sisters as deserving care\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJudgment after death: The idea that responsibility for wrongdoing does not end with death\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#the-blue-bird-and-the-tiger\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"the-blue-bird-and-the-tiger\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eThe Blue Bird and the Tiger\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn some versions, a blue bird and a tiger intervene in human affairs. The encyclopedia explains their roles in the Jaam and Garam versions. These scenes should not be treated as content shared by every version.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto\"\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBeing\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRole in some versions\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFolkloric interpretation\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Being\"\u003eBlue bird\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Role in some versions\"\u003eTells Hongnyeon where Janghwa is\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Folkloric interpretation\"\u003eA being that connects the living and the dead\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Being\"\u003eTiger\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Role in some versions\"\u003ePunishes Jangsoe's wrongdoing\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd data-label=\"Folkloric interpretation\"\u003eA being that soothes the grievances of the vulnerable and punishes oppression\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe encyclopedia connects these scenes to a shamanic worldview. Other beings respond to injustices that human power could not prevent. This is an interpretation of symbols within the work. It does not mean that everyone at the time held the same beliefs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#reincarnation-and-renewed-bonds\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"reincarnation-and-renewed-bonds\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eReincarnation and Renewed Bonds\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn endings involving reincarnation, family bonds severed by death are renewed. The sisters are born anew as Jwasu Bae's daughters. This development invites readers to imagine life beyond the clearing of false accusations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch compensation, however, is a feature of versions with reincarnation endings. Versions involving punishment after death dwell longer on the perpetrator's responsibility. Versions in which the sisters return to life emphasize their recovery of the lives they lost. Differences between the endings can be read as differences in what is to be restored.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#the-stepmothers-and-fathers-responsibility\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"the-stepmothers-and-fathers-responsibility\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eThe Stepmother's and Father's Responsibility\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tragedy in the work cannot be explained by the stepmother's false accusation alone. The father's failure to listen to his daughters also makes matters worse. The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture likewise presents the irresponsibility of the head of the household as one strand of interpretation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin the household, the stepmother's claim overrides the daughter's explanation. At the magistrate's office, that judgment is overturned when the evidence is checked again. This can be read as a tragedy that results when family authority replaces the checking of facts. This statement is an interpretation based on the structure of events.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA note warning against remarriage is also appended to the end of the manuscript. Here, remarriage means a man marrying again after losing his wife. This note shows the moral lesson added to the book. The work's portrayal of a villain is not grounds for applying that portrayal to all remarried families today.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#did-these-events-really-happen\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"did-these-events-really-happen\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eDid These Events Really Happen?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis article retells a classical novel that cannot be definitively described as a true story. The work's origins are connected to a tradition about Jeon Dong-heul's handling of a case. But the novel's wronged spirits and afterlife cannot be treated as verified events.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#is-park-in-su-the-author\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"is-park-in-su-the-author\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eIs Park In-su the Author?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePark In-su wrote the surviving Classical Chinese version dated 1818. The author of the work as a whole is unknown. It would therefore be inaccurate to name Park In-su as the author of every version.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#do-the-sisters-come-back-to-life-at-the-end\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"do-the-sisters-come-back-to-life-at-the-end\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eDo the Sisters Come Back to Life at the End?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt depends on the version. Versions in which they return to life and versions in which they are reborn as twins form separate groups. The later part of the base text used here continues with the stepmother's punishment after death.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#why-is-the-magistrates-name-different-from-the-book-i-read\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"why-is-the-magistrates-name-different-from-the-book-i-read\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhy Is the Magistrate's Name Different from the Book I Read?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharacter names vary between versions. The magistrate in manuscript 한구000075 is named Jeong Dong-ho. When the names differ, check both the book's version and the explanation of its base text.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#can-i-search-the-original-text-in-modern-language\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"can-i-search-the-original-text-in-modern-language\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eCan I Search the Original Text in Modern Language?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Wikisource material used here consists of facsimile images of a manuscript. The index indicates that an OCR text layer is needed. This resource does not provide both searchable modern-language text and images of the original.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"#what-is-the-storys-central-meaning\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"what-is-the-storys-central-meaning\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eWhat Is the Story's Central Meaning?\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can be read as expressing the need to uncover the injustices suffered by those who have lost the chance to speak. The sisters' resentment is resolved when their story is heard and the facts are checked. The responsibility of a father who should protect his family is also revealed.\u003c/p\u003e\n","tags":["Joseon period","Cultural heritage","Folktales"],"faqs":[{"question":"Did this event actually happen?","answer":"It is a classical novel that cannot be definitively regarded as a true story. Its origins are linked to traditional accounts of Jeon Dong-heul's handling of a case. However, the appearance of vengeful spirits and judgment after death are events within the novel."},{"question":"Where can I read the original text?","answer":"On Wikisource, you can view a facsimile of the 한구000075 manuscript held by the National Hangeul Museum. The publicly available DJVU file has 45 pages, including the cover and blank pages. It contains images of a handwritten manuscript, not a translation into modern Korean."},{"question":"Was the work first created in 1818?","answer":"1818 is the year Park In-su's Classical Chinese version was written. When the work itself was composed is unknown. The date of a particular version should not be taken as the year the work as a whole was first created."},{"question":"How does the 한구000075 version end?","answer":"After the sisters are cleared of the false accusations against them, the stepmother is punished after death. This should be distinguished from the ending in another group of versions, in which the sisters are reincarnated as twins."},{"question":"How do resurrection and reincarnation differ?","answer":"Resurrection is a plot development in which the dead sisters come back to life. Reincarnation refers to a plot development in which they are born again and begin new lives. The two endings belong to different groups of versions."},{"question":"Why do the names Jeong Dong-ho and Jeong Dong-u differ?","answer":"The magistrate's name varies by version. Jeong Dong-ho appears in the 한구000075 version. Jeong Dong-u appears in the synopsis of the Korean-language version in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture."},{"question":"What does resolving the vengeful spirits' grievances mean?","answer":"It means resolving the resentment caused by an unjust death. In this work, it takes the form of listening to the sisters' story and exposing the false accusations against them. This is followed by making funeral arrangements to comfort the dead."},{"question":"What else can readers find besides the stepmother's evil deeds?","answer":"Readers can see the father's responsibility to protect his family. His judgment, made without hearing his daughter's explanation, compounds the tragedy. The work's portrayal of its villains should not be generalized to all stepfamilies."}],"sources":[{"url":"https://ko.wikisource.org/wiki/파일:장화홍련전_한구000075.djvu","title":"Wikisource, National Hangeul Museum collection: facsimile of Janghwa Hongryeon jeon 한구000075","type":"source"},{"url":"https://ko.wikisource.org/wiki/색인:장화홍련전_한구000075.djvu","title":"Wikisource, Janghwa Hongryeon jeon 한구000075 index and text editing status","type":"source"},{"url":"https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0048918","title":"Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, Janghwa Hongryeon jeon","type":"source"}],"images":[{"id":2529,"url":"https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzkxNzUsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--a277aa40b2a08b06f31adfb9b6484c127140b509/ai-da71fb55.webp","is_representative":true,"generation_method":"ai_image","license":"ai_generated","mime_type":"image/webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"translations":{"ko":{"alt":"달빛과 안개가 깔린 관아 마당에서 한복 차림의 두 자매 혼령이 맞은편 사또를 바라본다.","caption":"한구000075본에서는 자매의 억울함이 밝혀지고 누명이 벗겨진다.","description":null},"en":{"alt":"Two ghostly sisters in hanbok face a magistrate across a misty, moonlit courtyard.","caption":"In manuscript 한구000075, the sisters are cleared of false accusations.","description":null},"ja":{"alt":"月明かりと霧に包まれた役所の庭で、韓服姿の姉妹の霊が向かいの役人を見つめている。","caption":"写本한구000075では、姉妹の無実が明らかになり、濡れ衣が晴らされる。","description":null},"es":{"alt":"Dos hermanas fantasmales con hanbok miran a un magistrado en un patio con niebla bajo la luz de la luna.","caption":"En el manuscrito 한구000075, las hermanas quedan libres de las falsas acusaciones.","description":null},"id":{"alt":"Arwah dua saudari berhanbok menghadap pejabat di seberang halaman berkabut yang diterangi bulan.","caption":"Dalam naskah 한구000075, kedua saudari terbebas dari tuduhan palsu.","description":null},"pt":{"alt":"Duas irmãs fantasmagóricas de hanbok encaram um magistrado num pátio enevoado ao luar.","caption":"No manuscrito 한구000075, as irmãs são inocentadas das falsas acusações.","description":null},"zh-hant":{"alt":"月光與薄霧籠罩官衙庭院，兩名身穿韓服的姊妹幽魂背向觀者，望著對面的官員。","caption":"在한구000075抄本中，姊妹的冤情得以查明，污名獲得洗清。","description":null},"de":{"alt":"Zwei geisterhafte Schwestern im Hanbok blicken über einen nebligen Hof im Mondlicht zu einem Amtsrichter.","caption":"In der Handschrift 한구000075 werden die Schwestern von falschen Anschuldigungen entlastet.","description":null}}},{"id":2530,"url":"https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MzkxODEsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--f536c84cc81d8dc3bca63e360eeba72ca515df0c/ai-9d52158e.webp","is_representative":false,"generation_method":"ai_image","license":"ai_generated","mime_type":"image/webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"translations":{"ko":{"alt":"구름에 둘러싸인 좁은 돌길에서 등불이 켜진 저승 법정을 바라보는 한복 차림 여인의 뒷모습","caption":"한구000075본에서는 계모에 대한 징벌이 사후까지 이어진다.","description":null},"en":{"alt":"A woman in hanbok stands on a narrow stone path amid clouds, facing a lantern-lit court of the underworld.","caption":"In the selected manuscript, the stepmother’s punishment extends beyond death.","description":null},"ja":{"alt":"雲に囲まれた細い石道に立ち、灯籠のともる冥界の法廷を見つめる韓服姿の女性の後ろ姿","caption":"底本とした写本では、継母への罰が死後まで続く。","description":null},"es":{"alt":"Una mujer con hanbok, de espaldas en un sendero de piedra entre nubes, ante un tribunal del más allá con faroles.","caption":"En el manuscrito seleccionado, el castigo de la madrastra continúa después de la muerte.","description":null},"id":{"alt":"Perempuan berhanbok membelakangi pengamat di jalan batu di antara awan, menghadap pengadilan alam baka berpelita.","caption":"Dalam naskah yang dipilih, hukuman bagi ibu tiri berlanjut setelah kematian.","description":null},"pt":{"alt":"Mulher de hanbok, de costas num caminho de pedra entre nuvens, diante de um tribunal do além iluminado por lanternas.","caption":"No manuscrito selecionado, o castigo da madrasta continua após a morte.","description":null},"zh-hant":{"alt":"一名身穿韓服的女子背對觀者，站在雲霧環繞的狹窄石道上，面向燈籠亮起的冥府公堂","caption":"所選抄本中，對繼母的懲罰延續至死後。","description":null},"de":{"alt":"Eine Frau im Hanbok steht mit dem Rücken zum Betrachter auf einem Steinweg in Wolken vor dem Gericht der Unterwelt.","caption":"In der ausgewählten Handschrift reicht die Bestrafung der Stiefmutter über den Tod hinaus.","description":null}}}],"published_at":"2026-11-07T05:59:35+09:00","updated_at":"2026-11-07T05:59:35+09:00","license":"cc_by","translation_status":"reviewed","available_locales":["ko","en","ja","es"],"data_locales":["ko","en","ja","es","id","pt","zh-hant","de"],"url":"https://injoys.com/en/articles/janghwa-hongryeonjeon-manuscript-story-and-variant-endings"}