The Visit of the Man of God

In the thirty-third year of Mal-yok of the Mings (A.D. 1605), being

the year Eulsa of the reign of Son-jo, in the seventh moon, a great

rain fell, such a rain as had not been seen since the founding of

the dynasty. Before that rain came on, a man of Kang-won Province was

cutting wood on the hill-side. While thus engaged, an angel in golden

armour, riding on a white horse and carrying a spear, came down to

him from heaven. His appearance was most dazzling, and the woodman,

looking at him, recognized him as a Man of God. Also a Buddhist priest,

carrying a staff, came down in his train. The priest's appearance,

too, was very remarkable.

The Man of God stopped his horse and seemed to be talking with the

priest, while the woodcutter, alarmed by the great sight, hid himself

among the trees.

The Man of God seemed to be very angry for some reason or other,

raised his spear, and, pointing to the four winds, said, "I shall

flood all the earth from such a point to such a point, and destroy

the inhabitants thereof."

The priest following cried and prayed him to desist, saying, "This

will mean utter destruction to mortals; please let thy wrath rest

on me." As he prayed thus earnestly the Man of God again said,

"Then shall I limit it to such and such places. Will that do?"

But the priest prayed more earnestly still, till the Man replied

emphatically, "I have lessened the punishment more than a half already

on your account; I can do no more." Though the priest prayed still,

the Man of God refused him, so that at last he submissively said,

"Thy will be done."

They ended thus and both departed, passing away through the upper

air into heaven.

The two had talked for a long time, but the distance being somewhat

great between them and the woodman, he did not hear distinctly all

that was said.

He went home, however, in great haste, and with his wife and family

made his escape, and from that day the rain began to fall. In it

Mount Otai collapsed, the earth beneath it sank until it became a

vast lake, all the inhabitants were destroyed, and the woodcutter

alone made his escape.

Im Bang.