The Nine Cloud Dream by Kim Man-Jung

The Nine Cloud Dream by Kim Man-Jung

A Buddhist journey reminscent of Dante's Inferno exploring the illusions of human life, published here in the first new translation in forty years

Often considered the greatest work of classic Korean fiction, The Nine Cloud Dream poses the question: will the life we dream of truly make us happy? A historical novel set in 9th-century Tang China, its wondrous story begins when a young monk living on a sacred Lotus Peak succumbs to the temptation of eight fairy maidens. As punishment for disobeying his master and doubting his Buddhist teachings, the monk is reincarnated as the most ideal of men. On his journey he encounters the eight fairies in human form, each one furthering his journey towards understanding the fleeting value of his good fortune. As his successes build, he comes closer and closer to finally comprehending a fundamental truth of the Buddha's wisdom: that reality and dreams are ultimately indistinguishable.

“Man-Jung’s tale is a hypnotic journey, a scholarly, instructive Buddhist bildungsroman set across Tang dynasty China, and in Insu Fenkl’s skilled translation, a glimpse into the rich crossroads of religions and society therein”—Publishers Weekly

Kim Man-jung (1637-1692) is generally accepted as the author of The Nine Cloud Dream (also known as Kuunmong), often considered the greatest classic Korean novel, which he is said to have composed in exile to comfort his mother. A member of the yangban (ruling class) literari, he rose to become the head of the Confucian Academy. His other works include The Record of Lady Sa's Journey South (Sassi Namjeongg).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780143131274
ISBN 10	0143131273
Title	The Nine Cloud Dream
Author	Kim Man-Jung
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Penguin Books Ltd
Year published	2019-07-04
Number of pages	288
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.