A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Yee Man-ji repairs official quarters in North Ham-kyong that others avoid as haunted. At night three indistinct figures emerge from the inner rooms, each resembling a tree stump wrapped in black sackcloth. They hop into his office, sit in a row and press closer until he is backed against a wall.
When challenged, the middle figure repeatedly says it is hungry. Yee promises food, recites a formula and snaps his fingers; the figures seem afraid. He attempts to punch one but misses, injuring his hand on the floor. They leave complaining about his treatment of guests. He sacrifices oxen the next day, and they do not return. The encounter includes both confrontation and an offering, rather than a victory achieved by physical force alone.
Origins & earliest records
Korea; tale-specific historical narrative
Records & interpretation
Complete story and attribution read in the 1913 English witness; no independent confirmation of supernatural events.
In the literature
“stump of a tree wrapped in black sackcloth”
Tale33, The Fearless Captain, printed p.163 (Gutenberg marker175) · James S. Gale
The first visitor’s indistinct appearance is repeated by two companions.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies
Tale 33, “The Fearless Captain”, printed pp. 162–164 (Gutenberg page labels 174–176). English translation date, not the date of the narrated event.
- 02
Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies — The Fearless Captain
London:J.M.Dent/NewYork:E.P.Dutton1913, actual title page. Gale preface distinguishes Im Bang old manuscript, thirteen Yi Ryuk stories from1911 reprint, and three anonymous selections. Complete selected chapter/signature read; no Korean manuscript collation. Printed pagination checked in retained1913 PDF OCR; Gutenberg body markers are printed+12, physical PDFpages printed+16. No new page-pixel claim. Gale death1937 confirmed by UniversityToronto archival finding aid.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies
Im Bang; James S. Gale translation, London Dent/New York Dutton, 1913. Tale 33, “The Fearless Captain”, pp. 174–176
Complete story and author signature read from cached Gutenberg51002 HTML. Translator’s bracketed introductions and author notes distinguished from narrative. No illustration claimed.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Fairies
London:J.M.Dent/NewYork:E.P.Dutton1913, actual title page. Gale preface distinguishes Im Bang old manuscript, thirteen Yi Ryuk stories from1911 reprint, and three anonymous selections. Complete selected chapter/signature read; no Korean manuscript collation. Printed pagination checked in retained1913 PDF OCR; Gutenberg body markers are printed+12, physical PDFpages printed+16. No new page-pixel claim. Gale death1937 confirmed by UniversityToronto archival finding aid.
- Yee survives a lightning episode in which his family later dies, moves to North Ham-kyong and restores haunted official quarters. Three indistinct sackcloth-wrapped stump-like figures approach until he is against the wall. The middle asks for food. He promises it, recites an unnamed formula and snaps his fingers. His punch misses, wounding his hand; the figures object to mistreatment of guests and leave. He offers slaughtered oxen next day and they do not return. The closing writer note connects survival with courage.
Tale33, The Fearless Captain, printed pp.162–164, whole account and Note
Formula not copied. Failure of physical attack, offering and departure all preserved. Im Bang’s fear/death theory is attributed literary interpretation, not medical evidence or advice.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical primary narrative translationTale 33, “The Fearless Captain”, printed pp. 162–164 (Gutenberg page labels 174–176) — Im Bang, Gale translationResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.