ABSTRACT
The story is apparently one of thwarted, but eventually consummated love in fifteenth century China (Ming, Ch'eng-hua). The heroine lives as a man for most of the story. It is generally described as having been written first in hanmun. See Kim T'aejun, 71-72, who indicates that there is a translation by Kim Tongjin, (that is to say, in paperback edition: the title was advertised by Yongch'ang Sogwan and Hanhiing Sorim in 1925, and by Tokhung Sorim in 1935), Pak Songiii, 236-237, who adds little to this, and Kim Kidong, 424-427, who gives a very full description from his own manuscript in hanmun. The title presumably means "The Story of the Red and White Flower(s)", but I cannot see why from the above descriptions, and was not able to examine closely either of the texts which I have seen:
~ %'11 §.l-i::J Un?EflJ Hongbaekhwa tyon, manuscript, 3 vols. [Palace] -!-'lJ §.}-~ Hongb:lekhwa chyon, manuscript, 3 vols, 53, 49, 38 leaves (9 columns, 13 syllables), dated ~]Ji (~lTP 1903, etc.). Title on the cover ~,1(11£1'$ Hongbaekhwa chon. [A~i collection, Berkeley] This is a very nice manuscript in Palace style script. The catalogue dates it 1783, but there was apparently no sound reason for choosing that date.
