Girl Warrior and More

[Eowyn]

I have been wanting to register at this site for awhile, but hesitated since I am unfamiliar with how forums work. Hope I did things right!
What do you think about that girl warrior who works for Kyung Dae-Seung? At first, she was called "brother." Then she wore a dress one time when she came to stay with Kyung, and he said she looked beautiful. I like to see a woman warrior on the show. She probably had to fight all of her life, her and her brother. A few times Chief Huh looked at her strangely.
I love this show. Thank you Christy Kim, OF COURSE! I began watching one day when I was flipping channels. I first thought it was about the Mongols, because I had just finished reading a book about Mongol warlords. I love the acting, the music, the action, the scenery, the writing. I do hate to hear those final notes of music at the end of each show (when the picture freezes), because I am always left wanting more!
Here are some random thoughts (I don't believe there are any spoilers, mostly older stuff):
General Park's death, like many of the deaths, was so sad and filmed so dramatically with those different camera angles. Well done. When Ui-min went on that terrible rampage and Bu-jong left him, I felt she did so (besides disgust) to punish him so he would atone for his sins and redeem himself (he did stop drinking). I think Bu-jong is lovely, and she's a strong person. I was upset when she was thought dead and happy to see her come back (it also upset me when the girl that Kyung Dae-Seung liked was killed - the romance that was being built up ended so suddenly). Ui-min's first wife sort of grew on me. Her complaining makes me laugh out loud sometimes, but then I feel sorry for her. She seems more thoughtful lately (packing food for Master Duduel). I think she is now secretly glad to have Bu-jong at her side. How about Ui-min's earrings? They fall of when he is in a rage! Remember when he was so mad that he drank directly from the spout of the teapot (or alcohol pot)? What is that stuff they drink anyway?
More and more I think that the emperor is useless.
Finally, I was very touched by the scene between the Empress Dowager and Chung Jung-Bu when he was imprisoned. That scene was heart-rending.
By the way, my favorite character is Kyung Dae-Seung (yes, I'm in the Kyung club). Also, I think he's quite handsome in appearance.
I did buy and read (up to page 58 so far) the book "Generals and Scholars" by Edward J. Shultz about the military rule period in Korea. Yes, there all in there: Yi Ui-bang, Chung Jung-Bu, Yi-Ui-Min, Kyun, Keung Dae-Seung, Emperor Myong-Jong,etc. It's not in depth though (I just mean that you don't get too many interesting bits about their personalities). The burning of Chung Jung-Bu's beard is in there though, and I learned that the company of men (and woman!) who protect Kyung Dae-Seung are called his Tobang. A lot of the book is about General Ch'oe. A good book - easy to understand and, from what I have read, the only book in English about this period. It will be fun to see how far the show goes compared with the book! I would love to read some of the Koryoso (History of Koryo) and the Koryosa choryo (Essentials of Koryo history); from what I gather, these are the ancient annals by which the history was handed down (seems like its used in the show's narration).

[mikey]

Eowyn, looks like you got this forum's procedures figured out just fine

I also wondered about that woman who helps protect Kyung. They did call her "brother" at first, and I assumed he must be like age 10 or thereabouts to still have that voice. But, more and more, "brother" sure does look like a young woman to me, too.

I guess you missed the other key female warrior of the series (I think her name was “Olan”). She was an honorable and fearless warrior who (unfortunately) devotedly protected the evil, ambitious Muby. Olan took her own life a while back, but she was great, too.

The narrator always refers to the “Chronicles of Koryo” as the definitive historical record of the period. I have no idea if one of the two books you refer to might be it. Would have to be fascinating reading!

[Maalii]

I too was puzzled by when this character was first called "brother". I assumed this character was a female and figured there must be some underlying reason why she was called "brother".

Yes, Olan was a magnificent warrior. Olan's torture by Kyun's forces, when she refused to divulge the wounded UiBang's location, was gruesome (loading the rocks on her lap and crushing her knees and legs).

[Chung Kyun]

Chung Bu is a good guy but power made him crazy.just like yi ui-min is now becoming.it was sad when he was in prison.by the way didn't they say once that yi ui-bang young brother would come back with a army or something.i guess he could come back now that the chungs are dead.

[Moo In Shi Dae]

Yeah and dind't kyung dae seung tell him/her how beautiful he/she was in one episode?...

[FrederickII]

I don’t remember a mention of yi ui-bangs brother returning with an army. But I do remember the narrator saying that his descendants would form the Choson dynasty.

[Maalii]

Guest-Moo said:

Yeah and dind't kyung dae seung tell him/her how beautiful he/she was in one episode?...

He did in fact. This was just before Lieutenant Huh showed up and they fought their duel.

[Sushigirl]

I think Soran, the girl warrior who helps to protect Kyung, was called "Brother" at first because she fought among men and was dressed like a man, so Kyung and the others assumed she was a guy. As for the undertone of connection/attraction between Soran and Kyung, I wouldn't be surprised if they play on that a little more although I doubt anything substantial would develop between them.

And thank YOU, Eowyn!
Christy Kim

[Eowyn]

Thank you for the kind welcome, Mikey. And what an honor to be thanked by Christy Kim, the great Age of Warriors translator!

That's right! The girl warrior's name is Soran. Since she was called brother at first, I too tried to convince myself that she was a beautiful, young beardless boy! My theory is that she wears men's dress so as to be prepared to fight alongside her brother to protect their land (remember their ordeal with the Chungs). Also, I sometimes think she may be disguised in order to avoid being raped by pillaging soldiers. I wonder how hard her life is.

I do remember Olan now. She bit her tongue to die after being tortured for information on Yi Ui-bang's hiding place. She was brave. Was she also the one who I saw wondering in the wilderness in one episode (when I first started watching and didn't know too much).

I learned in the Generals and Scholars book (by Edward .J. Shultz) that those Chronicles of Koryo are the official and principal histories of Koryo. They also contain biographies of the famous (info is also gleaned from tomb inscriptions). When the author quotes from them, he calls them "the histories" and he'll write: "The histories relate..." I like how they're written straight-forward, like in a strong way. The author states that they were written during the Chosun dynasty (taken from records) by Confucian scholars who depicted the age of warriors as a dark time. I wonder if these annals are published in English somewhere. From what I see in the book's bibliography, the author used editions published in Seoul and Tokyo.

[chigirl68]

welcome aboard Eowyn. Hope to see around these boards more.