Heinz Insu Fenkl

The perfect introduction to the world of Korean myth and legend. Korean myths are a living and evolving part of society, in both the North and South. With the export of Korean film across the globe, K-pop, fashion, K-dramas, literature and comics there is a growing desire to understand the folklore and mythical underpinnings of contemporary Korean Culture. Insu and Bella Fenkl bring together a wealth of knowledge of both the new and the old, the traditional and the modern to guide the reader through this fascinating history and help understand the people, their traditions and culture. From the Changsega (‘Song of Creation’) sung by shamans, to the gods, goddesses and monsters who inhabit the cosmos, including the god Mireuk, creator of the world, and the giant Grandma Mago, who was able to create mountains from the mud on her skirt, these myths have been disseminated for centuries and continue to resonate in popular culture today.

"A fascinating story of a young mixed-race man caught between two cultures, not knowing what to keep and what to leave behind."--James McBride, author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery StoreA "magnificent" (Ha Jin), "mesmerizing" (James McBride), and "magical" (Marie Myung-Ok Lee) fever dream of a novel that interweaves the coming-of-age of a 1970s Korean-American boy grappling with his identity and the impact of intergenerational trauma.Growing up outside a US military base in South Korea in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Insu--the son of a Korean mother and a German father enlisted in the US Army--spends his days with his "half and half" friends skipping school, selling scavenged Western goods on the black market, watching Hollywood movies, and testing the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. When he hears a legend that water collected in a human skull will cure any sickness, he vows to dig up a skull in order to heal his ailing Big Uncle, a geomancer who has been exiled by the family to a mountain cave to die.Insu's quest takes him and his friends on a sprawling, wild journey into some of South Korea's darkest corners, opening them up to a fantastical world beyond their grasp. Meanwhile, Big Uncle has embraced his solitude and fate, trusting in otherworldly forces Insu cannot access. As he recalls his wartime experiences of betrayal and lost love, Big Uncle attempts to teach his nephew that life is not limited to what we can see--or think we know.Largely autobiographical and sparkling with magical realism, Skull Water is the story of a boy coming into his own--and the ways the past haunts the present, in a country on the cusp of modernity, struggling to confront its troubled history. As Insu seeks the wisdom of his ancestors, what he learns, he hopes, will save not just his uncle but himself.

A "magnificent" (Ha Jin) and “magical” (Marie Myung-Ok Lee) fever dream of a novel that interweaves the coming-of-age of a 1970s Korean-American boy grappling with his identity and the impact of intergenerational trauma “A fascinating story of a young mixed-race man caught between two cultures, not knowing what to keep and what to leave behind.”—James McBride, author of The Color of Water Growing up outside a US military base in South Korea in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Insu—the son of a Korean mother and a German father enlisted in the US Army—spends his days with his “half and half” friends skipping school, selling scavenged Western goods on the black market, watching Hollywood movies, and testing the boundaries between childhood and adulthood. When he hears a legend that water collected in a human skull will cure any sickness, he vows to dig up a skull in order to heal his ailing Big Uncle, a geomancer who has been exiled by the family to a mountain cave to die. Insu’s quest takes him and his friends on a sprawling, wild journey into some of South Korea’s darkest corners, opening them up to a fantastical world beyond their grasp. Meanwhile, Big Uncle has embraced his solitude and fate, trusting in otherworldly forces Insu cannot access. As he recalls his wartime experiences of betrayal and lost love, Big Uncle attempts to teach his nephew that life is not limited to what we can see—or think we know. Largely autobiographical and sparkling with magical realism, Skull Water is the story of a boy coming into his own—and the ways the past haunts the present in a country on the cusp of modernity struggling to confront its troubled history. As Insu seeks the wisdom of his ancestors, what he learns, he hopes, will save not just his uncle but himself.

A must-have collection of folktales for anyone interested in Korean literature and culture!Tales of Korea is a classic collection of Korea's best-known folktales—presenting all the imagination and wonder of Korean storytelling in a single volume. Collected and written down by Yi Ryuk and Im Bang over three centuries ago, these 53 tales explore fantasy worlds filled with enchanted animals, fairies, goblins, ghosts, princesses and more!The stories collected in this volume include: "The Home of the Fairies" —A young man happens upon a magical fairy town where he stays for several years before returning home to an uncertain future. "Charan"— A beautiful dancing girl befriends a governor's son. As their friendship blossoms into love, their lives take an unexpected and agonizing turn! "Ten Thousand Devils"— A prince welcomes a distant relative for a visit only to discover that the guest controls thousands of evil creatures that converge on the prince's home. "An Encounter with a Hobgoblin"— A man experiences horrifying visitations in his home and fears that he is living with a sinister force! "The Snake's Revenge"— After a soldier kills a snake, the reptile is reborn as the man's son and seeks revenge in a gruesome way!This new edition includes thirty full-color minhwa paintings (Korean folkart) to bring the magic and mystery of this collection of Korean folklore to life. A new foreword by Korean folklore expert Heinz Insu Fenkl explains the lasting importance of this fascinating collection of traditional stories. Tales of Korea is perfect for mythology fans and bedtime story lovers of all ages.