Kim Tŏngnyŏng

Kim Tŏngnyŏng (; 1567–1596) was a Joseon general who notably served during the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea. His alias was Chungjang. "His life and acts are recorded in Yŏllyŏsil kisul (Narratives of Yŏllyŏsil) and story collections like Tongp'ae naksong (Tales of the Eastern Kingdom for Repeated Recitation) and Taedong kimun (Strange Tales of the Great East)." It is believed that his story is an epic which tells about a national hero who was frustrated.

Background Kim Tŏngnyŏng was born in Gwangju near Mount Mudeung in 1567 (the first year of King Seonjo's reign). He was born into a low-status family, descended from the Gwangsan Kim clan. His father was Kim Pungsŏp and his mother was Lady Pan from the Nampyeong Pan clan.

According to legend, Kim was strong enough to catch a tiger with his bare hands and chased them to rescue his friends. He also carried a 60 Kg iron hammer on his waist. He commanded as a champion in wrestling competitions across the country, winning all the oxen offered as the prize. Troubled with his boasting, Kim's older sister disguised herself as a man and defeated Kim in a wrestling contest. Later, when Kim learned that he had lost to his sister, he came up with a life and death contest proposal against her. He was given the task of climbing Mt. Mudeung within a day while his sister had to make a coat by weaving hemp. Upon his arrival from the mountain, Kim noticed that his sister had purposely left the coat undone. He then killed his sister after claiming himself as the winner.

Kim was taught by Sŏng Hon from the age of 20. According to legends, Kim's father prepared the tombs for his ancestors on an auspicious location identified by an eminent Chinese geomancer that would produce a hero, after which Kim Tŏngnyŏng was born.

Military career In 1592, when Japan invaded Korea to subdue the Japanese, Kim raised an army in the cause of justice along with his brother. He reached Jeonju and fends off the Japanese army, who were trying to infiltrate Jeolla Province. However, on his brother's persuasion, Kim returned home to support their mother. In 1593, after his mother's demise, Kim was persuaded to raise an army by Damyang magistrate Yi Kyŏngnin , and Jangseong County Governor Yi Kwi.

Death According to the legends, when the Japanese invaded, Kim refused to go to the front. He was then in mourning for his sister and during that period it was a taboo to kill living beings. It is believed that he used his supernatural powers to threaten and drove off the enemies. For this, he was charged with failing to kill his enemies and was produced to the court as a traitor. The court attempted to execute Kim but failed as he was considered to be invulnerable. Later, Kim demanded a plaque from the king that read, "Kim Tŏngnyŏng, Loyal Subject of All Ages", only to reveal his weakness. When his proposal was accepted, he told his executors that he would die if they removed the scales behind his knees and struck him three times. He died in prison after enduring six bouts of severe torture over twenty days.

There are various versions of Kim Tŏngnyŏng's legend.

"Within the oral tradition, Kim Tŏngnyŏng is acknowledged as the top martial hero during the Japanese invasions, and it is believed that Kim was so courageous that if he had been able to engage in battle, he would have easily ended the war."

"Kim's execution due to false accusations is historically accurate and the legend, as an archetype of the tragic historical hero tale, reflects a critical view that the kingdom's ruling class killed a reputed general for political gain."