Blade of the Phantom Master (Webtoon)/Folktale and History

The many stories of **Blade of the Phantom Master** are inspired by various Korean folktales and historical events (i.e. the Tale of Chunhyang), as well as a few Japanese and Chinese folkore and history. Many of these references are actually mentioned in the original manga under the author's footnotes, but after being remade into a Webtoon, those footnotes were left out. However, supposedly some of Inwan's footnotes are incorrect according to Korean readers. Which is factual and not is not clear.

Below is a complete list of the historical/folktale references. The list within each category is organized by order of appearnce:

## Historical References

* **Royal Inspectors** - the title given to Munsu and other Royal Inspectors (i.e. Miss Hwang) is an actual historical position during the Joseon Dynasty appointed by the king to serve as an undercover official sent to local provinces to monitor government officials. They were provided with certain documents and a "horse requisition tablet" called mapae (마패), which presumably is where the concept of the Mahai comes from. After their secret surveillance was completed, they would revealed themselves by presenting the mapae and their inspected results. After their mission, they would return to the capital and report to the king. Of course, there are no phantom soldiers or supernatural magic involved.

* **Obasute/Goryeojang** - in the Obaste Tribe Arc (Episodes 12 to 15), the villagers carry the elderly into the mountains, abandoning them there. Munsu then punishes these villagers for their cruelty. The story is based on an ancient practice in Japan and Korea (and possibly other parts of Asia) of carrying the elderly when they reach a certain age and abandoning them in the mountains or plains. In Japan, it is known as Ubasute/Obasute, while in Korea, it was known as Goryeojang or Goryeo Burial. There was also a film of the same name in 1963 that depicts this custom and tells of a man who decides to break it. The tribe in Blade of the Phantom Master is named Obaste tribe in reference to the Ubasute/Obasute tradition.

* **Jurchen** - the group of bandits who try to invade the Silla fortress in Ep.16, but are defeated by Munsu. The Jurchen were a historical ethnic group that originated in northeastern China and parts of North Korea. During the Jin Dynasty, the Jurchens established a powerful empire that encompassed parts of present-day China and North Korea. During the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) and the early Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), there were several conflicts between the Jurchen people and Korea. According to Inwan, part of the inspiration to use the Jurchen comes from Natsuki Sumeragi’s “Richou Angyouki”, which is a manga about a Royal Inspector from the Joseon Era. It articulates the history of that time and the sentiments of the people of that era. One of the stories within it, “The Northern Gale”, has a Jurchen. Apparently in Korean history, there are records of Royal Inspectors fighting the Jurchen, but not much material can be found. Even Inwan, when writing Blade of the Phantom Master, had to inquire a historicist who had written books related to the Royal Inspectors in order to get more information about the Jurchen and their interactions with the Royal Inspectors. For that reason, Inwan states how he was quite surprised that a Japanese writer was able to write that kind of historical material into their manga. Furthermore, the catchphrase “The Royal Inspector is here” comes from the manga as well.

* **Sando** - the warrior who ends up joining Munsu in his journey, protecting him when summoned. According to some sources, "Sando" was a position designated to someone who would protect the Royal Inspector.  Presummably, this was the motif used as inpsiration for Sando in Blade of the Phantom Master. However, information about the title "Sando" is not as widely available.

* **Bangja** - the footman who was seeking to serve a Royal Inspector and encountered Munsu in Ep.36. Bangja ("방자") can be literally translated as "footman". According to some historical sources, Bangja was originally a position designated for people responsible for the manual labor collected by government officials for discretionary use. A Royal Inspector could have one or two Bangja assigned to them to serve as secretaries. Furthermore, Bangja was also a character in the Korean tale "The Tale of Chunhyang." He was a loyal servant or companion to Mongryong, Chunghyung's lover. In the tale, often played the role of a confidant and a source of comic relief, adding a layer of humor.

* **Eulpaso** - part of the trio (other two being Wonsul and Wonhyo) serving Ajitae appearing first in episode 41, has his name based on the historical character Eulpaso, a prime minister and famous strategist during the Goguryeo era who was a scholarly advisor to the Emperor at that time. However, apart from the name, Inwan reveals in his footnotes that the Eulpaso in the Webtoon is nothing like the actual historical figure. Not only is his personality completely different than historical figure, the original Eul Paso most likely never used firearms or weapons as he was only a scholarly advisor.

* **Wonsul** - the famous swordsman serving Ajitae alongside Wonhyo and Eulpaso debuting in episode 44, is based on the historical figure Kim Wonsul from Silla. His father was a famous general who helped restore peace to the kingdom. Wonsul was trained as a warrior since childhood and selected as part of the Hwarang (a group of youth who excelled in martial arts and academics). Many had high expectations for Wonsul and expected him to take over his father's position. However, during a battle, the Hwarang were defeated and Wonsul was the one of the survivors who escaped. He was accused of not having the Im Jeon Mu Twae spirit, which means the willingness to die for one’s country rather than retreating. He was sternly reprimanded by his father, disowned, and ended up living in the mountains. Nonetheless, he did get the opportunity to fight again and accumulate feats as great as his father, but his father never forgave him.

* **Hwarang** - it is mentioned in Ep.--- that Wonsul was part of the Hwarang, which is in the Webtoon were an elite group of youth. Likewise in history, the Hwarang existed and were known as the Flowering Knights, an elite warrior group of male youth in the Kingdom of Silla.

* **Wonhyo** - leader of the trio serving under Ajitae, first appearing in Ep.44. Wonhyo was a famous monk living during the Unified Silla period (617 – 686). He lived without worries, immersing himself in truth, achieving great understanding of the world. According to Inwan Youn, in Korea, monks are often seen as master enchanters, owing that mostly to the emergence of secret cults and the discovery of various Asian enchantment schools related to exorcism. There are quite a few tales of Wonhyo that have been passed down in the form of children’s stories as well as engraved drawings. Some have claimed that his enchantments could cause tidal waves or bring lightning strikes against an enemy. Because of these stories, many children often mistaken monks as magic users. Thus, according to Inwan, Wonhyo’s character was created from his impression on monks when he was a child.

* **Ajitae** - the main antagonist of the story, first appearing in Ep.40, disguised as a traveller. Ajitae is likely based on the historical character who was central in the “Ajitae Incident” of 913, during the end of the Later Three Kingdoms period. Possessing a cunning and deceitful personality, Ajitae was skilled in manipulation and intrigue. He falsely accused others to gain favor and power, leading to a web of suspicion and conflict. When Gung Ye, the ruler of the time, showed interest in Ajitae's slanderous behavior, he used this opportunity to falsely accuse certain individuals of rebellion. However, this was exposed by Wang Geon, one of the opposing factions against Gng Ye’s rule. Ajitae’s exposure and confession eventually leads to the fall of Gung Ye’s rule and Wang Geon's rise, paving the way for the foundation of the Goryeo dynasty.  The events were loosely portrayed in the TV drama "태조 왕건" (Taejo Wang Geon) which aired on KBS 1TV. Just like the historical Ajitae, the Ajitae in Blade of the Phantom Master has many of the same characteristics, especially in terms of cunningness and manipulation, as well as being a central figure who contributed to the downfall of an empire (Jyushin).

* **Nongae** - According to Inwan, her character is based on the historical Nongae Ju, a gisaeng of Jinju during the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. During the Imjin War, the Japanese force invaded the Korean peninsula and succeeded in their invasion of Suyeong Fortress in 1593. To celebrate the victory, the Japanese forces gathered the gisaeng to serve them at the Choseokru Pavilion on a cliff that overlooked the Nam River. Among them was Nongae. In order to avenge the death of her countrymen, she lured a drunk Japanese general to the edge of the cliff. She locked the general in an embrace with her rings and jumped into the river taking the general with her. According to 1868 records in Gyobang Gayo written by a local official, to commemorate Nongae’s sacrifice, during the 5th year of King Gojong's reign, it is said a festival called Uiam Byeolje took place every June to pay respects to her spirit. Currently, there is a shrine to the memory of Nongae near Chokseokru, in central Jinju. Around the fortress, the Nongae festival has been celebrated every May since 2002 to honor and preserve the memory of Nongae. The story of Nongae is meant to encourage people to emulate the admirable spirit of self-sacrifice in the service of one’s country.

* **Goguryeo** - After the defeat of the Fredenica invading army during the Pyeonggang Arc, the Kingdom of Chilgap is latter renamed by Pyeonggang to Goguryeo, which is the name of one fo the three Korean kingdoms during the Three Kingdom Era: the Goguryeo Dynasty.

* **Youngsil** - Mito’s assistant in the mountain cottage who had betrayed Munsu by turning to Ajitae, is based on the historical character Yeong Sil Jang who lived during the reign of King Sejong in the Joseon Era during the 1400s. He was half Korean and half Chinese so was often discriminated, even by the poor. His talents, however, were eventually recognized by the king and he came to become one of Korea's greatest scientific researchers, being the first to invent a weather forecast system. As he had great curiosity for nature and creation, he invented many things to study nature, such as the sundial clock, the water clock, and the telescope. Likewise, Youngsil in the Webtoon is an inventor who creates all sorts of inventions, including the telescope.

* **Pyeonggang** -

* **The Sambyeolcho Unit** - the Sambyeolcho unit that was revered as a legend in Jyushin and that Ajitae revives from the dead is inspired by a military unit of the Goryeo dynasty when the Choe family held the reins of power as military dictators behind puppet kings. It is a combination of three special units, the Special Night Unit, the Special Unit of the Left and the Special Unit of the Right. Furthermore, Jungson, one of the leaders of the Sambyeolcho in Blade of the Phantom Master, is based on Bae Jungson (배중손, 裴仲孫), a historical character who had led the Sambyeolcho to revolt against the king as they resented the government's peace term with the Mongols. The rebellion was crushed by the Goryeo-Yuan alliance.

* **Gyewolhyang** - According to Inwan’s footnotes, Kyewolhyang is based on the historical character of Wolhyang Kye, the concubine of Eungseo Kim, the General of Pyongyang (present day North Korea) during the Imjin War (circa. 1590 A.D.). There are two versions of the story. The first, according to Inwan Youn, is that after the Japanese invasion, Pyongyang fell and Wolhyang was captured. Because of her beauty, she was forced to become the concubine of General Konishi Yukinaga and raped. Wolhyang One day, Wolhyang tricked the subordinates of Yukinaga into drinking themselves into a stupor at a dinner party. This allowed Eungseo to infiltrate the castle and kill all the sleeping captains. When Eungseo tried to convince Wolhyang to escape with him, she replied that since she had sullied her body, she was no longer worthy of happiness and committed suicide on the spot. In the other version, according to Wikipedia, Wolhyan was actually ordered by General Eungseo to infiltrate and seduce the Japanese commander, then leading General Eungeo to behead the Japanese commander. However, only Eungseo managed to escape while Wolhyang was caught and then executed for her ploy. In Korea, there is a saying: "Nongae in the South, Wolhyang in the North." Like Nongae, Wolhyang is also the archetype of a strong, uncompromising woman. However, she is not very well known in South Korea as she lived in North Korea. Supposedly, there is an annual celebration in North Korea honoring her heroic acts.

* **Silla** - During the Jurchen Invasion Arc, Munsu helps the young lord to defend against the outsiders. It is revealed during the final battle that this young lord's territory is called "Silla", one of the Three Kingdoms in early Korean history.

### Geographical Sites

* **Chilgap** - Chilgap Mountain is situated in the central part of South Korea, specifically in the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do. However, it doesn't seem to have much cultural or historical significance.

* **Baekdu** - a volcanic mountain on the border between North Korea and China. The summit of the mountain is the highest point in both North Korea and the northeastern region of China. It is considered a sacred and culturally significant site in Korean history as it is associated with the founding of the Goguryeo Kingdom and is often considered the birthplace of Dangun, the legendary founder of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom.

* **Seoroksan** - a famous mountain in the Gangwon Province of South Korea. Seoraksan is one of the most iconic and beautiful mountains in South Korea, attracting both hikers and tourists throughout the year.

* **Gimhae** - the city where Hwalbindang attacked in order to claim its gold during the Hwalbindang Arc. Historically, it is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is located on the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, it is known for its association with gold, particularly due to the presence of the Geumgwanchong Tomb (금관총), also known as the Golden Crown Tomb. This tomb is one of the Royal Tombs of the Silla Dynasty which gained its name because of the discovery of a golden crown at the site.

## Folkore

* **Tale of Chunhyuang** - it is one of the best known love stories and folk tales of Korea. It is based on the pansori Chunhyangga, the most famous of the five surviving pansori tales. The events of Mongryong and Sando are loosely based on this tale. In the tale, Mongryong falls in love with Sando and even has a servant named Bangja. They were arranged to marry, but when Mongryong has to leave with his father to another city, the two make a promise to stay faithful until they meet up. During that time, a corrupt new government official, Byeon, takes over, and attemps to take Chunhyang for himself. At her refusal, Byeon is angered and imprisons her. Mongryong becomes a secret royal inspector and under disguise returns to Chunhyuan's village to find Byeon's abuse of power. He pretends to be a penniless person and in Byeon's birthday celebration, shows up uninvited and reveals his identity. Chunhyang and Mongryong end up together. Unlike the original tale, in Blade of the Phantom Master, Mongryong dies in the process of becoming a royal inspector and it is Munsu who punishes Byeon on Mongryong's behalf. Chunhyang becomes a Sando. Lastly, Bangja was not Mongryong's servant, but presumably that is where the name comes from.

* **Jun** - Jun in the Zombie Island Arc, who sought out Munsu's help to unveil the truth of his master who may have been a demon, is loosely based on the historical character Heo Jun.

* **Euitae Yoo** - Jun's teacher and the demon from the Black Wing Tribe. His name is based on the character Euitae Riu, who is a fictional medical doctor and teacher of Heo Jun. Recent literary have attempted to prove that though a fictional character, he is a motif of Yoo I-tae, a real person in the late Joseon Dynasty.

* **Hwanung** - Wonhyo's iconic summons, was an important sage in Korean legend, Dan-gun Shinwa. He is equivelent to Jesus Christ. In addition, Inwan found a quote about him "Hwanung was a tragic sage who gave up immortaility to become a man and was punished by the heavens." This quote is what Inwan decided to design Hwanung in the webtoon.

* **Woodcutter and Tiger Brother** - during the travel to get to the mountains to find the blacksmith, Ep.77 to Ep.79, Munsu and company encounter a tiger who apparently was fooled by the villager to believe he was his lost brother. This story is based on the Korean folktale, "The Woodcutter and Tiger Brother". In the original folktale, the woodcutter encountered a tiger in the woods, in order to save his life, he made up a story, telling hte tiger that he was his long lost brother and how their mother had been crying since he was gone, making dinner every night till his return. The tiger was taken aback and continued listening. The woodcutter told him that sadly their mother had passed away, pretending to cry. The tiger was fooled, crying himself, and spared the woodcutter. Ever since, the tiger would bring offerings to their mother's grave, though the woodcutter did not until one day, the offerings stopped showing up and it wasn't until one day three baby tigers appeared saying calling him uncle and telling him that their mama tiger had passed away, yet they wanted to honor their grandma. The woodcutter was moved to tears himself. However, unlink in the folktale, in the Webtoon, the tiger is actual a manifestation the wild ginseng, a spirit that grants the wishes of people with pure hearts. It granted the wish of the villager, which was for her mother to rest in peace.

* **Tale of Ondal the Idiot** - Pyeonggang's Arc is losely based on the Tale of Ondal the Idiot. The tale is set in the palace of King Pyeongwon of Goguryeo. Princess Pyeonggang was a such a crybaby daughter whose crying got on the king’s nerves so much that he often threatened to marry her off to Ondal the Idiot if she didn’t stop. Ondal was an infamous beggar who lived outside the palace gates and was supposedly as ugly as a donkey. Because of his ugliness, dirty clothes, and seemingly foolish behavior, the people ridiculed him, calling him “The Idiot.” When the princess turned 16, her father attempted to marry her off to a wealthy and powerful noble. Her daughter, however, in her stubborness insister her father marry her off to Ondal. King Pyeongwon explained that he had been teasing her and that it was only a joke, but the princess would not relent. The princess left the palace in search of Ondal. Upon arriving at Ondal's home, she explained she wanted to marry Ondal. Ondal was reasonably suspicious, but after seeing Pyeonggang's sincerity, he agreed. Ondal eventually became an excellent soldier and became a general in the royal army. The legend has it that he led the Goguryeo's victory against the Zhou Dynasty in China, singlehandidly killing 20 soldiers in a instant. During the Pyeonggang Arc of Blade of the Phantom Master, Pyeonggang is also a princess, daughter of Pyeongwon. She was also a crybaby when young, so her father would lie to her that he would marry her to Ondal (althought in Blade of the Phantom Master, Ondal is rumored to be a monster in the forest). When she encounters Ondal and realizes he is not a monster, she eventually falls in love with Ondal. Furthermore, in the end of the arc, Pyeonggang declares the land an independent country of Goguryeo.

* **Tale of Hong Gildong and Hwalbindang** - Gildong Hong and Hwalbindang are from the "**Tale of Hong Gildong**", written during the Joseon Dynasty. In the tale, Hong Gildong is an illegitimate son of a nobleman and his lowborn concubine. He is gifted with high intelligence and supernatural abilities, using it to steal from the rich and corrupt aristocrats. Some have compared them with the English folk hero Robin Hood. In the same way, Gildong in Blade of the Phantom Master is also an illegitimate child, though a daughter and not son, and eventually forms the Hwalbindang to act like a sort of Robin Hood group, stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

* **Samguk Yusa** - a Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms with a collection of legends, folktales and historical accounts. The concept throughout Blade of the Phantom Master of animals becoming humans and vice-verse may have come from the Samguk Yusa as the Samguk Yusa includes many tales of foxes, dragons and tigers taking human form. Examples of animals taking human form in Blade of the Phantom Master include:
	+ Munsu's journey in the Alpine Mountains where he encounters a woman who is in fact a fox.
	+ Ajitae's aide, Mago, who can freely transform into a panther and vice-versa.
	+ Ajitae's companion goose, Miru, who in fact is a child.
* **Samguk Sagi** - A historical accounts of the Three Kingdoms. Munsu's friend and Jyushin's King, Mosu Hae, may have had his name based on Mosu Hae on the Samguk Saki. In the Samguk Sagi, Mosu Hae was the founder of Buyeo and father of Goguryeo's founder, Jumong. Furthermore, according to the Haemosusinhwa (Myth of Haemosu), Mosu Hae is the sun god and son of the Celestial Emperor. He descends to earth with a hat made of crow feathers riding on a carriage pulled by fire dragons.

## Japanese

* **Obasute/Goryeojang** - in the Obaste Tribe Arc (Episodes 12 to 15), the villagers carry the elderly into the mountains, abandoning them there. Munsu then punishes these villagers for their cruelty. The story is based on an ancient practice in Japan and Korea (and possibly other parts of Asia) of carrying the elderly when they reach a certain age and abandoning them in the mountains or plains. In Japan, it is known as Ubasute/Obasute, while in Korea, it was known as Goryeojang or Goryeo Burial. There was also a film of the same name in 1963 that depicts this custom and tells of a man who decides to break it. The tribe in Blade of the Phantom Master is named Obaste tribe in reference to the Ubasute/Obasute tradition.

* **Mito** - the blacksmith who can create the medallions for the Royal Inspectors appearing first in episode 94. According to Inwan Youn in his footnotes in original manga version, Mito was based on Mito Kōmon (also known as Tokugawa Mitsukuni), a daimiyo under Edo Bakufu’s founder, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was responsible for assembling the Mitogaku scholars to compile the Dai Nihonshi, a book on the history of Japan redacting the history from Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan, to Emperor Go-Komatsu after the merging of the Southern Court and Northern Court in 1392. During the latter half of the Edo period and the Meiji period, there were fictionalized accounts of the travel of Mito Kōmon in the tale named "Mito Mitsukuni Man'yūki". This was later continued with a novel and, in 1951, into a television series, portraying him as an Angyo Onshi (Japanese version of Korean Royal Inspects) in Japan. According to the show, after retiring as a daimyo, he would travel with friends to correct injustices, much like the Royal Inspectors. Just like Royal Inspectors would flash their medallions as proof of their identity, Mito would display a jewel box that had the Tokugawa family seal. However, in the Webtoon, Mito was neither a daimiyo nor a Royal Inspector, but more of a sorcerer, but like Mito Kōmon, he does have a strong sense of justice.

* **Musashi**- the Hapki creator who trains Sando under Ajitae's request. His name is most like based off of Miyato Musashi, one of the most famous and revered swordsmen in Japanese history during the tumultuous Sengoku and early Edo periods. He was a ronin, a masterless samurai, and was best known for his exceptional skills in martial arts, particularly in swordsmanship.

## Chinese

* **Jurchen** - a nomadic tribe in northern China. They are the group trying to take over Silla fortress. The Jurchen were a historical ethnic group that originated in northeastern China and parts of North Korea. During the Jin Dynasty, the Jurchens established a powerful empire that encompassed parts of present-day China and North Korea. During the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) and the early Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), there were several conflicts between the Jurchen people and Korea. According to Inwan, part of the inspiration to use the Jurchen comes from Natsuki Sumeragi’s “Richou Angyouki”, which is a manga about a Royal Inspector from the Joseon Era. It articulates the history of that time and the sentiments of the people of that era. One of the stories within it, “The Northern Gale”, has a Jurchen. Apparently in Korean history, there are records of Royal Inspectors fighting the Jurchen, but not much material can be found. Even Inwan, when writing Blade of the Phantom Master, had to inquire a historicist who had written books related to the Royal Inspectors in order to get more information about the Jurchen and their interactions with the Royal Inspectors. For that reason, Inwan states how he was quite surprised that a Japanese writer was able to write that kind of historical material into their manga. Furthermore, the catchphrase “The Royal Inspector is here” comes from the manga as well.

* **Yonghe/雍和** - An awful harbinger of natural disaster. It has a yellow body, an ape face, and red eyes. Often also regarded as an ancient god of panic and fear.

* **Yegouzi/野狗子** - A brain-eating monster that has a long tongue. During the Great Demon War, Wonsul helps kill most of these brain-eating monsters. They are based on monsters (野狗子) from the Chinese classic "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio", which is a collection of Classical Chinese stories by the Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling, implicitly criticize societal problems. Furthermore, there is a new game being made based on the Yegouzi called Slitterhead.

## References

1. ↑ https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%8B%A0%EC%95%94%ED%96%89%EC%96%B4%EC%82%AC/%EB%B9%84%ED%8C%90%20%EB%B0%8F%20%EB%85%BC%EB%9E%80
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret\_royal\_inspector
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goryeojang
4. ↑ https://www.thenewslens.com/article/99787
5. ↑ https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%95%94%ED%96%89%EC%96%B4%EC%82%AC#%EB%B0%A9%EC%9E%90
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwarang
7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonhyo
8. ↑  https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%95%84%EC%A7%80%ED%83%9C
https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0034414
http://cheorwon.grandculture.net/cheorwon/toc/GC07800399
9. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nongae
10. ↑ based on footnotes by Inwan Youn in original manga version
11. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambyeolcho
12. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambyeolcho\_Rebellion
13. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryongwang\_Pavilion
14. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunhyangjeon
15. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264171294\_Famous\_medical\_doctor\_Yoo\_Itae's\_Study\_in\_the\_Chosun\_Dynasty https://www.mjmedi.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=32047
16. ↑ Shin Angyo Onshi, Ch. 7.7
17. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwanung
18. ↑ https://dokumen.tips/documents/the-tale-of-the-woodcutter-and-the-tiger.html
19. ↑ https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=122048
20. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong\_Gildong\_jeon
21. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samguk\_yusa
22. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samguk\_Sagi
23. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hae\_Mo-su\_of\_Buyeo
24. ↑ https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/5414
25. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dai\_Nihonshi
26. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa\_Mitsukuni#Mito\_K%C5%8Dmon
27. ↑ https://owlcation.com/humanities/88-Chinese-Legendary-Creatures
28. ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8E%E7%8B%97%E5%AD%90
29. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange\_Tales\_from\_a\_Chinese\_Studio
30. ↑ https://www.gamesradar.com/slitterhead-guide/