The Righteous Ghisang(Geisha) Nongae and her death for love

20170824 slowwalker

Korea was a traditional confucian society where females were supposed to inferior to male.
But it seems that korean females are doing better than korean males in all aspects of international and global level, for example, in sports, arts and etc.
In fact korean women were doing very well through our history, so I‘d like to continue a female story in history.
The one whom I’d like to post is Nongae who is well known as a righteous Ghisaeng(Geisha) in JInjoo where is located in Southern beach in Korea.

It was the Japanese invasion(1592AD) when Nongae had been living. She originally came from a noble family, but she became a Ghisaeng due to the ruin of her family. At that time in Choson dynasty, it was not rare that daughters of ruined family became Ghisaengs for money to support their family.

There was a nothing known about her family. But when Japan invaded Choson Dynasty, she was a concubine of general Choi Kyeonghoe.It was said that she was very talented writer especially in poem.

Nongae had supported for general Choi to fight against Japanese Army. At last 1593 AD in Jinjoo fortress, there was a fierce battle. Choson Army was defeated and all of generals and soldiers were killed in that battle. That was second battle in Jinjoo castle. At the first battle, Japanese were totally defeated. So Doyotomo Hideyoshi the ruler of Japan ordered to conquer the Jinjoo castle. Japanese Army had 100,000 soldier, but there were 9000 soldiers in Choson army. The battle had been continued for 6 days. The Choson army was defeated and all of soldiers were killed in action. Moreover civilians who had helped the Choson army were slaughtered. The massacred numbered was vary from 20,000 of Japanese record to 60,000 of Choson dynasty.

General Choi committed suicide after the defeat. Nongae, heard of his death, made up her mind to revenge to his husbands death. After the victory in the battle, Japanese commander had a party for his generals. Nongae, deceiving her identity, took part in the party and seduce a general to the rock by the river.

She hold him and jumped into the river. At that time she had put rings in all her fingers not to lose Japanese general

It was heroic behavior. Choson Dynasty erected monument for her.

The question occurred to me when I had visited there.

What made her sacrifice her life ?
There is a saying in Korea,” a man gives his life for one who acknowledge him, woman gives her chastity for a man who loves her.

I was told that General had loved her so much.
Her love was stronger than a fear of death.

Below is her shrine.