The origin of dream novels and the prototype of fantasy literature that is reproduced in each era
The essence of Korean classics that established full-fledged novel literature along with The Story of Hong Gildong

“Which of you, Seongjin and Soyou, is a dream and which is not a dream?”

Seongjin is the most intelligent and wise monk among the disciples of the great Tang Dynasty monk Yukwan Daesa.
Seongjin, who went to the water temple at the order of his teacher, drinks the wine served by the Dragon King and becomes dizzy. While washing his face under the lotus peak, he encounters the Palseonnyeo who had been looking for the Great Master Yukgwan.
After returning from talking to Palseonnyeo, Seongjin is tormented by worldly desires.
When Seongjin is scolded by his teacher and taken before King Yeomra, the eight fairies are also captured.
They are all led to the human world, and Seongjin is reincarnated as Yang Soyu, becomes a general, a prime minister, and achieves great feats, enjoying the rest of his life with eight women, only to realize that all of this was a one-night dream.

『Guunmong』 is a classic novel that reflects the ideals of a typical yangban society in the mid-Joseon period.
The 'Nine Clouds' in the title refers to the main characters Seongjin and Palseonnyeo, and the 'Nine Cloud Dream' refers to the dreams these nine people had.
This work borrows from 『Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms』, 『Journey to the West』, and 『Romance of the Three Kingdoms』 to show the themes of the transience of life and a fleeting dream, that is, the transience of life, through the protagonist Seongjin's one night's dream.
Kim Man-jung's "Nine Cloud Dreams" has become the prototype for works with a dream-like structure that continue to this day, and its theme is a classic novel that provides constant emotion and lessons.
It has been translated and published in seven countries, including the United States, Japan, Russia, and Italy.

If you read Jinshu's "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to children, they will remain still, but if you read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," some children will shed tears or immediately shout with joy. This is the power of novels.
─Kim Man-jung
I can confidently say that 『The Nine Cloud Dream』 is a work that boasts the highest level of quality among our novels and also contributed decisively to the blossoming of our novel history.
─ Song Seong-uk (translator)