286 pol vanden broucke and sem vermeersch
At that time, Chöng Kong 56 was sent on a mission to Tang. He
met Hyet’ong and said: “The venomous dragon that you have driven
out has come to our country and is doing much harm. Please expel it
quickly.” In the second year of Linde ,^57 lch’uk , Hyet’ong
returned to Silla together with Chöng Kong and expelled the dragon.
[ This time], the dragon got angry at Chöng Kong and dwelled in a
willow tree that stood outside the gate of his residence.^58 Chöng Kong
was unaware [of the presence of the dragon]. He just enjoyed the
dense foliage and was fond of the tree.
At that time, King Sinmun 59 died and King Hyoso
60 ascended the throne. A burial mound and a road for the funeral
procession were constructed. [But] Chöng Kong’s willow obstructed
the way and the authorities ordered the tree to be cut down. [ Then]
Chöng Kong said angrily: “It is better to cut off my head, do not cut
down this tree!” The of cials reported this to the king. He furiously
ordered his minister of justice,^61 saying: “Chöng Kong relies on the
supernatural techniques of Preceptor Wang. He is planning to disobey
and to disdain the king’s command. [Moreover], he says to have his
head cut off. Well, we should comply with his request.” Thereupon
they executed him and threw his family in a pit. Then the courtiers
entered into a discussion: “Since Preceptor Wang is very good friends
with Chöng Kong, he must be involved. [ Therefore] we should elimi-
nate him rst.” And so [the king] ordered armoured soldiers to arrest
Hyet’ong. Hyet’ong was at the Wangmang-sa.^62 When he saw
the soldiers coming [to the temple], he climbed on the roof carrying
a stone bottle, an ink-stone, red ink and a brush. He shouted: “Look
at what I am doing!” He drew a line [in red ink] around the neck of
the bottle and said: “It would be better for you to look at your neck.”
[ The soldiers] looked, and they all had a red line around their necks.
(^56) Otherwise unknown.
(^57) The year 665. »lch’uk is the cyclical sign. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong,
the fth year of the reign of King Munmu of Silla.
(^58) For the dragon as an inhabitant or protector of trees, see Visser 1913, pp. 15–16.
The same work also refers to a tale of a serpent or dragon as the spirit of a willow
on Köyasan (where the main temple complex of the Shingon esoteric sect of Japan is
located) in Japan. See ibid., pp. 202–203.
(^59) Died in 691; son of King Munmu who established Uni ed Silla in 668.
(^60) Crowned in 692, son of King Sinmun.
(^61) Sagu.
(^62) This temple was located in North Kyöngsang Province. See Yi 1996, p. 454 s.v.
Wangmang-sa.