KoreanXSamurai

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KoreanXSamurai is a Manhwa about a young samurai named Jaeyoung (Korean for long living), who is descendant of legendary swordsman and murderer.

Contents

[edit] Setting

The setting takes place during around the Three Kingdoms of Korea,the Feudal age of Japan and The Han Dynasty of China. There for constant war and conquests are present. Fantasy and mythical creatures are also present in the world of KoreanXSamurai. However most the story takes place in the southern Korean kingdom Shilla. Only until when the crew of warriors have to cross sail to Japan to find 14 of the swords does the story change place. Also changes again when 39 of the swords are in China and Mongolia. The series end in the same place where it had all started, in Shilla, Korea.

[edit] Plot

A legendary swordsman skilled with the swordsmanship of Haedon Gumdo rampaged the country of Korean committing killing sprees. He then joined an invasion army for Japan. He continued to brutally attack and kill anyone who stood in his way or who he opposed as a threat to "his country." When the army was returned they were all arrested for treason and for an invasion without the approval of the emperor. And the murderous swordsman was one of those who were sentenced to death, but he swore that he would return from the afterlife to seek his revenge on those who killed him. it wasn't known until 2 years later did the Korean national guards discover that the swordsman was married and had a child. The child was the great grandfather of Jaeyoung, our main protagonist. Jaeyoung has no idea about his murderous ancestor and the reason why he is the most wanted man in all of Japan, Korea, and China. As he tries to discover the truth about his family's history and the mysterious stories behind the three swords he was given on his 16th birthday. He then is accompanied by young and clumsy Taoist, named Nai-oh. As the series progress Jaeyoung encounters many other foes and allies. Along with numerous bounty hunters, who would love nothing more than to bring in Jaeyoung's head for an enormous reward that is worth a king's ransom. One of them is a spearman named Yaun-shu, a former member of the Shu army in China. With a starving family of a wife and two children. And unable to find any job that would accept him, but to hunt down Jaeyoung and to bring him dead of alive. Jaeyoung confronts Yaun many times in his journey, but all of their battles are interrupted or ended in a stalemate. Never have they finished a battle. Another ally Jaeyoung encounters is a wise, old, poor farmer named Habu-rugee (meaning Grandpa in Korean) or Habu he is called in the series. Habu does not have any weapons nor any use for them. Habu lives in a small hut next to a sparkling river, which is just the place he wishes to be. Jaeyoung and Nai-oh usually visit him for counsel and guidance, nothing more. And occasionally for food. But Habu knows much about the murders that occurred in Korea and Japan 2 years ago. And he was the one who tells the story to Jaeyoung about the legendary 50 sworded murder. That before the murderer died his hid his swords in each place where he used to slather and butcher. 50 swords hidden all around Korea, China and Japan. That contains clues to Jaeyoung's family history and the reason for so many lords and kings who want him put to death.

[edit] Characters

Jaeyoung

is a struggling young swordsman who is trying to make a living. He first starts as a merchant selling the only things he knows well of swords. However his life as a merchant was shattered when the emperor's soldiers tried to arrest him for rape and murder. Jaeyoung escaped the soldiers' grasps, took his special 3 swords his obtained on his 16th birthday and ran to the mountains. He then trained there to improve his swordsmanship. He was then discovered by a wandering merchant named Oh-wan. Oh-wan then took him to a master swordsman titled The Golden Tiger, there Jaeyoung learned proper swordsmanship and master the use of his 3 swords. Jaeyoung is a very serious and intimidated character, who also has a short fuse and eyes that strikes fear into people just by a glance of them. Believed that his ancestor had the exact same eyes.

Nai-oh

The clumsy and rowdy taoist. She seems to get herself into constant trouble and always needs someone to help her. Because she can't control her taoist skills. Nai-oh is the 2nd protagonist in the series and has her own story for joining Jaeyoung's quest to discover his past. She is always constantly annoying Jaeyoung with her flute with she plays horribly on purpose. Only when she is alone does she play beautiful music that would sooth even the most savage beast. She seems to have some interest in Jaeyoung, but is constantly interrupted by Jaeyoung's silence or harsh comments. But she always goes with her heart and does whatever she believes is right. A lively spirited girl with a heart sensitive as a flower.

Yaun-shu

A poor bounty hunter, who has no other skill other than the use of his mighty spear the Blue Dragon. He wishes to turn in Jaeyoung for the huge ransom that he could use to support his starving family. His encounters with Jaeyoung always seems to end in a failure of interruption, which makes them join forces rather than fighting each other. But he has one goal and that's to turn Jaeyoung in and gain the reward money. He sometimes even defeats other bounty hunters saying "Jaeyoung is mine and mine alone."

Habu-rugee (Habu)

The poor and weak, but wise old farmer who lives by a river where he spends most of his time looking at the fish that pass by. He would even name the fish that pass by. He is more of a someone who people go for guidance rather than company. Not much is mentioned about his character.

[edit] Fact and Fiction

Most the elements used in KoreanXSamurai is fiction, the characters for example are all either fictional characters or based upon actual people who had lived in those times. However what is true is the setting of The Han Dynasty. In this part of the series the Han dynasty is at war with the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo. Goguryeo was one of the many reasons for the fall of the Han Dynasty. However The Feudal Age of Japan isn't until many years after the 3 kingdoms of Korea are united. There for the time of Korea and Japan isn't really in order of the actual times in historical records.

[edit] Historical websites of Korea, Japan and China

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

[edit] KoreaXSamurai websites

www.xanga.com/KoreanXSamurai