Kim Manjung was a preeminent Korean novelist and politician of the Joseon period. His novels, deeply influenced by Neo-Confucian thought, often served as allegorical explorations of the political realities of his time. He delved into themes of the transience of worldly glory and the search for genuine meaning, infusing his work with a distinct Buddhist perspective. His literary contributions are celebrated for their profound insights and sharp satire of the era's society.
Una leggenda narra che l'autore scrisse questo racconto in una sola notte, per alleviare la solitudine della madre e darle, attraverso la magia della parola scritta, il conforto e l'illusione della vicinanza del figlio.