a beautiful and touching post, @slowwalker, providing more details about the romance between Kim Youghan and Baek Seok.

I call them star-crossed lovers because that's how Shakespeare describes Romeo and Juliet whose love also had a tragic ending.

Romeo and Juliet's parents objected to their relationship the same way Baek Seok's parents objected to his marrying a Geisha.

In the end of Shakespeare's play, the pair tragically die, but in the case of Kim and Baek, Kim Youghan lived on into old age and honoured his memory until the day she passed.

I thought your interpretation of the stream was interesting because the ancient Romans saw death as being ferried in a boat across the river Styx, and it represented forgetfulness.

Those left behind must remember but those who have passed over are given the gift of forgetfulness -- that would be a great mercy.

The statue of the goddess of mercy is a symbol that reminds us that the things that divide us in this life may not always succeed. Baek escaped his marrieage and wanted to run away with Kim Youghan but she decided that would be dishonourable.

They spent the rest of their lives apart, but in love. Perhaps, in the end, that was a great mercy.

A lovely tale, @slowwalker, beautifully illustrated with photos.