The Phantom Of Greatness

Chi Sun Rhee’s work of four volumes, The Phantom of Greatness, is a masterpiece of twentieth century epic fiction. It consists of Book One (The Phantom of Greatness), Book Two (The Way to Greatness), Book Three (The Devastation to Greatness), and Book Four (The Triumph to Greatness). In the latter part of the nineteen century, Japan planned to rule Korea. Takahashi Genji assassinates Korean Queen Min and her royal guards on October 8, 1895. Finally, on August 22, 1910, Korea is annexed to Japan. The Koreans constantly fight against the Japanese rule for their independence. Mija’s father is arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for years. Consequently, he becomes partially disabled. By accident, a Japanese scientific genius Ichiro discovers the Korean girl prodigy Mija, whose dream is to be a great writer. Her gifted talent ignites Ichiro’s love. Fathers of both sides reject their love affair. However, their love continues because there is no national boundary in knowledge and love. Seeing his people’s suffering, Mija’s brother Kwyunsoo attempts to assassinate Japanese Governor General in 1943. All of Mija’s family is arrested by the Japanese police. Byunghong, who has loved Mija since childhood, sends Mija to the Korean Women’s Volunteer Army to save her life with the help of Japanese commander of the military police. In the Philippines, astonishingly Mija meets Ichiro at the Lucban Military Base. They get married. Ichiro helps Mija escape from the camp, killing a Japanese sentinel. In the jungle, Mija saves the Philippine guerilla commander from a Japanese attack and becomes a guerilla member. During the fierce guerilla battle, Mija delivers Ichiro’s baby. Mr. Manuel Roxas rescues Mija from an approaching execution. In Manila, during the bloody fighting, a hand grenade explodes nearby and Ichiro falls to the ground. After the war, Mija leaves to unite with her son and waits to go to her motherland Korea.