Gang-soi is a mean scoundrel who travels up north. Ong-nyo, a woman destined to be widowed, is run out of her village and travels south. Gang-soi and Ong-nyo meet in Chongseok-gwan, a midpoint between Hwang-hae province and Gaeseong, and they get together. As they wander the lands, Ong-nyo works hard while Gang-soi does nothing. They settle down in Mt. Jiri. But when Gang-soi brings back a totem pole while looking for wood and when he tries to start a fire with it, he incurs its wrath and dies. Thus their relationship comes to a tragic end.
Dae Bin and Hyung Joo go on a TV date program and meet Na Yeong and Jung Ae, respectively. Hyung Joo loves Jung Ae but hesitates between the two women. Dae Bin goes for Jung Ae and Hyung Joo ends up at Na Yeong's apartment. After Dae Bin and Jung Ae's engagement Jung Ae finds Hyung Joo and spends the night in his room. They take a trip to Nami island resortand got in a boat accident which killed her and left Hyung Joo paralyzed. Later, Dae Bin marries Na Yeong but she doesn't trust his love. Finally, Hyung Joo regains consciousness to confess that he loved Jung Ae. Na Yeong returns to her husband.
Yeong-Ho is a son of second wife and enters his stepmother's as an heir. His stepbrother, Young-Min, is physically weak and frequently gets sick even by minor shock. To get away his girl friend, Myeong-Suk, Young-Ho makes Young-Min approach her. Myeong-Suk, who found something lacked in Young-Ho, starts a long journey with Young-Min. At that moment, Young-Ho suffers form the loneliness and longing for Myeong-Suk. At last, Young-Ho starts to look for her. Time passes, and Young-Ho decides to return his home, knowing that Young-Min has the qualification to inherit. On his departure day, Young-Ho calls Myeong-Suk, confessing his love and asking her to come back to him.
A patriot Park No-Hun is dispatched by Shanghai Provisional Government for Independence to assassinate members of the House of Council. In this situation Young-Kuk, brother of Hyeon-Ju who is a kisaeng of Myeong Wol Kwan, is jailed and Choi Chil-Yong, an inspector of Japanese Higher Police Department, is in agony of difficulties between Korea and Japan. Shin Yun-Il, a member of the council falls in love with a kisaeng whose name is Jeong-Mi. All of these are going their way under the influence of phases of the times such as carrying out colonial policies and each of them is linked complicatedly and causes troubles. After all their efforts concentrated on Independence of Korea, and Park No-Hun carried out his mission with help of 5 kisaengs of Myeong Wol Kwan. Finally he leaves for Shanghai with them.
A schoolgirl goes from braids to bouffant when her mother makes her a bar hostess/prostitute. She cures impotence for Professor Lee and becomes his concubine. His entrepreneurial wife is initially shocked but soon accepts the arrangement and even gives the girl an allowance.
Mo-Hwa is a famous shaman. When the Christianity is introduced to this small fishing village, Mo-Hwa's divine power is declining. Mo-Hwa is furious when she happened to know that her own son Wuk has studied theology. She performs an exorcism to throw away evil spirits from her son and tears up the bible. The conflict between mother and son breaks up the family. Mo-Hwa decides to show which spirit is stronger when she is asked to perform an exorcism for a drowned lady. Even though she performs shaman, the body doesn't come up to the surface. Mo-Hwa doesn't stop to perform and gradually she is going down into the water and never comes back.
Bun-rye, the eldest daughter in a poor family, is violated by Yong-pal, who is a married man, and out of desperation she becomes a concubine of Young-cheol, a gambler who is impotent. Kong Jo-shi is in love with Bun-rye, though she still has feelings for Yong-pal. After losing his money, Young-cheol takes out his anger on Bun-rye and throws her out of his house. In retaliation, Jo-shi kills Young-cheol, and Bun-rye is driven to madness.
President Choi of Dongseo Shipping is at the verge of bankruptcy because one of his ships has sunk. Right on time, a man comes to Choi and offers to lend money by taking his remaining real estates as security and staying at his place. The man turns out to be a son that Choi has abandoned. The mother has died after living a hard life, and he wants revenge.
Four short stories examing the lives of women in the last 18th and 19th century Story 1: 'Wives Should Be Submissive'--A father tries to marry his daughter into a wealthy family. Story 2: 'A Daughter-In-Law Is No Better Than A Stranger'--A woman thinks that her daughter-in-law has turned her son against her so she tries to kill the younger woman. Story 3: '7 Grounds For Divorce'--A wife begins an affair with her servant because of her husband's impotency Story 4: 'Prohibit Sex In Court'--A concubine's life is at risk when it is revealed that her infant child is not the king's.