際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo

Literature of korea

Download as DOC, PDF
Reinabelle Castro
Reinabelle Castro

This document provides an overview of Korean literature and history. It discusses: 1) Korea's geography and division between North and South Korea. 2) Brief histories of the kingdoms and dynasties that ruled Korea from the 1300s to 1910. 3) Key facts about Korea such as population, capital, languages, and government. 4) Important figures and genres in Korean literature, including sijo poetry and the creation myth of Tangun.

1 of 8
Downloaded 354 times
Literature of Korea Geography, Korea is romantically called the Land of the Morning Calm because of its misty mornings. However, due to the perennial troubles between the two Koreas, a more appropriate modern name for it is Land of the Broken Calm. North and South Korea formed single country for hundreds of years, from the 1300s until this century. Between 1910 and 1945 Korea was occupied by Japan. The war ended with Japans defeat in 1945. After this, the Country is divided into two, with troops from the United States. The country is almost completely covered by north-south mountain ranges separated by narrow valleys. The Yalu River form part of the border with Soviet Manchuria. Facts and Figures: Area: 99, 270 sq. km Population: 44, 056, 000 Capital: Seoul Other Major City: Pusan Official Language: Korean Main Religions: Buddhism, Christianity Currency: Won Government: Multi-party republic Brief History of Korea Korea was founded in 2333 BC by a mighty hero named Tangun. Recorded history began independent kingdom at Pyongyang. Chinese rule lasted until the 7 th century AD when three independent kingdoms arose in Korea. Korea became a united nation for the first time under Wang Kien, a Korean patriot, who led a revolution in 918 and destroyed the Silla rule in 935. Wang named the country Koryu from which its present name was derived. His descendants ruled until 1392. After a brief invasion by the Mongols,Korea was ruledby the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910) which established the capital at Seoul, introduced Chinese ways, and proclaimed Confucianism as the state religion. The first century of the Yi era was Koreas Golden Age of civilization. Koreans invented printing, a phonetic alphabet, fostered literature and scholarships, and granted education to the masses.
The Koreans The Koreans belong to the yellow race. Although they look like the Chinese and Japanese, they have their own language (Korean), literature, and customs. In the Communist North, no other religion is allowed. But the South is mostly Buddhist (37%) and Christian (32%). The North Koreans are taller, huskier, and lighter-complexioned due to their Mongol blood. The South Koreans have Malay mixture and are smaller and darker. Korean Literature Korean civilization dates in legend more than 4, 000 years back to Tangun, mythical founder of Korea. Thus it is one of the oldest in the world. The historical name of Korea is Joseon, Land of the Morning Calm. The Japanese called it the Treasure Land of the West and, until 1882, the outside world knew it as the Hermit Kingdom. Only three dynasties ruled the country (669AD-1910) before it became a Japanese protectorate and later a republic. These were the Silla, the Koryu, and the Yi dynasties. Three Most Outstanding Cultural Achievements of Korea 1. The Hangul Alphabet*-a simplified alphabet that excluded the use of Chinese characters. 2. Koryo Celadon-a kind of porcelain made during the Koryu dynasty 3. Bronze Movable Types-by which books are printed *Advocates of the Hangul thought that its use would receive many obsolete words. These words were to enhance the charm of Korean literature. In the fifteenth century, 300 years before the encyclopedia movement originated in France, Korean scholars compiled an encyclopedia in 112 volumes. During the Koryu period, the Tripika, or Buddhist sutra, was published. This was a form of prayer to expel Mongol invaders. Sixteen years passed before the more than 8, 000 wooden plates which make up the Tripika could be completed. Early Korean literature owes a great debt to China in terms of the writing style. The literary language is written in Chinese ideographs, even after the invention of the Korean phonetic alphabet until the end of the Yi dynasty. Literature in Korea falls into three categories: works in hangul, those written in idu, and those written in classical Chinese. The most general categories, however, are lyric poems, prose, oral literature, and literature in classical Chinese. Lyric poems originally were meant to be sung rather than read. The oldest are the hyangga, poems composed in idu. Shijo is historically the longest enduring and the most widely used representative form of Koean poetry. One of the greatest masters of the shijo is Yun Son-do.
Another form is kasa. Kasa borrowed the form of Chinese lyric and prose poetry. At the end of the 14 th century and the new establishment of the new capital in Seoul, a Small group of poetic songs called akchang were written to celebrate the beginning of the new dynasty. In the field of drama, Korea boasts of their mask play called sandae. Examples of this are Haseo, a play with seven acts and Hahoo, one with five acts. Any form of dramatic entertainment is called pansonri. The most famous pansori is Chunhyang chon. Koreas Prominent Figures 1. Han Yong-un (1879-1944)- Reformist monk, patriot signatory to the 1919 Declaration of Independence, Han Yonguns name is synonymous with resistance to oppression. The central symbol in his poems, the beloved (nim), can be interpreted in terms of nation, ideal or lover. THE ZEN MASTERS SERMON I heard the Zen master say, Suffer not the pain of being bound by loves shackles; break the bonds of love; your heart will know joy. The Zen master is very foolish! His words belie the truth: to be bound by the bonds of love may be painful, but to break the bonds of love is more painful than dying. To be bound tightly in loves servitude is to be freed. In servitude the great liberation is attained. My love, I thought the love bonds by which you bind me might be weak, so I doubled the bond strands by which I love you. 2. Yun Son-do (1587-1661)-great Korean poet, master of the sijo Song of Five Friends You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine. The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade. Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask? Im told clouds are nice, that is, their color; but often they grow dark.
Im told winds are pleasing, that is, their sound, but they fade to silence; So I say only water is faithful and neverending. Why do flowers fade and die so soon after that glorious bloom? Why does green grass curl to yellow after sending its spears so high? Could it be that only stone stands strong against the elements? Look at this, it isnt a tree, and it isnt a grass either; How can it stand so erect when its insides are empty? Bamboo, I praise you in all seasons, standing green no matter what In summer fragile flowers bloom; in autumn they lose their leaves. But Mr. Pine, see how he disdains winters frost and snow See him thrust himself to heaven and down to earths eternal spring. Though youre small, you glide so high, blessing everyone with light; What other flame can beam so brightly in the blackness of our night? Moon, you watch but keep silent; isnt that what a good friend does? 3. Yun Tu-so- a well-regarded Korean calligrapher and painter. He was the great-grandson of famed poet Yun Sndo (I587-1671), the leading sijo poet of the Chosn Dynasty. It is unknown how many sijo Yun Tus wrote, for only this one has survived. Untouched Untouched at the edge of the path, a jewel covered with mud. How many have passed it by, seeing nothing but its surface? Stay there, gem, look like dirt till someone sees with a loving eye.
4. Lee Kwang-Su-considered the forerunner of modern Korean literature. He leads a group of Korean poets who stress feeling and beauty in poetry instead of interest in communistic ideologies and class struggles. 5. Yi Sang-Hwa (1900-1943)-a member of a group of poets who founded the literary journal Paekcho (White Tide). `Does spring come to this land no more our own, to these stripped fields? Bathed in the sun I walk as if in a dream along a lane that cuts across paddy fields like parted hair to where the blue sky and the green field meet. Mute heaven and silent fields, I do not feel I have come here alone; tell me if I am driven by you or by some hidden force '' Creation Myth In Korea, there are few creation myths that start from the beginning, the very beginning. In a few oral traditions, a primal chaos exists until, unexpectedly, a crack appears, separating earth from sky. But these myths, those that survive, are not the colorful intricate histories of the Theogeny or the Enuma Elish. Koreas most treasured myth is that of its own creation from an existing earth and the humans already living upon it. This is the myth of Tangun. The story goes that a Heavenly Prince, Hwangun looked down at earth and desired to possess it and rule over mankind. His father, the Ruler of Heaven, Hwanin knew that his son would bring happiness to human beings and, looking at the earth, chose Mount Taebak as a suitable place for his son to go to earth. Hwangun arrives beneath a sandalwood tree where he creates a holy city. He brings with him three heavenly seals, somewhat mysterious in nature, and 3000 loyal subjects from heaven, which are possibly spirits. In addition, Hwangun brought three ministers, the Earl of Wind, the Master of Rain, and the Master of Clouds. Different accounts of the myth tell that Hwangun either taught or took charge of 360 areas of responsibility, like agriculture and medicine. The story moves now to a bear and a tiger, both desiring to become human beings. Set the task of shunning sunlight and eating only the food given to them by Hwangun (some mugwort and twenty cloves of garlic), the bear succeeds in earning Hwanguns approval while the tiger fails to fast, fleeing into the forest. The bear becomes a beautiful woman, Ungyo (bear woman) and becomes the wife of Hwangun. Their son is Tangun, the King of Sandalwood. Tangun becomes the first king of Korea, calling his country choson and ruling for 1500 years. After this time he retreats to Taebak-san to become a mountain god.
Literature of korea
Literature of korea
Sijo is a Korean poetic form. Bucolic, metaphysical and cosmological themes are often explored. The three lines average 14-16 syllables, for a total of 44-46. Sijo may be narrative or thematic and introduces a situation in line 1, development in line 2, and twist and conclusion in line 3. The first half of the final line employs a twist: a surprise of meaning, sound, or other device. Sijo is often more lyrical and personal than other East Asian poetic forms, and the final line can take a profound turn. Yet, The conclusion of sijo is seldom epigrammatic or witty. A witty close to a sentence would have been foreign to the genius of stylized Korean diction in the great sijo periods. Contemporary Sijo LOVE By: Han Yong-un Deeper than spring waters, higher than autumn mountains, brighter than the moon, harder than a stone. Asked about love, this is what Ill say. Ancient Sijo I will break the back of this long, midwinter night, Folding it double, cold beneath my spring quilt, That I may draw out the night, should my love return. Hwang Jin-i (15221565) A famous female Korean sijo poet who was also a kisaeng, a professional entertainer. The kasa is properly placed in the category of verse, but its content is not limited to the expression of individual sentiment. It often includes moral admonitions, and the subjects regarding "the weariness of travel" and "grief." The kasa form is a simple verse form, with a "twin" set of feet of three to four syllables each, which are repeated four times.

More Related Content

Literature of korea

  • 1. Literature of Korea Geography, Korea is romantically called the Land of the Morning Calm because of its misty mornings. However, due to the perennial troubles between the two Koreas, a more appropriate modern name for it is Land of the Broken Calm. North and South Korea formed single country for hundreds of years, from the 1300s until this century. Between 1910 and 1945 Korea was occupied by Japan. The war ended with Japans defeat in 1945. After this, the Country is divided into two, with troops from the United States. The country is almost completely covered by north-south mountain ranges separated by narrow valleys. The Yalu River form part of the border with Soviet Manchuria. Facts and Figures: Area: 99, 270 sq. km Population: 44, 056, 000 Capital: Seoul Other Major City: Pusan Official Language: Korean Main Religions: Buddhism, Christianity Currency: Won Government: Multi-party republic Brief History of Korea Korea was founded in 2333 BC by a mighty hero named Tangun. Recorded history began independent kingdom at Pyongyang. Chinese rule lasted until the 7 th century AD when three independent kingdoms arose in Korea. Korea became a united nation for the first time under Wang Kien, a Korean patriot, who led a revolution in 918 and destroyed the Silla rule in 935. Wang named the country Koryu from which its present name was derived. His descendants ruled until 1392. After a brief invasion by the Mongols,Korea was ruledby the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910) which established the capital at Seoul, introduced Chinese ways, and proclaimed Confucianism as the state religion. The first century of the Yi era was Koreas Golden Age of civilization. Koreans invented printing, a phonetic alphabet, fostered literature and scholarships, and granted education to the masses.
  • 2. The Koreans The Koreans belong to the yellow race. Although they look like the Chinese and Japanese, they have their own language (Korean), literature, and customs. In the Communist North, no other religion is allowed. But the South is mostly Buddhist (37%) and Christian (32%). The North Koreans are taller, huskier, and lighter-complexioned due to their Mongol blood. The South Koreans have Malay mixture and are smaller and darker. Korean Literature Korean civilization dates in legend more than 4, 000 years back to Tangun, mythical founder of Korea. Thus it is one of the oldest in the world. The historical name of Korea is Joseon, Land of the Morning Calm. The Japanese called it the Treasure Land of the West and, until 1882, the outside world knew it as the Hermit Kingdom. Only three dynasties ruled the country (669AD-1910) before it became a Japanese protectorate and later a republic. These were the Silla, the Koryu, and the Yi dynasties. Three Most Outstanding Cultural Achievements of Korea 1. The Hangul Alphabet*-a simplified alphabet that excluded the use of Chinese characters. 2. Koryo Celadon-a kind of porcelain made during the Koryu dynasty 3. Bronze Movable Types-by which books are printed *Advocates of the Hangul thought that its use would receive many obsolete words. These words were to enhance the charm of Korean literature. In the fifteenth century, 300 years before the encyclopedia movement originated in France, Korean scholars compiled an encyclopedia in 112 volumes. During the Koryu period, the Tripika, or Buddhist sutra, was published. This was a form of prayer to expel Mongol invaders. Sixteen years passed before the more than 8, 000 wooden plates which make up the Tripika could be completed. Early Korean literature owes a great debt to China in terms of the writing style. The literary language is written in Chinese ideographs, even after the invention of the Korean phonetic alphabet until the end of the Yi dynasty. Literature in Korea falls into three categories: works in hangul, those written in idu, and those written in classical Chinese. The most general categories, however, are lyric poems, prose, oral literature, and literature in classical Chinese. Lyric poems originally were meant to be sung rather than read. The oldest are the hyangga, poems composed in idu. Shijo is historically the longest enduring and the most widely used representative form of Koean poetry. One of the greatest masters of the shijo is Yun Son-do.
  • 3. Another form is kasa. Kasa borrowed the form of Chinese lyric and prose poetry. At the end of the 14 th century and the new establishment of the new capital in Seoul, a Small group of poetic songs called akchang were written to celebrate the beginning of the new dynasty. In the field of drama, Korea boasts of their mask play called sandae. Examples of this are Haseo, a play with seven acts and Hahoo, one with five acts. Any form of dramatic entertainment is called pansonri. The most famous pansori is Chunhyang chon. Koreas Prominent Figures 1. Han Yong-un (1879-1944)- Reformist monk, patriot signatory to the 1919 Declaration of Independence, Han Yonguns name is synonymous with resistance to oppression. The central symbol in his poems, the beloved (nim), can be interpreted in terms of nation, ideal or lover. THE ZEN MASTERS SERMON I heard the Zen master say, Suffer not the pain of being bound by loves shackles; break the bonds of love; your heart will know joy. The Zen master is very foolish! His words belie the truth: to be bound by the bonds of love may be painful, but to break the bonds of love is more painful than dying. To be bound tightly in loves servitude is to be freed. In servitude the great liberation is attained. My love, I thought the love bonds by which you bind me might be weak, so I doubled the bond strands by which I love you. 2. Yun Son-do (1587-1661)-great Korean poet, master of the sijo Song of Five Friends You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine. The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade. Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask? Im told clouds are nice, that is, their color; but often they grow dark.
  • 4. Im told winds are pleasing, that is, their sound, but they fade to silence; So I say only water is faithful and neverending. Why do flowers fade and die so soon after that glorious bloom? Why does green grass curl to yellow after sending its spears so high? Could it be that only stone stands strong against the elements? Look at this, it isnt a tree, and it isnt a grass either; How can it stand so erect when its insides are empty? Bamboo, I praise you in all seasons, standing green no matter what In summer fragile flowers bloom; in autumn they lose their leaves. But Mr. Pine, see how he disdains winters frost and snow See him thrust himself to heaven and down to earths eternal spring. Though youre small, you glide so high, blessing everyone with light; What other flame can beam so brightly in the blackness of our night? Moon, you watch but keep silent; isnt that what a good friend does? 3. Yun Tu-so- a well-regarded Korean calligrapher and painter. He was the great-grandson of famed poet Yun Sndo (I587-1671), the leading sijo poet of the Chosn Dynasty. It is unknown how many sijo Yun Tus wrote, for only this one has survived. Untouched Untouched at the edge of the path, a jewel covered with mud. How many have passed it by, seeing nothing but its surface? Stay there, gem, look like dirt till someone sees with a loving eye.
  • 5. 4. Lee Kwang-Su-considered the forerunner of modern Korean literature. He leads a group of Korean poets who stress feeling and beauty in poetry instead of interest in communistic ideologies and class struggles. 5. Yi Sang-Hwa (1900-1943)-a member of a group of poets who founded the literary journal Paekcho (White Tide). `Does spring come to this land no more our own, to these stripped fields? Bathed in the sun I walk as if in a dream along a lane that cuts across paddy fields like parted hair to where the blue sky and the green field meet. Mute heaven and silent fields, I do not feel I have come here alone; tell me if I am driven by you or by some hidden force '' Creation Myth In Korea, there are few creation myths that start from the beginning, the very beginning. In a few oral traditions, a primal chaos exists until, unexpectedly, a crack appears, separating earth from sky. But these myths, those that survive, are not the colorful intricate histories of the Theogeny or the Enuma Elish. Koreas most treasured myth is that of its own creation from an existing earth and the humans already living upon it. This is the myth of Tangun. The story goes that a Heavenly Prince, Hwangun looked down at earth and desired to possess it and rule over mankind. His father, the Ruler of Heaven, Hwanin knew that his son would bring happiness to human beings and, looking at the earth, chose Mount Taebak as a suitable place for his son to go to earth. Hwangun arrives beneath a sandalwood tree where he creates a holy city. He brings with him three heavenly seals, somewhat mysterious in nature, and 3000 loyal subjects from heaven, which are possibly spirits. In addition, Hwangun brought three ministers, the Earl of Wind, the Master of Rain, and the Master of Clouds. Different accounts of the myth tell that Hwangun either taught or took charge of 360 areas of responsibility, like agriculture and medicine. The story moves now to a bear and a tiger, both desiring to become human beings. Set the task of shunning sunlight and eating only the food given to them by Hwangun (some mugwort and twenty cloves of garlic), the bear succeeds in earning Hwanguns approval while the tiger fails to fast, fleeing into the forest. The bear becomes a beautiful woman, Ungyo (bear woman) and becomes the wife of Hwangun. Their son is Tangun, the King of Sandalwood. Tangun becomes the first king of Korea, calling his country choson and ruling for 1500 years. After this time he retreats to Taebak-san to become a mountain god.
  • 8. Sijo is a Korean poetic form. Bucolic, metaphysical and cosmological themes are often explored. The three lines average 14-16 syllables, for a total of 44-46. Sijo may be narrative or thematic and introduces a situation in line 1, development in line 2, and twist and conclusion in line 3. The first half of the final line employs a twist: a surprise of meaning, sound, or other device. Sijo is often more lyrical and personal than other East Asian poetic forms, and the final line can take a profound turn. Yet, The conclusion of sijo is seldom epigrammatic or witty. A witty close to a sentence would have been foreign to the genius of stylized Korean diction in the great sijo periods. Contemporary Sijo LOVE By: Han Yong-un Deeper than spring waters, higher than autumn mountains, brighter than the moon, harder than a stone. Asked about love, this is what Ill say. Ancient Sijo I will break the back of this long, midwinter night, Folding it double, cold beneath my spring quilt, That I may draw out the night, should my love return. Hwang Jin-i (15221565) A famous female Korean sijo poet who was also a kisaeng, a professional entertainer. The kasa is properly placed in the category of verse, but its content is not limited to the expression of individual sentiment. It often includes moral admonitions, and the subjects regarding "the weariness of travel" and "grief." The kasa form is a simple verse form, with a "twin" set of feet of three to four syllables each, which are repeated four times.