1. Literature, Women and Life in Chosŏn

2. Literature and women before Chosŏn –Different values, native Korean custom Literature and country-building Poetry at the pinnacle of society Character building and social ethics 東文選 동문선 [Anthology of Eastern literature, 1478] 漢詩 한시 (hansi poetry in literary Chinese)

3. Hungup’a (勳舊派 훈구파 faction of the meritorious and conservative): literature to enhance the function of the state and glorify the new age--Chŏng Tojŏn (정도전1337-1398), Kwŏn Kŭn (권근 1352-1409), Sŏ Kŏjŏng (1420- 1488) Sarimp’a (士林派 사림파): literary content over mode of expression, held an extreme viewpoint of the utility of literature Pangoe-in (方外人 방외인 the outsiders): rejected official society and sought solace in Buddhism or Daoism--Kim Sisŭp (김시습, 1435- 1493)

4. Women had no role in formal literature at the outset of Chosŏn Oral literary forms were available to women But the creation of han’gŭl would change this

5. Hansi poems 漢詩 Before the creation of the Korean script, women wrote in literary Chinese Poetry was the most respected form of writing

6. The Third Month In the easterly wind of the third month, All about the fallen flowers fly away. While I play a song of longing, The one who left to the south does not return. Kyesaeng (Dates unknown) 東風三月時 동풍삼월시 處處落花飛 처처락화비 綠綺相思曲녹기상사곡 江南人未歸 강남인미귀 桂生

7. The Cold Blanket The blanket is so cold I cannot sleep, In the mirror I can only think of a gaunt, sorrowful countenance. Why, [after you] leave do I only have this loneliness? From old, one life never reaches a hundred years. Pak Chuksŏ (1817-1851) 寒衾한금 轉輾寒衾夜不眠전전한금야불면 鏡中樵悴只堪憐경중초췌지감련 何須相別何須苦하수상별하수고 從古人生未百年종고인생미백년 朴竹西

8. The Creation of han’gŭl The need to educate the common people who were not literate was important for the spread of Confucian ideals in Chosŏn. King Sejong (r. 1418-1450) charged the scholars of the Chiphyŏn-jŏn [Hall of worthies] to devise a writing system that matched the Korean language. The script was completed in 1443 and at this point Sejong ordered the composition of “Yongbi och’ŏn ka” [Songs of flying dragons] to test the new script.

9. 訓民正音 Correct Sounds to Instruct People Chinese Characters 한자 (漢字) Literary Chinese 한문 (漢文) Hyangch’al 향찰 (鄕札) Idu 이두 (吏讀) Han’gŭl 한글 Correct Sounds to Instruct People “훈민정음” (訓 民正音) Ŏnmun 언문 (諺文) Amk’ŭl 암클

10. “Yongbi och’ŏn ka” [Songs of flying dragons]

11. Didactic Texts and Women The first texts created for women were didactic The spread of Confucian ideals Change the customs of the previous era Samgang haengsil-do [三綱行實圖 Conduct of the three bonds with illustrations] –Initially published in the 1430s, but soon ‘translated’ –Published throughout the dynasty –Tongguk sinsok samgang haengsil [東國新續三綱行 實 동국신속삼강행실 New and expanded Korean conduct of the three bonds, 1617]

13. “Yun Kûp tongnik” (Yun Kûp drowns together), 6.69 Literary licentiate Yun Kûp was of Seoul. At the time of the Imjin waeran invasion, he helped his mother flee from the enemy. He saw that the enemy was approaching near to where they were, so he threw his mother in the water and followed her; they both died.

15. Ich’ŏ tongsa (Two wives who die together), 3.4 Lady Kim was the wife of Yu Yŏnggyŏm and Lady Shin was the wife of Yu Yŏngsun; they both lived in the capital. After the outbreak of the Imjin invasion, they together fled from the enemy. Finally the enemy arrived at their hiding place and seized their maidservant, stripped, and raped her. Lady Kim hung herself and Lady Shin ran, jumped off a cliff into water and died. The king ordered a gate erected in their honor.

16. 時調 시조 sijo Performed songs Probably began in the late Koryŏ, although some see the hyangga of Silla as the origin of this form Poetic aim was also cultivation of the ‘way’ Initially an upper class pursuit, but shifts with time 평시조 (pyŏng sijo), 사설시조 (sasŏl sijo) The form was somewhat set, but also flexible

17. 344(3)4 3543 norae / samgin saram / sirŭm to / hado halshya // illŏ / ta mot illŏ / pullŏna / p’udot tŏnga // chinsil ro / pŭllil kŏsimyŏnŭn / na to pullŏ / porira // The first songwriters were no doubt full of worry. Did their worries find a better voice in song than in words? If song cast their worries aside, then I too shall sing! 노래 삼긴 사람 시름도 하도 할샤 일러 다 못 일러 불러나 풀돗던고 진실로 풀린 것이면은 나도 불러 보리라 Sin Hŭm (신흠, 1566-1628)

18. Sanch’on e / pami duni / mŏllisŏ / chitnŭn sori Sarip mun / yŏlgo poni / hanŭl i / ch’ago tali roda Chŏ kae ya / kongsan e chamdŭn / talŭl chijŏ / muŏt hariyo At night in the mountain village, from afar I hear a dog’s bark. Opening the brushwood gate to see, there is a cold moon in the sky. That dog! What use is barking at the moon lighting up the empty hills? 산촌에 밤이 드니 멀리서 개 짖는 소리 사립문 열고 보니 하늘이 차고 달이로다 저 개야 공산에 잠든 달을 짖어 무엇 하리요 Ch’ŏngŭm (천금, dates unknown)

19. 청산리(靑山裏) 벽계수(碧溪水)야 수이 감을 자랑마라 일도 창해(一到滄海)하면 돌아오기 어려우니 명월(明月)이 만공산(滿空山)하니 수여간들 어떠리 Chŏngsan-ri /Pyŏkkyesu-ya /suigam-ŭl /charang mara Ildo /ch’anghae hamyŏn /tasi ogi /ŏryŏ uni Myŏngwŏl-i /man’gong san hani /swiyŏ kandŭl /ŏttŏri Do not boast of your speed, emerald stream flowing through the hills; Once you have reached the vast sea, returning will be difficult. Why don’t you stay here and rest, where moonlight fills the empty hills? Hwang Chini (황진이, fl. Early 16 th cent.)

20. 사설 시조 Sasŏl sijo An expanded form of the p’yŏng sijo Reflected elements of everyday life from a trip to the market to sexual desire Composers shift from mostly upper status males to women and the commoner class

21. I think that I will miss the guy I slept with last night. As the son of a tile-maker works clay, he massaged me; as the son of a mole rummages about, he groped me; as a boatman thrusts with his pole, he thrust me; in my whole life, I’ve never had such a lascivious night! Though I have met many kinds of men, truly I’ll never forget the guy who was with me last night.

22. Look at that stout and manly army servant; Wearing a narrow-cuffed shirt, red plumes, and throwing off his hat, he enters a woman’s room only at night; then, after rough sex throughout the night, his energy spent, he vomits the wine he had drunken. Really, if I wanted to catch a drunkard, I would start by grabbing that sot.

23. Mother-in-law, saying you dislike your daughter-in-law, do not stamp your feet on the kitchen floor. Was she a daughter-in-law you brought instead of a debt, was she a daughter-in-law you brought for payment of goods? Father-in-law, harsh as a switch made from the branch of a rotted chestnut tree, mother-in-law, emaciated as sun parched cow dung, sister-in-law, sharp as a new awl on a mesh bag weaved three years ago: all for a son who shits bloody stools deep yellow like a cucumber blossom, and who is like a bad grain in a field planted with good grain. Daughter-in-law, like a wildflower in a fertile field, why do you blame her so?

24. 歌辭 가사 kasa Open-end poetic form Like sijo, kasa are also performed literature Probably developed in the late Koryŏ The poem-songs are often ‘theme’ based (e.g., travel, the seasons, or even lamentations)

25. 삼삼오오 야유원 ( 冶遊園 ) 의 새사람이 낫단 말가. 곳 피고 날 저물 제 정처업시 나가 잇어, 백마 ( 白馬 ) 금편 ( 金鞭 ) 으로 어디어디 머므는고. 원근 ( 遠近 ) 을 모르거니 소식이야 더욱 알랴. 인연을 긋쳐신들 생각이야 업슬소냐. 얼골을 못 보거든 그립기나 마르려믄. 열 두 때 김도 길샤 설흔 날 지리 ( 支離 ) 하다. 옥창 ( 玉窓 ) 에 심근 매화 몃 번이나 픠여진고. 겨을 밤 차고 찬 제 자최 눈 섯거 치고 여름날 길고 길 제 구즌 비는 무스 일고. 삼춘화류 ( 三春花柳 ) 호시절 ( 好時節 ) 의 경물 ( 景物 ) 이 시름업 다. 가을 달 방에 들고 실솔이 상 ( 床 ) 에 울 제, 긴 한숨 디는 눈물 속절업시 헴만 만타. 아마도 모진 목숨 죽기도 어려울사 허난설헌 (1563-1589)

26. At the kisaeng house where men come in throngs, do you say a new one has come? Whenever the flowers blossomed or the sun set, he left home for no certain place. On a white steed and carrying a golden whip, where does he stay? While not knowing how near or far he goes, how can I even hear news of him? Our fate is severed, yet still I think of him; Not seeing his face, why do I still yearn for him? The hours of a day are lengthy; the days of the month are wearisome; The plum blossoms in the garden, how many times have they scattered? When the winter night is bitter cold, a thick snow falls too, When the summer night stretches long, what is this harsh rain about? Even the scenery of the peak of spring with blossoms and willow tree brings me no joy; When the autumn moon enters my room and crickets chirp by my bed. With a deep sigh and flowing tears, futilely I am lost in many thoughts, It is difficult to bring this harsh life to end. Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn (1563-1589)

27. 小說 소설 sosŏl Prose held an inferior position to poetry in Chosŏn Short fictional works begin in Koryŏ: Sui-jŏn [殊 異傳 수이전 Tales of the bizzare] Tales of wonder (傳奇 전기] 金鰲新話 금오신화 [New tales from Mt. Golden Turtle]

28. Han’gŭl novels (한글 소설) Sŏl Kongch’an-jŏn [설공찬전 The tale of Sŏl Kongch’an] Unyŏng-jŏn [운영전 The tale of Unyŏng] Heroic novels (영웅소설) Hong Kiltong-jŏn [홍길동전 The tale of Hong Kiltong] Pakssi-jŏn [박씨전 The tale of Lady Pak] Kuun mong [구운몽 Dream of nine clouds] –Kim Manjung (金萬重 1637-1692)

29. Kyubang sosŏl (규방소설 novels of the women’s quarters) –Once attributed to men, there are dozens of these that are now thought to have been written by women –Center of domestic life: conflicts, relationships, marriage and love Wanwŏl hoemaeng’yŏn [완월회맹연 Banquet of the covenant in the moonlight] –Written by a Lady Yi –180 fascicles in length

30. Various Prose Writings Cookbooks –Ŭmsik dimibang [음식디미방 Recipes for tasty food]; Lady Chang, 17 th century Diaries –Pyŏngja ilgi [丙子日記 Diary of Pyŏngja year], 1636- 1640; Lady Cho –Hanjung-rok [閑中錄 Diary of sorrowful days], 1795- 1805; Lady Hong Instructional Books –Kyuhap ch’ongsŏ [閨閤叢書 Encyclopedia for women’s daily lives]; Lady Yi, 18 th century

31. Scholarly writings –Im Yunchidang (임 윤지당 1721-1793) –Kang Chonildang (강 존일당 1772-1832) Educational works –Konbŏm [壼範 Rules for women], mid-18th cent.

32. Konbŏm [ 壼範 곤범 Rules for women]

33. Shaman Songs (巫歌) Mudang (무당) Largely females in Chosŏn Lower status group Created songs that appealed to commoners and women Pari kongju [바리공주 The abandoned princess] Chesŏk kut [제속굿 Rite to the Chesŏk deities] –Tanggŭm-aegi Ch’ilmŏrit tang [칠머릿당 Song of Ch’ilmŏrit shrine]

34. 판소리 P’ansori Ch’unhyang-ga [춘향가 Song of Ch’unhyang] Sim Ch’ŏng-ga [심청가 Song of Sim Ch’ŏng] Hŭngbu-ga [흥부가 Song of Hŭngbu] Sugung-ga [수궁가 Song of the underwater palace Chŏkpyŏk-ka [적벽가 Song of the red cliffs] Pyŏn Kangsoe-ga [변 강쇄가 Song of Pyŏn Kangsoe] kwangdae (광대 itinerant performers) aniri (아니리 spoken passages) ch’ang (창 sung passages)

35. Resources Poetry –Peter H. Lee ed., The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Korean Poetry (Columbia University Press, 2002) –Kevin O’Rourke ed., The Book of Korean Poetry: Songs of Shilla and Koryŏ (University of Iowa Press, 2006) Prose –JaHyun Kim Haboush, Memoirs of Lady Hyegyŏng: The Autobiographical Writings of a Crown Princess of the Eighteenth Century (University of California Press, 1996) –Michael J. Pettid, Unyŏng-jŏn: A Love Affair at the Royal Palace of Chosŏn Korea (Institute of East Asian Studies, Berkeley, 2008)

36. P’ansori –Marshall R. Pihl, The Korean Singer of Tales (Harvard University Press, 1994) –Chan E. Park, Voices From the Straw Mat (University of Hawaii Press, 2003) Shaman Songs –Im Sok Jae, Mu-ga: The Ritual Songs of Korean Mudangs, trans. Alan Heyman (Jain Publishing Company, 2003)