Hwang Jini
Hwang Jini | |
Hangul | 황진이 |
---|---|
Hanja | 黃眞伊 |
Revised Romanization | Hwang Jini |
McCune–Reischauer | Hwang Chini |
Gisaeng name | |
Hangul | 명월 |
Hanja | 明月 |
Revised Romanization | Myeong-wol |
McCune–Reischauer | Myŏngwŏl |
Hwang Jini or Hwang Jin-Yi (Hangul: 황진이; c. 1506 – c. 1560), also known by her gisaeng name Myeongwol ("bright moon", 명월), was one of the most famous gisaeng of the Joseon Dynasty. She lived during the reign of King Jungjong. She was noted for her exceptional beauty, charming quick wit, extraordinary intellect, and her assertive and independent nature.[1][2][3] She has become an almost myth-like figure in modern Korea, inspiring novels, operas, films, and television series.
Works
Only a handful of sijo (Korean verse form) and geomungo pieces exist today. They show skilled craftsmanship of words and of musical arrangement. Hwang's sijo often describe the beauty and sites of Gaeseong (such as the palace of Manwoldae and the Pakyon Falls in the Ahobiryong Mountains), the personal tragedy of her lost loves and responses to famous classic Chinese poems and literature (the majority of them reflecting on lost love).
Hwang appears to have been of noble birth. Her sijo are considered the most beautiful ever written. In the following poem, the term Hwang uses for her beloved (어론님) has two meanings, alluding to both her sweetheart and a person who has been frozen by the winter cold. The English phrase “frozen love” may help to illustrate this double entendre in translation.
冬至 섯달 기나긴 밤을 한 허리를 잘라 내어 |
I will divide this long November night |
In this next poem, “Full Moon” is a play on Hwang’s pen name, Myeongwol (literally, “Bright Moon”; 명월 ). The poem was written to a man famed for his virtue, Byok Kye Su, whom Hwang infamously seduced. “Green water” is a pun on Byok’s name (벽계수 碧溪水).
청산리 벽계수(靑山裏 碧溪水)야 수이 감을 자랑 마라. |
Green water, do not boast |
In popular culture
Literature
In the late 20th century, Hwang Jini's story began to attract attention from both sides of the Korean divide and feature in a variety of novels, operas, films and television series. Novelizations of her life include a 2002 treatment by North Korean writer Hong Sok-jung (which became the first North Korean novel to win a literary award, the Manhae Prize, in the South) and a 2004 bestseller by South Korean writer Jeon Gyeong-rin.[6]
Film and television
- Portrayed by Lee Mi-sook in the 1982 MBC TV TV series Hwang Jin Yi.
- Portrayed by Chang Mi-hee in the 1986 film Hwang Jin Yi.
- Portrayed by Ha Ji-won and Shim Eun-kyung in the 2006 KBS2 TV series Hwang Jini.[7]
- Portrayed by Song Hye-kyo and Kim Yoo-jung in the 2007 film Hwang Jin Yi.[8][9]
See also
References
- ↑ Osváth Gábor. "Hvang Dzsini sidzso versei (eredeti szövegek, nyers- és műfordítások)" (pdf) (in Hungarian). Konfuciusz Intézet. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
- ↑ Lee, Hai-soon; Yi, Hye-Sun (2005). Spirit of Korean Cultural Roots 9 : Poetic World of Classic Korean Women Writers. Ewha Womans University Press. pp. 13–18. ISBN 8973006029.
- ↑ "Best Female Poet in Korean Literature, Hwang Jini". KBS World. 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
- ↑ David Bannon, “Sijo Poetry of Korean Kisaeng,” Hangul Herald, Fall 2008: 10-13. Excerpted and used with permission.
- ↑ David Bannon, “Sijo Poetry of Korean Kisaeng,” Hangul Herald, Fall 2008: 10-13. Excerpted and used with permission.
- ↑ "A Literary Thaw in Korea". Time. 2004-06-21. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
- ↑ "Korean drama about Hwang Jin-yi to air in Japan". Korea.net. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
- ↑ "Hwang Jin Yi". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
- ↑ "Filming Locations". Korea Tourism Organisation. Retrieved 2012-11-15.