Ancient, Medieval, and Premodern Korean Songs and Poems

Ancient, Medieval, and Premodern Korean Songs and Poems

An Historical Anthology, With Parallel Texts in Korean and English

This historical anthology of Korean poetry, Ancient, Medieval, and Premodern Korean Songs and Poems highlights the evolution of poetic composition in the vernacular. The book is a manifesto of the uniquely Korean poetic tradition, which flourished quite separately along with the literary tradition retained by the men of letters devoted to the scholarship in classical Chinese. The beauty of the Korean language and the tradition of verse-making in it are sumptuously demonstrated by this book, which contains both the original texts in the unique Korean orthography of phonograms and the translator’s English version that runs in parallel with the original poems.
  • COVER
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • About the Translator
  • Introduction
    • Part I
      • Ancient Songs and Poems: Kayo, Hyang-ga, and Secular Songs
        • Lamenting Her Husband’s Drowning
          • A woman of the Ancient Chosŏn
        • Song of the Orioles
          • King Yuri of Koguryŏ (r. 19 bce‒ce 18)
        • Chant of Invocation of the Turtle
          • Nine Chieftains of Kaya Kingdom (ce 42)
        • Song of a Peddler’s Wife
          • A peddler’s wife in Paek-je
        • Song of Sǒ-dong
          • Sŏ-dong (Later King Mu of Paek-je, seventh century)
        • A Prayer for Eternal Peace
          • Rev. Kwang-dŏk (seventh century)
        • Lamenting a Dear Friend’s Death
          • Dŭk-o (seventh century)
        • Offering to Pluck a Flower
          • An old cowherd (eighth century)
        • Mourning for His Sister
          • Rev. Wol-myŏng (eighth century)
        • In Memory of Sir Ki-pa-rang
          • Rev. Chung-dam (eighth century)
        • Song for Peaceful Reign
          • Rev. Chung-dam (eighth century)
        • Song of Chǒ-yong
          • Chŏ-yong (ninth century)
        • Thinking of Mother
          • Anonymous (Early Koryŏ period)
        • Will You Go Away?
          • Anonymous
        • Song for Green Mountains
          • Anonymous (Koryŏ period)
        • Song for Pounding Crops
          • Anonymous (Koryǒ period)
        • Spring Overflowing the Pavilion
          • Anonymous (Koryǒ period)
        • Complaint of Chǒng Kwa-jǒng
          • Chǒng Sǒ (twelfth century)
    • Part II
      • Kasa: Long Poems in the Vein of Prose
        • The Joy of Spring
          • Chŏng Kǔg-in (1401‒1481)
        • Tour of the East of the Divide
          • Chǒng Ch’ǒl (1536‒1593)
        • Sojourn in Mount Sŏng
          • Chǒng Ch’ǒl (1536‒1593)
        • Song of Longing I
          • Chǒng Ch’ǒl (1536‒1593)
        • Song of Longing II
          • Chǒng Ch’ǒl (1536‒1593)
        • Drinking Song
          • Chǒng Ch’ǒl (1536‒1593)
        • Lines Composed on a Battleship
          • Pak In-ro (1561‒1642)
        • In Celebration of Peace Restored
          • Pak In-ro (1561‒1642)
        • A Hermit’s Diary
          • Pak In-ro (1561‒1642)
        • Lines Composed in Retirement
          • Pak In-ro (1561‒1642)
        • The Song of a Reedy Brook
          • Pak In-ro (1561‒1642)
        • A Wife’s Complaint
          • Hŏ Nan-sŏl-hŏn (1563‒1589)
        • Dialogue with a Herdsman
          • Im Yu-hu (1601‒1673)
        • Lines Composed at the Rocky Bower
          • Cho Sŏng-shin (1764‒?)
        • Spring Slumber
          • Anonymous
    • Part III
      • Shijo: Occasional and Impromptu Poems
        • Fleeting Glory and Fame
          • Ch’oe Ch’ung (944‒1068)
        • Spring Wind on the Mountain Snow
          • Wu Tak (1262–1342)
        • A Futile Attempt
          • Wu Tak (1262–1342)
        • Moonlit Pear Blossoms
          • Yi Cho-nyŏn (1269–1342)
        • Pledge of Loyalty
          • Ch’oe Yŏng (1316‒1388)
        • Standing Alone in the Sunset
          • Yi Saek (1328–1396)
        • Admonition of a Caring Mother
          • Mother of Chŏng Mongju (1337–1392)
        • Clouds
          • Yi Chon-o (1341–1371)
        • Invitation to Shared Prosperity
          • Yi Pang-wŏn (1367–1422)
        • Pledge of Unwavering Loyalty
          • Chŏng Mong-ju (1337–1392)
        • Listening to the Water Flowing
          • Chŏng Do-jŏn (?–1398)
        • A Night in the Mountain
          • Cho Jun (1346–1405)
        • Returning to the Former Royal Town
          • Kil Chae (1353–1419)
        • At the Ruin of an Old Palace
          • Wŏn Ch’ŏn-sŏk (fourteenth century)
        • Bamboos in the Snow
          • Wŏn Ch’ŏn-sŏk (fourteenth century)
        • In the Harvest Season
          • Hwang Hŭi (1363–1452)
        • On a Spring Day
          • Hwang Hŭi (1363–1452)
        • Asking the Mountains
          • Kim Sang-ok (late fourteenth to early fifteenth century)
        • Reminiscing the Bygone Dynasty
          • Hong-jang (late fourteenth century)
        • Song of a Man-at-arms
          • Kim Jong-sŏ (1390–1453)
        • Proud of His Manly Life
          • Kim Jong-sŏ (1390–1453)
        • After Bidding Farewell to My Lord
          • Wang Pang-yŏn (mid-fifteenth century)
        • Watching a Candle Burning
          • Yi Gae (1417–1456)
        • Pledge of Loyalty Renewed
          • Pak P’aeng-nyŏn (1417–1456)
        • What I Wish to Become When I Die
          • Sŏng Sam-mun (1418–1456)
        • Solitary Banquet
          • Ha Wi-ji (1387–1456)
        • Flowers Wilting in the Wind
          • Yu Ŭng-bu (?–1456)
        • After Escaping the Stormy Wind
          • Yu Ŭng-bu (?–1456)
        • Peace Disrupted
          • Yu Sŏng-wŏn (?–1456)
        • Weeping Brook
          • Wŏn Ho (mid-fifteenth century)
        • At a Northern Outpost
          • Nam Yi (1441–1469)
        • Fishing Till Late
          • Prince Wŏlsan (1454–1488)
        • An Entertaining Woman’s Choice at a Royal Banquet
          • So-ch’un-p’ung (late fifteenth century)
        • Plowing in the Rain
          • Kim Koeng-p’il (1454–1504)
        • A Fisherman’s Song
          • Yi Hyŏn-bo (1467–1555)
        • Like a Clear Stream, as a Floating Cloud
          • Shin Kwang-han (1484–1555)
        • Waiting
          • Sŏ Kyŏng-dŏk (1489–1546)
        • To My Heart
          • Sŏ Kyŏng-dŏk (1489–1546)
        • Wilting of Flowers
          • Song Sun (1493‒1583)
        • My Three-Room Hut
          • Song Sun (1493‒1583)
        • After Wandering All Day
          • An Jŏng (1494–?)
        • The View of the River from My Bower
          • Hong Ch’un-kyŏng (1497–1548)
        • Upon Hearing of the King’s Demise
          • Cho Shik (1501–1572)
        • Upon Looking at Unearthly Scenery
          • Cho Shik (1501–1572)
        • In the Sunset
          • Kim In-hu (1510–1560)
        • The Pine Chopped off the Other Day
          • Kim In-hu (1510–1560)
        • Longing for My Beloved
          • Yi Mae-chang (1513–1550)
        • Watching the Moon, Holding a Cup
          • Yi Dŏk-hyŏng (1516–1613)
        • A Carefree Life
          • Yang Ŭng-jŏng (1519–Year uncertain)
        • Life of a Recluse
          • Kang Ik (1523–?)
        • In a Would-be Garden
          • Kang Ik (1523–?)
        • After the Sunset
          • Kwŏn Ho-mun (1532–1587)
        • Longing for a Carefree Life
          • Kwŏn Ho-mun (1532–1587)
        • The Moon in the Clear Sky
          • Kwŏn Ho-mun (1532–1587)
        • Love that Gives Only Distress
          • Ko Kyŏng-myŏng (1533–1592)
        • Entering the Hermits’ World
          • Ko Kyŏng-myŏng (1533–1592)
        • Fishing in the Sunset
          • Yu Ja-shin (1533–1612)
        • In the Bosom of Nature
          • Sŏng Hon (1535–1598)
        • After a Sweet Slumber
          • Sŏng Hon (1535–1598)
        • In Retirement
          • Sŏ Ik (1542–1587)
        • The Joy of a Simple Life
          • Han Ho (1543–1605)
        • The Rain-swept River in the Sunset
          • Cho Hŏn (1544–1592)
        • Fishing in the Rain
          • Cho Hŏn (1544–1592)
        • Alone at My Command Post
          • Yi Sun-shin (1545–1598)
        • Unable to Hold One Leaving
          • Yi Wŏn-ik (1547–1634)
        • Living in Seclusion
          • Kim Jang-saeng (1548–1631)
        • Watching the River Flow
          • Hwang Jin-i (mid-sixteenth century)
        • On a Winter Night
          • Hwang Jin-i (mid- sixteenth century)
        • Invitation to Love
          • Hwang Jin-i (mid-sixteenth century)
        • Passing by an Old Friend’s Grave
          • Im Je (1549–1587)
        • Making Advances
          • Im Je (1549–1587)
        • Why Sleep Frozen?
          • Han-wu (a kisaeng, late sixteenth century)
        • At His Place of Exile
          • Yi Hang-bok (1556–1618)
        • What a Lie!
          • Kim Sang-yong (1561–1637)
        • Raindrops on Paulownia Leaves
          • Kim Sang-yong (1561–1637)
        • The Well Ripe Persimmons on the Tray
          • Pak In-ro (1561–1642)
        • Let’s Go to the Field and the Stream
          • Pak In-ro (1561–1642)
        • After Wandering
          • Pak In-ro (1561–1642)
        • Should I Trust My Love?
          • Yi Jŏng-gu (1564–1635)
        • The Moonlit White Sand
          • Kang Pok-jung (dates unknown)
        • Terrified by a Storm
          • Chang Man (1566–1629)
        • To a Heron Staring into the Stream
          • Shin Hŭm (1566–1628)
        • After a Snowfall
          • Shin Hŭm (1566–1628)
        • Smokeless Fire
          • Kim Tŏk-nyŏng (1567–1596)
        • Rainy Night
          • Kim Sŏng-wŏn (?–1597)
        • What I Would Like to Be
          • Kwŏn P’il (1569–1612)
        • Watching the Birds over the Stream
          • Chŏng On (1569–1641)
        • Bidding Farewell to My Homeland
          • Kim Sang-hŏn (1570–1652)
        • A Humble Wish
          • Yi An-nul (1571–1637)
        • The Ephemeral
          • Cho Ch’an-han (1572–1631)
        • Reluctant to Forgo Carefreeness
          • Cho Ch’an-han (1572–1631)
        • Listening to a Nocturnal Bird
          • Chŏng Ch’ung-shin (1576–1636)
        • The Joy of Forgetting
          • Kim Kwang-wuk (1580–1656)
        • Looking for a Tavern
          • Kim Kwang-wuk (1580–1656)
        • Proposing Mutual Invitation
          • Kim Yuk (1580–1658)
        • Lamenting a Young Prince’s Death
          • Ku Yong (sixteenth to seventeenth century)
        • Visiting My Beloved in Dreams
          • Yi Myŏng-han (1595–1645)
        • Listening to a Night Bird
          • Yi Myŏng-han (1595–1645)
        • At a Poetic Gathering
          • Chŏng Du-kyŏng (1597–1673)
        • With a Watering Mouth
          • Ch’ae Yu-hu (1599–1660)
        • Lamenting Growing Old
          • Yi Wan (1603–1674)
        • Growing Old Away from My Lord
          • Kang Paek-nyŏn (1603–1681)
        • Anxious to Serve Before Growing Old
          • Yu Hyŏk-yŏn (1616–1680)
        • In the Spring Rain
          • King Hyo-jong (1619–1659)
        • What the Pine Said to the Flowers
          • Prince In-p’yŏng (1622–1658)
        • At Sunrise
          • Nam Ku-man (1629–1711)
        • To the Kites Seeking Preys
          • Ku Chi-jŏng (seventh century)
        • My Mountain Lodge
          • Yun Sun (1680–1741)
        • Unable to Hold Time Fleeing
          • Kim Sam-hyŏn (seventeenth–eighteenth century)
        • Retreat
          • Kim Sŏng-ki (seventeenth–eighteenth century)
        • The Joy of Living in Retreat
          • Kim Sŏng-ki (seventeenth–eighteenth century)
        • Listening to a Nightingale
          • Kim Muk-su (eighteenth century)
        • Content with a Humble Life
          • Kim Ch’ŏn-taek (eighteenth century)
        • Autumn Landscape
          • Kim Ch’ŏn-taek (eighteenth century)
        • Seeing My Love in a Dream
          • Pak Hyo-kwan (1781–1880)
        • Listening to the Wild Geese at Night
          • Pak Hyo-kwan (1781–1880)
        • A Daydream
          • Pak Hyo-kwan (1781–1880)
        • A Happy Afternoon
          • O Kyŏng-hwa (dates unknown)
        • Return of the Moon and Flowers
          • Na Ji-sŏng (dates unknown)
        • Return of the Spring
          • Mae-hwa (dates unkown)
        • Seeing My Love Only in Dreams
          • Myŏng-ok (dates unknown)
        • Hearing a Dog Bark on a Moonlit Night
          • Chŏn-kŭm (dates unknown)
        • Listening to Wild Geese on a Moonlit Night
          • Kŭm-hong (dates unknown)
        • Regret over Life’s Transience
          • Kye-sŏm (dates unknown)
        • Being True to My Love
          • Ku-ji (dates unknown)
        • Fallen Petals Drifting Down on a Stream
          • Kim Hak-yŏn (dates unknown)
        • To My Startled Horse
          • Anonymous
        • To Know the Shift of the Seasons
          • Anonymous
        • An Encounter
          • Anonymous
        • Listening to the Windblown Snow
          • Anonymous
        • The Moon over the Paulownia
          • Anonymous
        • Petals on the Yard
          • Anonymous
        • To Ask the Moon
          • Anonymous
        • Regret over the Receding Spring
          • Anonymous
        • An Excursion
          • Anonymous
        • Visiting a Temple
          • Anonymous
  • Commentaries and Notes
  • Index of Works
  • Index of Authors