Hwang Jin-i

Infobox Korean name


caption=Alleged portrait of Hwang Jin-I.
hangul=황진이
hanja=黃眞伊
rr=Hwang Jini
mr=Hwang Chini
othername1=Gisaeng name
hangul1=명월
hanja1=明月
rr1=Myeong-wol
mr1=Myŏngwŏl

Hwang Jin-i (1520c.-1560c.), also known by her gisaeng name Myeongwol (literally bright moon), is the most legendary gisaeng of the Joseon Dynasty who lived during the reign of King Jungjong. She was noted for her exceptional beauty, charming quick wit, and extraordinary intellect. Her personal life has become almost myth-like, having inspired movies, a 2006 TV series, operas, and numerous novels. Due to her renowned assertive and independent nature, she has become a modern popular cultural icon of Korea.

Works

Although only a handful of sijo and geomungo pieces exist today, they nonetheless show skilled craftsmanship of words and of musical arrangement. Her sijo often describe the natural beauty of Gaeseong and its famous sites such the Palace of Manwoldae and the Bagyeon Pokpo waterfall. Others hint at the tragedy of her lost loves. Some are also responses to numerous famous classic Chinese poems and literature, the majority of them reflecting on lost love. Two of her most famous sijo are:

:"동짓달 기나긴 밤을.."

::동짓달 기나긴 밤을 한 허리를 버혀 내어::춘풍 니불 아래 서리서리 넣었다가::어론님 오신 날 밤이어든 굽이굽이 펴리라

::"Oh that I might capture the essence of this deep midwinter night" ::"And fold it softly into the waft of a spring-moon quilt," ::"Then fondly uncoil it the night my beloved returns."

:"청산리 벽계수(靑山裏 碧溪水)야..."

::청산리 벽계수(靑山裏 碧溪水)야 수이 감을 자랑 마라. ::일도창해(一到滄海)하면 다시 오기 어려우니::명월(明月)이 만공산(滿空山)할 제 쉬어간들 어떠리.

::"Respectable Byuk Kye-Soo, do not boast of leaving so early."::"When you venture out to the sea, it will be difficult to return."::"The full bright moon above the empty mountain, how about staying here to rest."

Popular culture

In the late 20th century, Hwang Jin-i's story began to attract attention from both sides of the Korean divide. Her life has been depicted through media including fiction, film and opera. Novels dealing with her life include a 2002 novel by the North Korean writer Hong Sok-chung, which was the first North Korean novel to win an award in the South. Another novel, by South Korean writer Jeon Gyeong-rin, became a bestseller in 2004. In late 2006, KBS released a TV series entitled "Hwang Jin-i" starring Ha Ji-won in the title role. A film starring Song Hye Kyo was released on June 6, 2007.

ee also

* Korean culture
* Korean dance
* Geomungo
* Kisaeng
* Sijo

External links

* [http://thewordshop.tripod.com/Sijo/hwangchini.html Two sijo attributed to Hwang, translated by Larry Gross]
* [http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200505/kt2005051017092111710.htm North Korean novel to be made into South Korean film]
* [http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/hwangjiny/index.html (1st) KBS Official website for the "Hwang Jin-i" drama series, where it is possible to watch episodes online]
* [http://www.hwangjiny.com (2nd) KBS Official website of the "Hwang Jin-i" drama series]
* [http://www.hwangjiny-movie.com/main/index.html Official website of the "Hwang Jin-i" movie]
* [http://www.koreasociety.org/film_blog/news/song_hye-gyo_hwang_jin-yi.html "Song Hye-Gyo as Hwang Jin-Yi" @ The Korea Society Film Journal]