This is a first Draft!!!!!!! Do the Koreans have a classic n
This is a first Draft!!!!!!! Do the Koreans have a classic novel? Outline I. Introduction A. Why people think there isn’t a Korean novel B. What basis is there for people to expect a novel? 1. The Japanese novel 2. The Chinese novel II. Korea’s history A. Reasons in history B. Lack of literary language 1. Hanmun (Chinese influence) 2. Hangul 3. Hanguk C. Korea’s role as a bridge between China and Japan D. Chinese Influence E. The destruction of Korean literature by the Japanese –was there a novel? III. Other Korean Literature A. Samguk sagi, samguk yusa B. The "almost-novels" by Choson Dynasty women C. Hong Kiltong Chon IV. Conclusion A. A novel does not determine literary excellence, maybe it isn’t in the Korean mind to do so B. What this tells us about Koreans Korea is a unique country, as are all countries. However, Korea has a well-developed educational, cultural, political and social system. It is not possible to confuse a Korean with anything else, especially if you talk to one for any extended length of time. There is something lacking, however, it is a classic novel. China, Japan, America, many European countries, all have classic novels. Most people consider a classic novel to be a book that captures the essence of its time and culture. Why don’t the Koreans have one? If they do have one where did it go? Korean history might have been part of the reason. Korea was actually a country of average size and larger than average population. By the third millennium BC, numerous small tribal groups had drifted into Korea. The early Koreans considered the more impressive phenomena of nature to be deities and attributed divinity to their own ancestors. The nature divinities were viewed mostly as malevolent spirits. Later Buddhism and Confucianism would play a role, but shamanism remained strong among the common people. (East Asia, The Great Tradition, pg.400-401) As China expanded, it began to have an even more direct and pervasive impact. By the third century BC China was exercising direct political and cultural influence. In northern Korea, where China’s influence was greatest, Korea’s first principality was formed, Choson. Later, Chinese influence was heightened by an influx of refugees from the Qin Dynasty wars, one of which, a man named Wiman, usurped the throne of Choson in 190 BC. (East Asia, The Great Tradition, pg.402) Therefore, China was a great influence, which accounted for one of the reasons Korea doesn’t have a novel. Because of the influence of China, the Koreans had their own language, but used Chinese characters, call hanmun, known as "letters of Han". It was the written language of practically all literate Koreans from the beginning of Korean history, to the beginning of the 19th Century. Until 1446, when hunmin chongum, the twenty-eight-letter phonetic alphabet, usually called hangul, the Korean people had lacked a native writing system that represented their spoken language. Korean and Chinese were linguistically unrelated, and, as Chinese characters were more ideographic than phonetic, it was nearly impossible for Koreans to use Chinese characters to represent their spoken language. (An Introduction to Classical Korean Literature, pg. 3) Can you imagine trying to express yourself in a language that was completely different from your own? It was very, very hard. Even with huanguk, a mix between Chinese and phonetic Korean, it was hard. Despite this handicap, however, there was a great deal of literary activity. Historic records were compiled, Buddhist works were written, and nobles enthusiastically composed poetry in Chinese. (East Asia, The Great Tradition, pg.414) Korea, because of its location, acted as a cultural and trade bridge between China and Japan. It was an essential point on both the Chinese, and Japanese maps. Korea was constantly under a heavy military threat from abroad. Invasions from Han Wu Ti’s conquest of Korea, and nomadic raids by the Mongols, and corruption within the ranks kept Korea on its military toes. In the 16th century, when factional struggles where mounting in intensity, disaster struck Korean from abroad in a massive invasion by the Japanese. Hideyoshi, who had established his mastery over all Japan in 1590, wanted more. The Japanese invaded Korea, and met little resistance because of the disruption..... please continue to read below
of leadership in Korea. For Korea, the invasions were an unmitigated tragedy. The Japanese armies ravaged and despoiled the whole land, and the Chinese armies who helped the Koreans did as much damage. The Japanese also destroyed countless amounts of Korean Literature, and repressed the language, and culture of the Koreans. They also forced Japanese to be taught in schools. (East Asia, The Great Tradition, pg.403, 423, 442-443) So there might have been a Korean novel that was destroyed, we will never know. Some literature was retained however. There were histories such as the Samguk Sagi, and Samguk Yusa, which were compiled at roughly the same time in Shilla. The similarity ended there. Samguk Sagi, the History of the Three Kingdoms was an official history of the Three Kingdoms in annalistic form compiled in 1145 by Kim Pu-shik. Samguk Yusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms was much different. It was an unofficial chronicle of myths, legends, folklore, and historical occurrences compiled in 1281 by a Son priest called Iryon. Samguk Yusa was much more interesting reading in that it compiled a lot of oral literature and helped us understand the cultural and religious undertones of Korean history. Samguk Sagi told us more of the facts and actual historic events. They consist of large volumes of information, but cannot be considered novels. (An Introduction to Classic Korean Literature, pg.49) Korean literature came close to having a novel in the writings of Choson Dynasty women, some of which wrote detailed and comprehensive works that can move us and teach us about the women of the time. Three of these works are Kyech’uk ilgi (Diary of the Year of the Black Ox, 1613), Inhyon Wanghu chon (Life of Queen Inhyon), and Hanjungnok (Records Made in distress). The stories were all told from an eyewitness point of view, and each, in its way gave us invaluable glimpses into the tragic side of life inside the palace. They were moving pieces that tell about women’s suffering, and triumph in a society that condemned women. (An Introduction to Classic Korean Literature, pg. 96) One book comes very close. It was called Hong Kiltong Chon (The Tale of Hong Kiltong) It was a story of an illegitimate son doing great deeds, but never had the love and respect of his half-brothers and his father. He brought together a band of thieves and a peasant, created the Save-the-Poor group, and was a kind of Korean Robin Hood. It is well written on the points of Hong Kiltong’s society not accepting him because of his illegitimacy, addressing an issue that occurred in Korea quite frequently, but is sketchy on the issues of the peasants’ suffering. (An Introduction on Classic Korean Literature, pg. 141-156) It almost became a great novel, and could be a sign that there might have been a great Korean novel. A lack of a novel in no way reflects badly of the Koreans. Through the Korean songs and poetry you can feel their emotions, see their lives, and love what they love. You come to know the writer, as you would with a novel. For example, Ho Kyun wrote in one of his poems: "As the sun is about to set, An old woman is wailing in the ruins of a village. Her disheveled hair looks as if blighted by frost, And her eyes are shadowed as if by dusk. Her husband is in a cold jail cell, Because he cannot pay the money he owes, And her son has gone off with the royal army. Her house has been burned down to the base or the pillars; Hiding out in the woods she has lost even her hemp petticoat. She has no work, she has no wish to even go on living, Why is the petty clerk of the district calling for her at the gate?" (An Introduction to Classic Korean Literature, pg. 146) Poetry speaks to the essence of life, and one’s culture or experience. They wrote beautiful poetry, developed a unique culture and are passionate, in everything, in their music (ever hear of H.O.T.?), their food, and their tempers. Maybe they aren’t meant to have a novel, maybe it’s not in their culture to express in words what is known by all of them. What do you think? Bibliography Primary Sources None Secondary Sources Kichung Kim, An Introduction to Classic Korean Literature, 1996, An East Gate Book Edwin O. Reischauer, John. K. Fairbank, East Asia, The Great Tradition, 1958, Modern Asia Editions Internet Sources None
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