🇰🇷Intro to Premodern Korean Literature Unit 12 – Premodern Korean Literature: A Legacy

Key Concepts and Themes

• Explores the evolution of Korean literature from ancient times to the premodern era
• Highlights the interplay between literature, history, and culture in shaping Korean identity
• Emphasizes the role of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shamanism in influencing literary themes and values
  • Confucianism stresses social hierarchy, filial piety, and moral cultivation
  • Buddhism introduces concepts of impermanence, enlightenment, and karmic retribution
  • Shamanism contributes to the incorporation of mythical and supernatural elements
• Examines the development of various literary genres, including poetry, prose, and oral traditions
• Investigates the impact of Chinese literary traditions on Korean literature
  • Adoption of Chinese writing system (Hanja) and classical Chinese as the language of scholarship
  • Influence of Chinese literary forms and themes, such as the "Four Gentlemen" (plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboo)
• Traces the emergence of vernacular Korean (Hangul) and its role in democratizing literature
• Analyzes the representation of social classes, gender roles, and political power dynamics in literary works

Historical Context

• Covers the period from the Three Kingdoms era (57 BCE - 668 CE) to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897)
• Three Kingdoms era marked by the rise of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla kingdoms
  • Development of distinct cultural identities and literary traditions
  • Influence of Chinese culture and Buddhism
• Unified Silla period (668-935) witnesses the flourishing of Buddhist literature and Hwarang poetry
• Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) characterized by the dominance of Buddhism and the emergence of Goryeo songs (Goryeo gayo)
• Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) marked by the rise of Neo-Confucianism and the invention of Hangul
  • Shift towards more secular and pragmatic literature
  • Development of various literary genres, including sijo poetry and pansori narrative singing
• Historical events, such as invasions, political upheavals, and social reforms, shape the content and style of literature

Major Literary Periods

• Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE - 668 CE)
  • Emergence of foundation myths and legends, such as the Dangun myth
  • Development of hyangga poetry, reflecting native Korean aesthetics and themes
• Unified Silla period (668-935)
  • Flourishing of Buddhist literature, including sutras, commentaries, and biographies of monks
  • Composition of Hwarang poetry, expressing Confucian values and martial spirit
• Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392)
  • Dominance of Buddhist literature, including scriptural exegeses and philosophical treatises
  • Emergence of Goryeo songs (Goryeo gayo), reflecting the aristocratic culture and romantic sentiments
• Early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1592)
  • Rise of Neo-Confucian literature, emphasizing moral cultivation and social harmony
  • Development of sijo poetry, characterized by its concise and expressive form
• Late Joseon Dynasty (1592-1897)
  • Emergence of pansori narrative singing, combining storytelling, music, and improvisation
  • Proliferation of vernacular novels, depicting the lives of commoners and challenging social norms

Influential Authors and Works

• Seol Chong (circa 655-730), Silla period poet known for his "Ode to Knight Kipa"
• Choe Chiwon (857-d. 10th century), Silla scholar and poet, author of "The Tale of Hong Gildong"
• Yi Gyubo (1168-1241), Goryeo period scholar and poet, known for his "Dongmyeong Wang Pyeon" (The Lay of King Dongmyeong)
• Jeong Mong-ju (1337-1392), Goryeo period scholar and poet, author of "Dansimga" (Poem of Loyalty)
• Seo Gyeong-deok (1489-1546), Joseon period scholar and poet, known for his sijo poetry
• Heo Gyun (1569-1618), Joseon period novelist, author of "The Tale of Hong Gildong"
• Kim Man-jung (1637-1692), Joseon period novelist, author of "The Nine Cloud Dream"
• Shin Jae-hyo (1812-1884), Joseon period pansori master, known for his "Chunhyangga" (Song of Chunhyang)

Literary Genres and Forms

• Hyangga: Native Korean poetry of the Silla period, reflecting indigenous beliefs and customs
• Gasa: Narrative poetry of the Goryeo and Joseon periods, often expressing personal sentiments or social criticism
• Sijo: Three-line poetry of the Joseon period, known for its concise and expressive form
  • Characterized by a fixed syllabic structure (3-4-3-4 / 3-4-3-4 / 3-5-4-3)
  • Often deals with themes of nature, love, and philosophical reflections
• Goryeo songs (Goryeo gayo): Lyrical songs of the Goryeo period, expressing aristocratic sentiments and aesthetics
• Pansori: Narrative singing of the Joseon period, combining storytelling, music, and improvisation
  • Performed by a singer (gwangdae) and a drummer (gosu)
  • Depicts the lives and struggles of commoners, often with satirical or subversive undertones
• Vernacular novels: Prose fiction written in Hangul, emerging in the late Joseon period
  • Includes works such as "The Tale of Hong Gildong" and "The Nine Cloud Dream"
  • Explores themes of social inequality, individual aspirations, and moral dilemmas

Cultural and Philosophical Influences

• Confucianism: Emphasizes social hierarchy, filial piety, and moral cultivation
  • Influences the development of didactic literature, such as conduct manuals and historical biographies
  • Shapes the ideal of the scholar-official (seonbi) as a moral exemplar and literary patron
• Buddhism: Introduces concepts of impermanence, enlightenment, and karmic retribution
  • Inspires the creation of Buddhist scriptures, commentaries, and hagiographies
  • Influences the themes of transience, detachment, and spiritual quest in poetry and prose
• Shamanism: Contributes to the incorporation of mythical and supernatural elements in literature
  • Shapes the depiction of gods, spirits, and otherworldly realms in foundation myths and legends
  • Influences the portrayal of shamanic rituals and beliefs in vernacular novels and pansori
• Taoism: Emphasizes harmony with nature, simplicity, and spontaneity
  • Inspires the appreciation of natural beauty and reclusion in poetry and prose
  • Influences the development of travel literature and landscape painting
• Neo-Confucianism: Synthesizes Confucian ethics with metaphysical and cosmological concepts
  • Shapes the literary discourse on self-cultivation, social reform, and political governance
  • Influences the emergence of philosophical treatises and commentaries in the Joseon period

Language and Writing Systems

• Hanja (Chinese characters): Adopted as the primary writing system for official documents and literary works
  • Used to record historical events, legal codes, and philosophical treatises
  • Enables the transmission of Chinese literary and intellectual traditions to Korea
• Hyangchal: An early writing system that combines Chinese characters with native Korean grammatical particles
  • Used to transcribe native Korean poetry, such as hyangga, in the Silla period
  • Reflects the adaptation of Chinese characters to express Korean language and aesthetics
• Gugyeol: A system of annotating Chinese texts with Korean grammatical markers and glosses
  • Facilitates the reading and comprehension of Chinese texts by Korean scholars
  • Contributes to the development of Korean linguistic and philological studies
• Hangul: The Korean alphabet, invented by King Sejong in 1443
  • Designed to accurately represent the sounds and structure of the Korean language
  • Enables the creation of vernacular literature accessible to a wider audience
  • Facilitates the expression of Korean identity and cultural values in literary works

Legacy and Modern Relevance

• Premodern Korean literature serves as a foundation for modern Korean literature and culture
• Themes and values explored in premodern works continue to resonate with contemporary audiences
  • Confucian ideals of loyalty, filial piety, and social harmony
  • Buddhist concepts of impermanence, compassion, and spiritual cultivation
  • Shamanic beliefs in the supernatural and the power of ritual
• Literary genres and forms, such as sijo and pansori, are preserved and adapted in modern contexts
  • Sijo poetry continues to be composed and performed by contemporary poets and musicians
  • Pansori has evolved into modern theatrical productions and cultural performances
• Premodern works are studied and reinterpreted by scholars and artists, offering new insights and perspectives
• Translations and adaptations of premodern works introduce Korean literature to a global audience
  • "The Tale of Hong Gildong" has been translated into multiple languages and adapted into films and television series
  • Pansori performances have gained international recognition and acclaim
• Premodern literature serves as a source of cultural pride and national identity for Koreans
  • Celebrates the richness and diversity of Korean literary heritage
  • Promotes the understanding and appreciation of Korean culture and history worldwide