Hwang Jin-i

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This is a Korean name; the family name is Hwang.
For the 2007 film, see Hwang Jin Yi (Film).
Hwang Jin-i
Alleged portrait of Hwang Jin-I.
Alleged portrait of Hwang Jin-I.
Korean name
Hangul 황진이
Hanja 黃眞伊
Revised Romanization Hwang Jini
McCune-Reischauer Hwang Chini
Kisaeng name
Hangul 명월
Hanja 明月
Revised Romanization Myeong-wol
McCune-Reischauer Myŏngwŏl

Hwang Jin-i (1520c.-1560c.), also known by her kisaeng name Myeongwol (literally bright moon), is the most legendary kisaeng 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 TV series, operas, and numerous novels. Due to her renowned assertive and independent nature, she has become a modern popular cultural icon of Korea.


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[edit] 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 어려워라.
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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

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