Poem Research

Vocabulary:
1)정수박이: 정수리의 사투리 (forehead)
2)gold-mosaicked: type of rock
3)poignant: evoking a keen or sense of sadness or regret.
4)oblivion: state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.
5)futile: incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.


Author:
The poet Han Yong-un (Yong-un Han in American name) is born in South Korea, 1879. His pen name, Manhae, is a Buddhist name he got during his childhood. Han was married in age of 14 but leaves his family to become a Buddhist monk. As a Buddhist monk, Han insisted Korean Buddhism should stand on the forefront to rebel against Japan. Han was also one of the 33 people to declared Korea's independence; Han was jailed for 3 years by Japanese officers because of it. While in prison, Han wrote books such as The book of Korean Independence (조선독립의 서) and  published his most well-known poem, The Silence of Love, in 1926. Han died in 1944 at the age of 65.

(an image of Han Yong-un)

Poem:
The poem, The Silence of Love(님의 침묵) also known as My Lord's Silence, is a poem published in 1926. The poem was written in Japanese Colonial Era thus most scholars claim that the "one" (님) the poet is referring to is the Korean Independence. Others say since the poet is a devoted Buddhist and the poem has ideas of reincarnation in it, one is referring to the Buddha. The poem is very important to Korean culture because it contributes in Korean independence and brings Korean nationalism. Also it's one of the earliest modernist Korean poems. The poem is currently translated into French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Czech, and English.


bibliography:

"Manhae Han Yong-un." Web log post. The Manhae Grand Prize. The Society for the Promotion and             Practice for Manhae's Thoughts, n.d. Web.

"Writers Database - Korea Literature Translation Institute." Korea Literature Translation Institute. Korea      Literature Translation Institute, n.d. Web. 09 May 2014.