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Yi Seo’u – An Incidental Composition After Having Played Chess
Yi Seo’u (李瑞雨, 이서우, 1633-?) was a Chosun dynasty literati bureaucrat. He was of the Ugye Yi Clan (羽溪李氏, 우계이씨), which is now called the Gangreung Yi Clan (江陵李氏, 강릉이씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was...
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Chae Jegong – On the Day of the Awakening Insects, A Playful Composition
Chae Jegong (蔡濟恭, 채제공, 1720-1799) was a Chosun dynasty literati bureaucrat. He was of the Pyeonggang Chae Clan (平康菜氏, 평강채씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Baekgyu (伯規, 백규); his pen name (號, 호) was...
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Kwon Pil – On Jongjeongdo
Kwon Pil (權韠, 권필, 1569-1612) was a Chosun dynasty poet. He was of the Andong Kwon Clan (安東權氏, 안동권씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Yeojang (汝章, 여장); and his pen name (號, 호) was Seokju (石洲, 석주). He was...
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Yi Saek – Dispelling the Stuffiness
Yi Saek (李穡, 이색, 1328-1396) was a Neo-Confucian scholar and Goryeo Dynasty bureaucrat. He was of the Hansan Yi Clan (韓山李氏, 한산이씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Yeongsuk (潁叔, 영숙); his pen name (號, 호)...
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Kim Satgat – Baduk
Kim Byeongyeon (金炳淵, 김병연, 1807-1863) is perhaps the most famous Chosun dynasty poet. He is better known as Kim Satgat (김삿갓; 金笠, 김립). He was of the Andong Kim Clan (安東金氏, 안동김씨); his courtesy name (字,...
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Exhibit Announcement – Children’s Instructional Books
I hope readers enjoyed the series of translations on traditional Korean board games. I do apologize for the decline in quality, as I have been somewhat busy as of late. For the next exhibit, I will be...
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Excerpts from the Thousand Character Classic
The Thousand Character Classic (千字文, 천자문, Cheonjamun) is a famous primer to educate children Chinese characters (漢字, 한자, Hanja). It is composed of 250 tetrasyllabic verses (四言古詩, 사언고시), and hence...
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Yi Jeong’am – The Vernal Equinox
Yi Jeong’am (李廷馣, 이정암, 1541-1600) was a Chosun dynasty literati bureaucrat. He was of the Gyeongju Yi Clan (慶州李氏, 경주이씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Junghun (仲薰, 중훈); his pen name (號, 호) was Weoldang...
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Excerpts from the Minor Learning – On Remonstrating Parent’s Shortcomings
The Minor Learning (小學, 소학, Sohak) is a Neo-Confucian work intended for the moral instruction of children. The work consists of six chapters, with four of the chapters being in the inner volume (內篇,...
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Excerpts from the Precious Mirror Illuminating the Heart – First Verse of the...
The Precious Mirror Illuminating the Heart (明心寶鑑, 명심보감, Myeongshimbogam) is another Neo-Confucian work intended for the moral instruction of children. The work is a compilation of excerpts from...
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Excerpts from The First Lessons for Children – Between Friends, There is Trust
The First Lessons for Children, or the Dongmongseonseup (童蒙先習, 동몽선습) was yet another important work directed at the moral instruction of the children during the Chosun dynasty. It was typically the...
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Excerpts from the Essential Method in Smiting the Ignorant – On Ancestral Rites
The Essential Method in Smiting the Ignorant, or the Gyeokmongyogyeol (擊蒙要訣, 격몽요결) is a Neo-Confucian work intended for instructing children. It was one of the first books that Korean children read in...
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Excerpts from the Book on Enlightening the Ignorant – Chapter on Things
The Book on Enlightening the Ignorant, or the Gyemongpyeon (啓夢篇, 계몽편), was another book intended for children. The Gyemongpyeon consists of five chapters: the Head Chapter (首篇, 수편); Chapter on Heaven...
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Du Fu – Day of Clear Brightness
Du Fu (杜甫, 두보, Du Bo, 712-770) was one the most prominent Chinese poets of the Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name (字, 자) was Zimei (子美, 자미, Ja’mi); and his pen name was Shaoling (少陵, 소릉, Soreung). He is...
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Choe Sukjeong – On the Road During the Day of the Cold Food Festival
Choe Sukjeong (崔淑精, 최숙정, 1433-1480) was a Chosun dynasty literati bureaucrat. He was of the Yangcheon Choe Clan (陽川崔氏, 양천최씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Gukhwa (國華, 국화); and his pen names (堂號, 당호)...
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Excerpts from What Ignorant Children Must Know – On Speaking and Walking
What Ignorant Children Must Know (童蒙須知, 동몽수지) was a Neo-Confucian work specifically intended for educating children on morals (修身, 수신). The work is composed of five chapters: on Wearing Clothing...
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Excerpts from the Scholar and Minor Etiquette
The Scholar and Minor Etiquette, or Sasojeol (士小節, 사소절), was another Confucian work intended for educating not only children but also women and other literati scholars on the activities of daily life....
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Excerpts from Teaching the Ignorant a Collection of Characters
The Teaching to Ignorant a Collection of Characters or the Hunmongjahoe (訓蒙字會, 훈몽자회) was another popular primer on Chinese characters (漢字, 한자). During the Chosun dynasty, it was often used with the...
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King Jeongjo of Chosun – Excerpt of In the Spring Rain of Gyeongrim, a Feast...
King Jeongjo (正祖, 정조, 1752-1800, r. 1776-1800) was the twenty-second monarch of the Chosun dynasty. His name (諱, 휘) was Yi San (李祘, 이산); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Hyeong’un (亨運, 형운); and his pen...
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Yu Gye – On the Day of the Start of Summer, The Apricot Flowers Start to Blossom
Yu Gye (兪棨, 유계, 1607-1664) was a Chosun dynasty scholar and literati bureaucrat. He was of the Gigye Yu Clan (杞溪兪氏, 기계유씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Mujung (武仲, 무중); his pen name (號, 호) was Shinam...
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