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Example of Classical Chinese Use Today in Korea – Decision to Dissolve the...
On December 18, the Korean Constitutional Court for the first time in its history in a 8-1 vote decided to dissolve the far-left Unified Progressive Party (統合進步黨, 통합진보당 or 統進黨, 통진당). The decision was...
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A Look Into Hanja Education in North Korea
North Korean Hanja textbook for middle school students (Source) Introduction One of the many beliefs about North Korea is that the country has “purified” its language of Sinitic elements, or...
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Korea’s Pick for the Four Character Idiom of the Year for 2014 –指鹿爲馬(지록위마)
Every year, countries in the Sinosphere (漢字文化圈, 한자문화권) that still regularly use Chinese characters (漢字, 한자) pick a Chinese character that represent the theme of the year. In China, the character...
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Li Bai Makes an Appearance in a Korean Hangover Cure Commercial
Li Bai (李白, 이백, 705-762) is probably the most acclaimed poet in Chinese history, quite famous for writing poems while drunk. The poet now appears prominently on the face of a hangover remedy drink...
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Call for Joint Classical Chinese Poetry Composition
I have had a few subscribers asking whether I have written any Classical Chinese poetry (漢詩, 한시). The answer is I have composed a handful of poems, but I consider none of them that good (佳作, 가작). It...
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Gang Jeongildang – Spring Dreams
Gang Jeongildang (姜靜一堂, 강정일당, 1772-1832) was a late Chosun dynasty poetess and Neo-Confucian scholar. She was of the Jinju Gang Clan (晉州姜氏, 진주강씨); her childhood name (兒名, 아명) was Jideok (至德, 지덕); and...
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Overview of the Rules of Classical Chinese Poetry
Classic of Poetry (詩經, 시경) – Airs of States (國風, 국풍) (Source) Introduction Since most of the posts on this blog are translations of Classical Chinese poetry (漢詩, 한시), I thought it would be beneficial...
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Cui Tu – Thoughts on New Year’s Eve
Mount Emei (峨嵋山, 아미산) in Sichuan Province (四川省, 사천성) (Source) Cui Tu (崔塗, 최도, 854-?) was a poet and late Tang dynasty (唐, 당, 618-907) bureaucrat. He was born in Jiangnan (江南, 강남); his courtesy name was...
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Joint Classical Chinese Poetry Composition – Hopes for the New Year
(Source) I threw out the idea of having a joint Classical Chinese poetry composition (詩會, 시회) on a post few weeks ago. Fortunately, three people responded, meaning that with myself included that would...
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Hwang Hyeon – Assorted Compositions on the First Full Moon Festival –...
(Source) Short Biography on Hwang Hyeon Hwang Hyeon (黃玹, 황현, 1855-1910) was a Confucian scholar, poet, and Korean independence activist. He was of the Jangsu Hwang Clan (長水黃氏, 장수황씨); his courtesy name...
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Wei Yingwu – Gazing at the Farmhouse
Bufo gargarizans also known as the Asiatic toad (두꺼비) (Source) Wei Yingwu (韋應物, 위응물, 737-792) was a Tang dynasty (唐, 당, 618-907) bureaucrat and poet. He was born in Jingzhao (京兆, 경조), Wannian (萬年, 만년),...
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Hangul-Hanja Mixed Script Is Not a Japanese Creation
Songs of Dragons Flying to Heaven (龍飛御天歌, 용비어천가), the very first work published using Hangul. Note that the very first verse is in mixed script. (Source) Introduction With the announcement that Hanja...
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Bai Juyi – Where Is It Difficult to Forget About the Wine?
(Source) Bai Juyi (白居易, 백거이, 722-846) was a Tang dynasty (唐, 당, 618-907) bureaucratic official and one of the most renowned Classical Chinese poets. His family was originally from Taiyuan (太原, 태원),...
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Song Zhiwen – On the Road During the Cold Food Festival
(Source) Song Zhiwen (宋之問, 송지문, 656-712) was a Tang dynasty (唐, 당, 618-907) bureaucratic official and a renowned poet. He was born in Fenyang (汾陽, 분양) in Shanxi Province (山西省, 산서성) and his courtesy...
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Huang Tingjian – The Pure Brightness Festival
(Source) Huang Tingjian (黃庭堅, 황정견, 1045-1105) was a Song Dynasty (宋, 송, 960-1279) bureaucrat and a poet. He was born in what is now Xiushui (修水, 수수) in Jiangxi Province (江西省, 강서성); his courtesy name...
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Kim Yunshik – Filling the River Red, Last Month of Spring in Namseong
(Source) Kim Yunshik (金允植, 김윤식, 1835-1922) was a late Chosun dynasty bureaucrat, diplomat, and reformist. He was of the Cheongpung Kim Clan (淸風金氏, 청풍김씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Sungyeong (洵卿,...
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Yi Jehyeon – Eight Poems on Songdo – Cleansing Drinks at Ungcheon
(Source) Yi Jehyeon (李齊賢, 이제현, 1287-1367) was a late Goryeo dynasty (高麗, 고려, 918-1392) bureaucrat, Neo-Confucian scholar, and poet. He was of the Gyeongju Yi Clan (慶州李氏, 경주이씨); his courtesy name (字, 자)...
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Song Luo – The Peonies of Chosun
(Source) Song Luo (宋犖, 송락, 1634-1713) was a Qing dynasty (淸, 청, 1644-1912) bureaucrat, calligrapher, and poet. He was born in Shangqiu (商丘, 상구) in Henan Province (河南省, 하남성); his courtesy name was...
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Online Resources on Naver About Classical Chinese Literature
One point I have tried to make repeatedly is that there are tons of resources on Classical Chinese in Korean in print and online — and not to mention, free. This is one reason why I do not post my own...
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Gao Pian – A Summer Day at a Mountain Pavilion
Staying at a Mountain on a Summer Day (夏日山居, 하일산거) by Hua Yan (華喦, 화암, 1682-1756) (Source) Gao Pian (高騈, 고병, ?-887) was a late Tang dynasty period (唐, 당, 618-907) military general. He was born in...
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