Hwang Jini was a celebrated female entertainer (妓生 gisaeng) and sijo writer who is believed to have been active in the sixteenth century. She excelled in poetry and rhythms; and, based on her talents, she associated freely with prominent figures of the time, including Seo Gyeongdeok (徐敬德, 1489-1546). Unlike the sijo written by the sadaebu (士大夫 the literati), she pioneered her own domain with a novel expression technique, leaving Hansi (漢詩 Chinese character poetry) and six sijo poems.
1. Life
Since there are no historical documents directly related to Hwang Jini, it is not possible to know the exact details of her life. However, if one refers to the anecdotes in documents such as Seongso Bubugo (惺所覆瓿藁 Trivial Scripts by Heo Gyun), Eouyadam (於于野談 Unofficial Stories by Yu Mongin), and Songdogii (松都記異 Record of Weird Stories in Songdo City), one can reconstruct Hwang Jin Yi's life which is as follows.
Hwang Jini was born as an illegitimate daughter (庶女 seonyeo) of Jinsa (進士 highest examination graduates) in Songdo (松都 today's Kaesong) in the sixteenth century. Her name as a female entertainer was Myeongwol (明月 bright moon). Highly acclaimed in poetry and song, she became a female entertainer when she was 15 years old and interacted with distinguished writers at the time, fascinating them with her outstanding talent and appearance.
The most famous anecdotes about Hwang Jini are about Jijok Seonsa (知足禪師, unknown birth and death date), Lee Jongsuk (李終叔, 1508-?), and Seo Gyeongdeok. At that time, she led a Zen Mater Jijok who was known as the ascetic person for ten years to violate the Buddhist commandments. She seduced royal family Lee Jongsuk, who was also widely known as a man of virtue, by reciting a sijo poem. Only the Confucian scholar Seo Kyeongdeok resisted Hwang Jini's temptation; however, Hwang Jini, who was impressed by the profound knowledge and virtue of Seo, volunteered to be his disciple. Since then, she became one of the Songdo Samjeol (松都三絶 three outstanding beings of Songdo City) along with Bagyeon Waterfall and Seo Kyeongdeok.
2. Writing
Hwang Jini created both Hansi and sijo; however, her sijo works are more recognized. There are six sijo poems by Hwang Jini, all of which convey restrained emotions with outstanding techniques of expression. Although there is not a lot of work left by Hwang Jini, her works are highly regarded for her original image, appropriate form, and refined language.
The following sijo is one of the representative works of Hwang Jini. Her poetic development is remarkable as it sublimates solitude from winter into joy from warm spring and meeting with a loved one. Moreover, she has an exceptional skill of embodiment as she embodies abstract objects such as night by cutting it, putting it into the blanket, pulling it out, pasting it, and stretching it.
(Translation into English)
I’ll cut a piece from the waist of this interminable evelventh moon night,
And wind it in coils beneath these bed covers, warm and fragrant as the spring breeze,
Coil by coil to unwind it the night my lover returns.
Translated by Kevin O’rourke (2014)
(Translation into Contemporary Korean)
동짓달 기나긴 밤을 한 허리를 베어내어
봄바람 이불 아래 서리서리 넣었다가
사랑하는 님 오신 날 밤이면 굽이굽이 펴리라.
(Original Text)
冬至ᄯᆞᆯ 기나긴 밤을 한 허리를 버혀 내여
春風 니블 아레 서리서리 너헛다가
어론 님 오신 날 밤이여든 구뷔구뷔 펴리라
The following sijo was used to seduce the royal family Lee Jongsuk whose pen name is Byeokgyesu (碧溪水). The sijo reveals Hwang Jini’s witty talent as she employs a double meaning inspired by her pen name Myeongwol, which means “bright moon” and Lee Jongsuk’s pen name Byeokgyesu, which means “a stream which looks clear and blue.” On the surface, the sijo tells the clear stream to rest because it will never come back from the sea; however, its inner meaning conveys that ‘Byeokgyesu’ should rest with her. The sijo is distinguished by its poetic characteristics as it employs poetic words such as green mountains, Byeokgyesu, bright moon, and empty mountains. Lee Jongsuk, who promised not to be seduced by Hwang Jini, fell from a donkey since he was too immersed in Hwang Jini’s song.
(Translation into English)
Blue Stream, do not boast of swift passage through green mountains,
For having reached the sea, the return trip assumes real difficulty
Bright Moon fills the empty mountain; why not rest a little here?
Translated by Kevin O’rourke (2014)
(Translation into Contemporary Korean)
푸른 산 속 맑은 시냇물아 쉽게 가는 것을 자랑 마라
한 번 넓은 바다에 이르면 다시 오기 어려우니
밝은 달이 온 산에 가득하니 쉬어간들 어떠리.
(Original Text)
靑山裏 碧溪水야 수이 감을 ᄌᆞ랑 마라
一到滄海ᄒᆞ면 다시 오기 오려오니
明月이 滿空山하니 쉬여간들 엇더리
Hwang Jini was one of the sijo artists, along with the female entertainer Maechang (梅窓, 1573-1610) in Buan (扶安), Jeolla Province, and Hongrang (洪娘, circa sixteenth century) in Gyeongseong (鏡城), Hamgyeong Province. Hwang Jini’s social status has a great significance since it indicates the expansion of the class of sijo artists who were mainly the literati. In particular, Hwang Jini created remarkable poetry with the use of bold imagination and witty personality, showing exceptional characteristics compared to other female writers. She has achieved outstanding artistic achievement despite the small number of works.
Reference
Kim, Heunggyu and others, Gosijo Daejeon (Compilation of Classical Sijo), Korea University Research Institute of Korean Studies, 2012.
Lee, Sinbok, Hwangjiniron (Theory of Hwang Jini), Hanguk Munhak Jakga ron (Theory of Korean Literary Writers), Hyungseul Publications, 1981.
Jang, Sigwan, Hwangjini Gwallyeon Jaryo (Resources Related to Hwang Jini), Dongbanghak 3 (Oriental Studies), Hanseo University Institute for Eastern Classic Studies, 1997.
Jo, Dongil, Je 4pan Hanguk Munhak Tongsa 2 (The Fourth Edition History of Korean Literature), Jisik Sanup Publications, 2005.
