March 2020 "Romantic Tales From Old Korea"

여러분 안녕하십니까? Hey friends, thank you for taking some time to look at my scribbles!

This month I spent some time in the literary world, which I've been meaning to do for quite some time. I also discovered a new way to practice language in watching anime films with Korean subtitles (though some films have proven harder to follow than others).

I'll get right into it then!

What I'm Watching

A Silent Voice (映画聲の形)

I wanted to include this Japanese film because it's redemptive story about a deaf girl and the bully who eventually tries to befriend her moved me to tears. It's characters showcase an incredible capacity for grace that's hard to find in real life, but reflects the kind of society we all want to live in. (Below, the English trailer.)

What I'm Listening to

Ballad (발라드)

There's a genre of music I had never heard before I came to Korea called 'ballad.' These sad love songs exhibit great emotion, which begins softly and then builds to a grand climax. By the end of the music video half the couple either dies or abandons the other. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
One of the first well received ballad songs came out in 1991, called Invisible Love (보이지 않는 사랑) by Shin Seung Hun (신승훈). The singer laments the loss of the woman he loves, and vows to love her from a distance instead. If you let it, it'll really pull at your heartstrings.

I Don't Love You (널 사랑하지 않아) by Urban Zakapa (어반자카파)

My friend always sings this song about a man who doesn't truly love his girlfriend when we go to karaoke. It's a way she can let out some built-up emotion I guess. 😂

Please Don't... (이러지마 제발) by K.will (케이윌)

You'll need to watch this song about a jealous friend until the very end for a surprise.

What I'm Reading

I recently joined a Korean literature club that discusses important works in English, and found they'd previously recommended The Cloud Dream of the Nine by Manjung Kim and Romantic Tales from Old Korea compiled by Brother Anthony of Taizé. I recently finished both and found some common themes I think interesting enough to share. (Note: Though The Cloud Dream of the Nine's plot takes place in Tang Dynasty China, the author himself called Korea home. Further, at the time of writing Koreans saw China as the Confucian example, so though Chinese The Cloud Dream of the Nine's characters reflect Korean ideals of Confucian morality.)

Absolute Descriptions:

These stories quite often exaggerate people, places, and things' qualities. Authors adorn descriptions with hyperbolic claims that describe a woman's beauty as literally unworthy of comparison; claim a man's skill in battle the most impressive among men; name one patch of nature the final word in exquisiteness; etc.

Earthly Success Denotes Moral Excellence

The protagonists in Choson Dynasty Korean stories usually come from wealthy and noble families, and also possess the highest standard of moral excellence. While some of these characters fall prey to poverty or disgrace, the stories always end with the return of the protagonists' good fortune. These two points imply that at the time of writing, the accepted belief in Korea was that moral perfection directly tied to earthly prosperity. This claim certainly justified those in positions of power.

Good Looks, Good Character

The protagonist of The Cloud Dream of the Nine, Master Yang, possesses a noble personality and a pleasing appearance, and after one look many of the women Yang eventually marries fall in love with him. Yang's wives, as well, exhibit extraordinary beauty that accompanies talent, wisdom, charm, and high morality. A reader may argue that since the characters are banished celestial beings fated to find one another on Earth, Yang and his eventual wives felt naturally pulled toward one another, but the short stories in Romantic Tales from Old Korea also contain various instances of love at first sight. In each case the initial infatuation proves true and lasting, and the writers always reveal the exemplary moral qualities of the lovebirds, suggesting sudden attraction has a greater significance than simply an infatuation with a pretty face.

Sage/Perfect Woman

Many link Confucianism directly with the subordination of women, and though these stories show the difficult lives women often led at the expense of men, they don't indicate the ideal women as meek and silent, but celebrate those who give good advice and enjoy a strong will. The female characters praised for their high morality are also those who provide wise council to their husbands, who in turn listen to, recognize the value of, and implement their advice.
Of course, a woman's ability to take part in decisions and gain honor lay solely in the will of men, and the reader shouldn't negate this inequality. Further, while not outwardly critiquing the Confucian hierarchy the novels acknowledge the hardships women have to make due to their social standing.

For those interested, here's a 7 minute video (link) about the story of The Cloud Dream of the Nine. And here's a free version of the book (link), provided by Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI).

What I'm Doing

March Munchies!

March coffee and baked goods. (I've been really into bubble tea lately, and the brown sugar flavor is delicious. My new noble quest is to try the drink at every nearby bubble tea joint and determine which one does it best. See if you can spot the bubble teas!)

Okay let me tell you 'bout this rice. It's 10 kg, roughly 22 pounds, and I ordered it because I knew something like that would be too heavy to tote from the grocery store. But I ordered it to my OLD ADDRESS AND HAD TO LUG IT THE 20 MINUTE WALK HOME ANYWAY smh

Ate a donut instead of a proper lunch. A very good decision.

When I see alleys or cluttered places I immediately stop walking. I get sidetracked by the beauty of things and places that have no value. Sometimes things exist and that's all. Not particularly useful or beautiful but the places' ignorance of their beauty is what makes them interesting and worth acknowledging.

Some things that amused me while walking around Seoul.

Left: A store with the words, "Sandwich/ Salad/ Yogurt/ Fitness Baked Potato," written above the door. 🤔

Right: A store front with the words, "Toys and Gifts/ Find Your Friends/ Do Not Eat." A bit funny and a bit unsettling.

I love all you who are reading and not reading, and hope you feel these words deep in your bones.

마무리까지 같이 주셔서 고맙습니다! 다음 달에 뵙겠습니다.

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