Anthologies of Brilliant Flowers / The Short Songs of Kaesong

Title English: “The Short Songs of Kaesŏng” Chinese: 開城小詠 Korean: 개성소영

Document Details Genre: Literati Writings Type: Poetry Author(s): Sŏ Kŏjŏng 徐居正(1420~1488) Year: 1476 Key Words: Kaesŏng, Song’ak, Envoy Poetry, bygone, collapsed, fog, traces

Translation Info Translators: Members of Team A in Classical Literature Review and Readings II Class;

                  Anca V. Ciceo, Erika Voros, Sanghoon Na 

Year 2017

Contents I. Introduction II. Primary Source Text and Interlinear Translations III. The Final Draft IV. Discussions V. Glossary VI. References

I. Introduction

Diplomatic Reception Poetry Between Sŏ Kŏ Jŏng and Ming Emissaries → Envoy Poetry Between Sŏ Kŏjŏng and Ming Emissaries

The Anthologies of Brilliant Flowers (Hwanghwajip 皇華集) is a series of Ming-Chosŏn envoy poetry collections. The Chosŏn Reception Envoy (wŏnjŏpsa 遠接使), who received the Ming entourage at the border, were Chosŏn literati officials. Ming emissaries and Chosŏn literati officials had exchanged poems 24 times for about 180 years(1450-1633) from the latter years of King Sejong’s reign to the former ones of King Injo’s reign. However, the Brilliant Flowers Anthology, here presented, refers specifically to Sŏ Kŏjŏng’s personal collection of poems exchanged with Ming emissaries, such as Qi Shun 祁順, located in the second volume of the Replenishment of Saga Anthology (Saga sijip shijip p’oyu 四佳詩集補遺).

Here is the example of the envoy poetry composed by the Ming envoy Qi Shun and Sŏ Kŏjŏng, Qi Shun’s welcoming emissary, in 1476 as follows:

Qi Shun’s Poem

Sŏ Kŏjŏng’s Responsive Poem

松岳山高揷碧天。 Song'ak mountain thrusts its peak into the blue sky,

晩雲飛雜萬家烟。 Evening clouds floating, mixed with smoke from ten thousand houses

玄菟都督初開府 Since the Xuantu commandery was established by its governor,

已歷人間五百年 It has already been 500 years,

一朶松巒高入天 The petal-like peak of Mount Songman rises high up in the sky

荒城落日鎖寒煙 The deserted city is wreathed in the sunset’s frosty fog

傷心莫問前朝事 May you not ask about the bygone dynasty, it makes me sad

雲物渾非全盛年 Our outlook is overshadowed by clouds, where are the golden days?

II. Primary Source Text and Interlinear Translations

정사(正使)의 운에 차하다(次正使韻) 

The Chief Emissary Runs Out of Luck (mistranslated) → Poems matching the verses of the chief envoy’s songs

개성소영(開城小詠) Ten Short Songs on Kaesŏng → “The Short Songs of Kaesŏng"

1. 한 봉우리 송악산은 하늘 높이 우뚝한데 / 一朶松巒高入天 A peak on Song’aksan Moutain rises high in the sky (S) A beautiful peak of Song'ak mountain reaches high up in the sky (A) One mountain peak rises high in the sky (E) Song’ak mountain thrusts its (single) peak into the sky

황폐한 성 지는 해에 찬 연기만 자욱해라 / 荒城落日鎖寒煙 The desolate fort is shrouded in the cold fog of the setting sun (S) The deserted city under the setting sun is wreathed in frosty fog (A) And the sunset’s wintry fog buries a lonely citadel. (E) The fortress stands abandoned, cold fog is closing in under the setting sun

마음 아프니 전조의 일일랑 묻지를 마소 / 傷心莫問前朝事 My heart aches, do not ask about the former dynasty (S) It grieves my heart, so do not ask me about past events of the previous dynasty (A) Do not hurt me asking of the past dynasty! (E) May you not ask about the bygone dynasty, it makes me sad

전성시대 그 때의 풍광이 전혀 아니로세 / 雲物渾非全盛年 The scenery is not like it was in the golden age (S) The outlook is totally different from that of its heyday. (A) The landscape is now dark and gloomy, not like in its golden days anymore. (E) Our outlook is overshadowed by clouds, where are the golden days?

2. 무너진 담장 적적하고 나무는 우뚝하여라 / 壞垣牢落樹層峨 The fallen wall is quiet and the woods are prominent (S) The crumbled walls look forlorn, the trees stand tall (A) The ruined wall stands silent and the trees rise tall… (E) The collapsed wall is silent, only the trees grew high

옛 나라에 돌아오니 강개하기 그지없네 / 故國歸來慷慨多 Returning to the land of old, I am too indignant for words (S) Returning to the old land, over which I deeply lament (A) As I return to the old country regretful feelings strike me. (E) Returning to the old land I am full of sigh

흥망은 눈앞을 스쳐간 한 마리 새 같은데 / 過眼興亡如一鳥 The vicissitudes pass my eyes like a bird (S) Its rise and fall passes by before my eyes like a bird (A) Like a bird’s flight, everything thrives then perishes under my eyes… (E) Rise and fall, like a bird, just passes before one’s eyes

백년을 변함없는 건 오직 옛 산하로구나 / 百年不改老山河 Only a single mountain has not changed in the hundred years (S) For a hundred years the only unchangeable thing is the old mountain with streams (A) Hundred years have passed, the old mountain still shows no change… (E) But these old mountains and rivers remain the same even after a hundred years

3. 오백년 전에는 문물이 한창 새롭더니 / 五百年前文物新 Five hundred years ago, the culture was new (S) Five hundred years ago, the new culture was there; (A) Five hundred years in the past civilization was at its peak (E) Five hundred years before, this culture was young

그때 영웅들의 해골은 모두 흙이 돼버렸네 / 英雄有骨盡黃塵 The skeletons of heroes all turned to dust (S) Now those heroes' bones have turned to yellow dust (A) Those times’ heroes’ bones now turned into yellow dust. (E) But bones of heroes’ of that time are all turned into yellow dust by now

그대는 보았나 숭악은 예부터 높은 산이라 / 君看崧岳由來峻 Have you seen him from the high Sungak Mountain of old? (S) Have you seen Mount Sung'ak stemming from lofty mountains? (A) Can you see it coming from the steep Sung’ak Mountain? (E) See how high Mount Sung’ak is from old/ Can you see how high Mount Sung’ak is?

고금에 신백탄생이 끊인 적이 없었다오 / 今古生申不乏人 The birth of Shen Bo has not ceased over the ages (S) From ancient to now, it have produced people like Shen Bo; there has never been lack of men (A) People like him have been born through the ages unceasingly. (E) From ancient times people like Shen Bo were born from there ceaselessly

4. 금요金遼의 구구한 지난 일들이 가소로워라 / 金遼往事笑區區 The various invasions of Jin and Liao have gone by (S) The past incidents caused by Jin and Liao seem laughable and trivial now. (A) One can only laugh now thinking of the past events with Jin and Liao (E) Bygone incidents with Jin and Liao seem something just to laugh at now

황폐해진 절령관 앞엔 잡초만 무성하네 / 岊嶺關前草欲蕪 The front of the empty Chŏlryŏnggwan is dense with weeds (S) In front of the Chŏlryŏng Gate there are only weeds eager to grow thick. (A) And weeds have overgrown in front of Chŏlryŏng gate. (E) In front of the Jeollyeong Gate only weeds thrive

송사에 삼대국으로 드러내 일컬어졌거니 / 宋史著稱三大國 The three great kingdoms in the History of the Song (S) In the Official History of the Sung appeared what is called [one of] three great kingdoms (A) They are called ‘The Three Great Kingdoms’ in the ‘History of Song’ (E) The three great kingdoms are praised in the History of Song

옆 사람들은 옛 환도에 견주지 말지어다 / 傍人莫比古丸都 Passerby do not compare them to the old Hwando (S) You bystanders, do not compare this place to the old Hwando, (A) (You who are approaching) Do not compare them to the old Hwando! (E) Bystanders, do not compare this place to the old Hwando

5. 청천강 앞쪽으론 바다 안개가 자욱한데 / 薩水前頭海霧昏 The sea fog shrouds the front of the Ch’ŏngch’ŏn River (inconsistent) (S) The Salsu riverfront is hazy with sea mists (A) Fog coming from the sea clusters in front of Salsu River, (E) Sea fog in front of Salsu river blurs the sight

청산은 말이 없고 성난 파도만 들레누나 / 靑山默默怒濤喧 The green mountains are silent and the furious waves clamor (S) The green mountains keep quiet but the angry billows roar, (A) The blue mountains stand quiet, and the waves rage noisy. (E) The green mountains keep silent, but billows rage out loud / turbulent waves roar

당부컨대 수나라 욕보인 일을 말하지 마소 / 憑君莫說孤隋事 I beg, speak not of the great defeat of Sui (S) Depend on you, do not speak out about the punishment of the Sui Dynasty. (A) Shortly, I implore you, do not speak of the disgraceful matters of Sui! (E) I beg you not to speak about the inglorious matter of Sui

옛 성루엔 인적 없고 조수 흔적만 남았네 / 故壘無人潮自痕 The old castle tower has no traces of men, only the vestiges of the tides (S) The old fortress has no traces of men but vestiges of tides (A) No traces of men can be seen now on the old fort, only traces of tides… (E) No traces of men at the old fortress wall, only tides left their mark

III. The Final Draft

1. The petal-like peak of Mount Songman rises high up in the sky The deserted city is wreathed in the sunset’s frosty fog May you not ask about the bygone dynasty, it makes me sad Our outlook is overshadowed by clouds, where are the golden days?

2. The collapsed walls look forlorn, only the trees grew high Returning to the old land, I am full of sigh Like a bird’s flight, everything thrives then perishes under my eyes… But these old mountains and rivers remain the same even after a hundred years

3. Five hundred years before, this culture was young But heroes’ bones of those times now turned into yellow dust Can you see? Mount Sung’ak is stemming from lofty mountains People like Shen Bo have been born from there through the ages unceasingly

4. Bygone incidents with Jin and Liao seem something just to laugh at now In front of the Chǒlryǒng Gate only weeds thrive The three great kingdoms are praised in the History of Song Bystanders, do not compare this place to the old Hwando

5. Sea fog in front of Salsu river blurs the sight The blue mountains keep quiet, but billows rage out loud I implore you, do not speak of the matters of the disgraced Sui! No traces of men at the old fortress, only tides left their mark

IV. Discussion Questions

1.In the first line of the first poem ‘一朶松巒高入天,’ do you think it is reasonable to translate ‘一朶’ into ‘a peak’ as in the first translation? The definition of ‘朶’ is ‘cluster of flowers,’ so it is usually used to express a bunch of flowers. Could it be a description of beauty of Song’ak mountain?

2. How would you interpret the third line of the third poem ‘君看崧岳由來峻.’ Precisely what does it mean based up the [Endnote D-002] ? How would you translate ‘峻’?

[Endnote D-002] Have you seen him from the high Sungak Mountain of old? The birth of Shen Bo has not ceased over the ages: Since Sung’ak Mountain is high, it indicates that the four mountain spirits descended there and became the ministers Shen Bo (申伯) and Lu Hou (呂侯) during the time of King Xuan of Zhou (周宣王). In the Book of Odes it says of Daya (大雅) and Songgao (崧高), “The high mountains touch the sky. The spirits descend upon these mountains, and Lu Hou and Shen Bo appear. These two were pillars of Zhou and the border guardians of the four states, and were a blessing to the four states.

3. In the third line of the fifth poem ‘憑君莫說孤隋事,’ what is the exact meaning of the character ‘go 孤’? In ancient times, it was used as a synonym of ‘go 辜’, which could mean ‘sin 罪.’ So it was translated into ‘inglorious’ by (E). The character ‘go 孤’ could also mean ‘abandon,’ or ‘punish’ as in ‘in his heart abandon Gojian 以心孤句踐.’ So it was translated into ‘the the punishment of the Sui’ by (S). How would you translate it?

4. In the fourth line of the fourth poem ‘傍人莫比古丸都,’ who do you think the ‘傍人’ are? Are they just ordinary people around the poet or the specific persons among the poet’s contemporaries?

5. How do you understand the last part ‘潮自痕’ of the last line of the poem? What do you think is the role of ‘自’ here and how would you translate the entire line ‘故壘無人潮自痕’?

6. When translating a poem from Classical Chinese into English, what aspect are you more concerned about between conveying the structure of the original text and making the translation sound good in English, or something else?

V. Glossary

Hwanghwajip 皇華集: (The Anthologies of Brilliant Flowers) a series of Ming-Chosŏn envoy poetry collections.

wŏnjŏpsa 遠接使: (The Reception Envoy) The Chosŏn representatives who received the Ming entourage at the border.

jueju 絶句: The term jueju literally means “cut-off lines,” and it was believed by many critics that this meant the wujue 五絶 and qijue 七絶 forms had originated as quatrain segments cut from the eight-line lüshi 律詩 forms.

qijue 七言絶句: The two jueju quatrain forms, the pentasyllabic jueju (wujue 五言絶句) and the heptasyllabic jueju (qijue 七言絶句), are the shortest and most focused forms generally used by the Tang poets.

VI. References

Academy of Korean Studies, Glossary of Korean Studies. http://digerati.aks.ac.kr:94/Home/Search

Cai, Zong-qi, ed. 2008. How to Read Chinese Poetry. New York: Columbia University Press.

Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics, The Classical Glossary Thesaurus, http://thesaurus.itkc.or.kr/search/list?

Media Korean Studies, Revised and Augmented Korean Gazetteer, vol. 5, 新增東國輿地勝覽 卷之五 http://db.mkstudy.com/mksdb/e/korean-geography/book/reader/10055/

Wang, Sixiang, 2015. Co-constructing Empire in Early Chosŏn Korea: Knowledge Production and the Culture of Diplomacy, 1392–1592, Columbia University. https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac:188064 (last retrieval March 10, 2017)

Unpyŏng ŏnŏ yŏn’guso, New Ace Character Dictionary, Kumsung Publishing Co. http://dic.daum.net/index.do?dic=hanja

Zhang, Zhengrong 张峥嵘, Handian 漢典 http://www.zdic.net/c/1/f7/259272.ht