White Village
Poems in Classical Chinese
- Arts & Literature
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
This book contains the poems in classical Chinese composed by Yi Byŏng-ho (1870‒1943), born toward the end of the Chosŏn Dynasty, the last monarchy in Korea, to live through the period of privation of her national sovereignty. Yi Byŏng-ho composed poems that reveal the undying spirit of poesy reasserting the beauty of life, despite the spiritual torpor that inevitably devastated the life of the whole nation during the darkest age in all Korean history. One of the last Korean poets who composed in classical Chinese before modern Korean poetry started resorting to the vernacular and the national orthography, han-gŭl, Yi Byŏng-ho was a poet who excelled in poetic composition in classical Chinese, not only in strict conformity to the classical Chinese poetic tradition, but with a strong touch of uniquely Korean sentiments. Sung-Il Lee, a scholar of English literature, has rendered his grandfather's poems in classical Chinese into English. Though his field of study is far from the literary domain the original works belong to, he has overcome the linguistic chasm lying between classical Chinese and English, while attaining spiritual reunion with his grandfather.
Endorsements (4)
“Poignant, beautiful, and wise, the poems of Yi Byŏng-ho have now successfully crossed the great divide between classical Chinese and modern English, thanks to the skillful translations of his grandson, Sung-Il Lee. The resulting book is captivating. There you will meet Pak the Mountain Man and see the moon hanging on a jade bough. There you will hear the urgent call for poetry sounding as loud as a temple gong.”
“Sung-Il Lee is renowned for providing engaging and accurate translations of important works in Korean literature to English audiences. His translations have opened the door to a better understanding of how Korean compositions have evolved in the vernacular, spotlighting the beauty and tradition of the Korean language. With White Village, Lee’s personal journey and determination to honor his grandfather’s art as a poet and place his poems directly within the ceremonial tradition of meaningful translations offers readers yet another rich and sumptuous experience sure to delight.”
“Sung-Il Lee’s translations of his grandfather’s poetry have made an arduous journey from one language to another. The journey was more than worthwhile. The poetry is rich in narrative lyricism that links from there and then to here and now. It is a genuine saga replete with the imagery of nature and a mosaic of the poet’s memory of being with his friends, sharing wine, while exchanging lines composed.”
“There is much to recommend in this poetry: wine enhances fellowship among dear poets, especially when set apart from life’s dust in a bower or an ancient cabin. There is leisure here as well as pathos when the poet laments his white hair. Still, where orioles sing among the flowers, inspiration flows from shadows under lone pines and rustling leaves. Moreover, meeting old friends is joyful, always an occasion for wine and poetry.”
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