Heo Nanseolheon

Heo Nanseolheon
1997 Portrait of Heo Nanseolheon painted by Professor Son Yeon-chil of Dongguk University
Korean name
Hangul
허초희
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHeo Cho-hui
McCune–ReischauerHŏ Ch'o-hŭi
Art name
Hangul
허난설헌
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHeo Nanseolheon
McCune–ReischauerHŏ Nansŏrhŏn
In this Korean name, the family name is Heo.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heo Cho-hui.

Heo Nanseolheon (1563 – 19 March 1589), was a Korean painter and poet of the mid-Joseon dynasty. She was the younger sister of Heo Bong, a politician and political writer, and elder to Heo Gyun, a prominent writer of the time and credited as the author of The Tale of Hong Gildong. Her own writings consisted of some two hundred poems written in Chinese verse (hanshi), and two poems written in hangul (though her authorship of the hangul poems is contested).[1]

Biography

Early life

Before being known as Heo Nanseolheon, Lady Heo was known by her name Heo Cho-hui (허초희; 許楚姬) or Heo Ok-hye (허옥혜; 許玉惠). Lady Heo was born in Gangneung to a prominent political family (yangban). Her father, Heo Yeop [ko], was from the Yangcheon Heo clan and a distinguished scholar and her mother was his second wife, Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan.

His second marriage was to a daughter of a political minister, who mothered Nanseolheon and her two brothers.

His first wife, Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan, was a daughter of Han Suk-chang, who yielded five daughters and three sons. Her step-grandfather, Han Suk-chang, was a great-grandson of Han Hwak (the father of Princess Consort Jeongseon and Queen Sohye), and the maternal cousin of Queen Janggyeong.

While her father was a Confucian and conservative official who subscribed tightly to the belief of namjon-yubi ("men above, women below"), it fell to her elder brother, Heo Bong, to recognize her budding talent and curiosity and introduce her to literature.

From an early age, she became recognized as a prodigal poet, though due to her position as a woman she was incapable of entering into a position of distinguishment. Her early piece, "Inscriptions on the Ridge Pole of the White Jade Pavilion in the Kwanghan Palace" (Kwanghanjeon Paegongnu sangnangmun), produced at the age of eight, was lauded as a work of poetic genius and earned her the epithet "immortal maiden."[1] Her innate talent for hanmun (Chinese) verse prompted him to be her first tutor in her early years, and introduce her to Chinese writing, such as the Confucian Five Classics.

However, Heo Bong was also an outspoken and influential political scholar and was eventually exiled to Kapsan for three years for his political leanings. Her younger brother, Heo Gyun, was a similarly gifted poet who studied under Yi Tal [ko], a specialist of Tang poetry and a friend of Heo Bong, and he took part in her education, especially after her elder brother's exile. He fostered her education later in life and used his preferred position as a highly respected male to keep her in correspondence with literary circles. Yi Tal, his tutor, also engaged in sharing Tang poetry with Nanseolheon, whose influence became visible in the naturalism of a significant portion of her surviving work.[2]

Marriage

Sometime during her life, she married the son of a civil official, Kim Seong-rip, and became his first wife. Her marriage was an unhappy one, as recorded by Heo Gyun. Her husband often left her alone at home to pursue other women, and she maintained a cold relationship with her mother-in-law. She gave birth to two children, a girl and a boy. Her daughter died within a year while her son died after living for 3 years. Within a year of her elder brother Heo Bong's death in Kapsan, she died of illness at the age of twenty-seven in 1589.[3] Her husband later remarried in 1590 to woman from the Hong clan, but died childless two years later.

The circumstances and timing of her marriage are uncertain, and the documented proof is limited and subject to conjecture. Scholars such as Kim-Renaud[2] and Choe-Wall[1] engage with her literature and hypothesize that she lived among her brothers for a significant portion of her life (during which they suggest most of her Tang-influenced and naturalistic poetry was produced), and married later. She suggests that the body of her "empathetic" poetry was produced after being married, as a result of the isolation from those who supported her literary talents and extended poetic circles. This conjecture is based on the observation that a significant portion of what is believed to be her later literature laments the plight and sufferings of married women, and her early literature follows closely in the Tang tradition, employing heavy elements of folklore and natural imagery rather than the heavier emotive language found in her later writing. This is only a supposition, however, as her Tang influenced poems could just as easily be read as tropes of the tradition utilized to veil her true feelings about women's unjust treatment. Moreover, some of these Tang influenced poems mention personal events in Nanseolheon's life that occurred after her marriage.

Writings

A significant amount of Nanseolheon's writing was burned upon her death per her request, and the surviving poems are collected in Heo Kyeongnan's 1913 collection Nansŏrhŏn chip. The collection consists of 211 poems, in various Chinese styles. These include koshi (traditional verse), yulshi (metered verse), cheolgu (quatrains), and a single example of kobu (rhyming prose). The writing of the early Joseon period (in the form of the political Sajang school and the more academic Sallim school) was heavily influenced by the Confucian literary tradition, and literature was primarily devoted to the expression of Confucian teachings. With the introduction of Tang poetry to Korea in the mid-Joseon Period, hanmun poetry began making significant strides as an art form. Traditional Tang poetry (koshi) was more formulaic and imposed prescriptive tonal guidelines. During the lifetime of Nanseolheon, new forms of poetry that incorporated tonal irregularities, lines with non-standard syllable counts, and length (broadly referred to as kunch'e shi, of which yulshi and cheolgu are subsets) began to come into favor. Nanseolheon's works are noted primarily for their broad range of subject matter, which is attributed in part to the drastic emotional shift evoked by her marriage.[1]

The inclusion of two kasa written in hangul in the collection is one of scholarly contention, as her authorship is in doubt. Composition in hangul was considered unworthy of expressing higher thinking of Confucian ideals, and "literary" composition in Korea was almost entirely composed in hanmun. The distinction at the time was similar to the differences between Latin composition and vernacular prose in Renaissance Europe. Her authorship of these two pieces is supported mainly by the observation that the titles of the two kasa pieces, "Song of Woman's Complaint" and "Song of Coloring Nails with Touch-me-not Balsam" are very similar to two verified hanmun (cheolgu and koshi respectively). These claims have in part discredited by recent scholarship by O Haein (Nansorhon shijip) and Kang Cheongseop (Moktongga ui pogwon e taehayo).

Sample poems

The poem, "Song of Autumn Night" is characteristic of her earlier, more fantastical and imagery-rich poetry. It is a seven-syllable cheolgu.

"The Young Seamstress," or "Song for the Poor Girl", is one of her poems of empathy, where she sympathizes with those from poorer economic backgrounds. It is a five-syllable cheolgu.[1]

"Woman's Grievance," another seven-syllable cheolgu, exemplifies the tone of the poetry believed to have been written after her marriage.[1]

Gallery

  • Anggan bigeumdo, painted by Heo Nanseolheon
    Anggan bigeumdo, painted by Heo Nanseolheon
  • Mukjodo
    Mukjodo
  • Nanseolheon jip
    Nanseolheon jip
  • Her poetry book Chwesawonchang (1612)
    Her poetry book Chwesawonchang (1612)
  • The house of her birth
    The house of her birth

Works

  • Nanseolheon jip
  • Chwesawonchang

Family

  • Great-Great-Grandfather
    • Heo Chang (허창; 許菖; 1431–?)
  • Great-Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Jo of the Yangju Jo clan (양주 조씨; 1426–1478)
  • Great-Grandfather
    • Heo Dam (허담; 許聃; 1461–1510)
  • Great-Grandmother
    • Lady Yun of the Paepyeong Yun clan (파평 윤씨; 1463–?); second daughter of Yun Gye-gyeom (윤계겸, 尹繼謙; 1442–1483)
  • Grandfather
    • Heo Han (허한; 許澣; 1490–1532)
  • Grandmother
    • Lady Seong of the Changnyeong Seong clan (창녕 성씨; 1497–1555); daughter of Seong Hui (성희, 成熹; 1470–?)
  • Father
    • Heo Yeob (허엽; 許曄; 19 December 1517 – 4 February 1580)
  • Mother
    • Biological: Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan (정부인 강릉 김씨; 1523–?)
      • Grandfather: Kim Gwang-cheol (김광철; 金光轍; 1488–1555)
      • Grandmother: Lady Yang (양씨; 楊氏; 1500–?)
    • Step: Han Yi-jeong (한이정; 韓二貞), Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan (정부인 청주 한씨; 1515–?)
      • Step-grandfather: Han Suk-chang (한숙창; 韓叔昌; 1479–1537)
      • Step-grandmother: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨; 1479–?)
  • Siblings
    • Older half-sister: Heo Mok-seok (허묵석; 許墨石), Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨; 陽川 許氏; 1523–?)
      • Brother-in-law: Park Sun-won (박순원; 朴舜元; 1529–1615)
        • Half-nephew: Park Jong-hyeon (박종현; 朴宗賢; 1548–?)
        • Half-nephew: Park Bo-hyeon (박보현; 朴寶賢; 1550–?)
        • Half-nephew: Park Maeng-hyeon (박맹현; 朴孟賢; 1552–?)
        • Half-nephew: Park Shin-hyeon (박신현; 朴信賢; 1554–?)
        • Half-niece: Lady Park of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨; 1556–?)
        • Half-niece: Lady Park of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨; 1558–?)
        • Half-niece: Lady Park of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨; 1560–?)
        • Half-niece: Lady Park of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨; 1564–?)
        • Half-niece: Lady Park of the Miryang Park clan (밀양 박씨; 1567–?)
    • Older half-brother: Heo Seong (허성; 許筬; 1548–1612)
      • Sister-in-law: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (전주 이씨; 1550–?); daughter of Yi Guk-heon (이국헌; 李國憲)
        • Half-Nephew: Heo Po (허포; 許포; 1574–?)
        • Half-Nephew: Heo Bo (허보; 許寶; 1585–1659)
      • Sister-in-law: Lady Nam of the Uiryeong Nam clan (의령 남씨; 1573–?); daughter of Nam Eon-sun (남언순, 南彦純; 1552–?)
        • Half-Niece: Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨; 陽川 許氏; 1569–1652)
          • Nephew-in-law: Hong Yeong (홍영; 洪榮) of the Namyang Hong clan (1567 – 20 April 1624)
            • Half-Grandniece: Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨; 1592–?)
            • Half-Grandnephew: Hong Woo-jeong (홍우정; 洪宇定; 1593–1654)
            • Half-Grandnephew: Hong Woo-gwan (홍우관; 洪宇寬; 1596–?)
              • Grandnephew-in-law: Yi Wi-gyeong (이위경; 李偉卿)
            • Half-Grandnephew: Hong Woo-won (홍우원; 洪宇遠; 29 July 1605 – 27 July 1687)
            • Half-Grandnephew: Hong Woo-ryang (홍우량; 洪宇亮; 1608–?)
            • Half-Grandnephew: Hong Woo-gwing (홍우굉; 洪宇宏; 1611–?)
        • Half-Niece: Heo Yea-yeob (허예업; 許禮業), Princess Consort Yangcheon of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천군부인 양천 허씨; 陽川郡夫人 陽川 許氏; 1591–?)
          • Nephew-in-law: Yi Gwang, Prince Uichang (의창군 이광; 義昌君 李珖; 1589–1645)
            • Adoptive half-grandnephew: Yi Il, Prince Changrim (창림군 이일; 昌臨君 李佾; 1629–1690)
    • Older brother: Heo Bong (허봉; 許篈; 1551–1588)
      • Unnamed sister-in-law (1551–?)
        • Niece: Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨; 陽川 許氏; 1567–?)
      • Sister-in-law: Lady Yi of the Jeonju Yi clan (숙인 전주 이씨; 1550–?); daughter of Yi Woo-bin (이우빈; 李禹賓)
        • Nephew: Heo Chae (허채; 許寀; 1580–?)
        • Nephew: Heo Sang (허상)
    • Older half-sister: Heo Dae-jeong (허대정; 許大貞), Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (증정부인 양천 허씨; 1553–?)
      • Brother-in-law: Woo Seong-jeon (우성전; 禹性傳) of the Danyang Woo clan (1542–1593)
    • Younger brother: Heo Gyun (허균; 許筠; 10 December 1569 – 12 October 1618)
      • Sister-in-law: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (정부인 안동 김씨; ?–1592); third daughter of Kim Dae-seob (김대섭, 金大涉; 1544–?)
        • Niece: Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨; 陽川 許氏; 1590–?)
          • Nephew-in-law: Lee Sa-seong (이사성; 李士星; 1590–?)
            • Grandnephew: Lee Pil-jin (이필진; 李必進; 1610–1671)
        • Niece: Lady Heo of the Yangcheon Heo clan (양천 허씨; 陽川 許氏; 1591–?)
        • Unnamed nephew (1592–1592)
      • Sister-in-law: Lady Kim of the Seonsan Kim clan (정부인 선산 김씨; 1575–?)
        • Nephew: Heo Gwing (허굉; 1595–?)
          • Grandnephew: Heo Geum (허금; 許嶔; 1620–?)
        • Niece: Royal Consort Sohun of the Yangcheon Heo clan (소훈 허씨; 1603–?)
  • Husband
    • Kim Seong-rib (김성립; 金誠立) of the Andong Kim clan (안동 김씨; 1562–1592)
      • Father-in-law: Kim Cheom (김첨; 金瞻)
      • Mother-in-law: Lady Song (송씨; 宋氏); daughter of Song Gi-su (송기수; 宋麒壽)
  • Children
    • Son: Kim Hui-yun (김희윤; 1579–1582)
    • Daughter: Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (안동 김씨; 1580–1581)
    • Adoptive son: Kim Jin (김진; 金振); son of Kim Jeong-rib (김정립; 金正立)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Choe-Wall, Yang-hi. Vision of a Phoenix: the Poems of Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn. Ithaca, NY: East Asia Program, Cornell University, 2003. Print.
  2. ^ a b Kim-Renaud, Young-Key. Creative Women of Korea: the Fifteenth through the Twentieth Centuries. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2004. Print.
  3. ^ "Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon". PR Korea Times. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
  4. ^ a b kuiwon.wordpress Archived 2011-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ McCann, David R. Early Korean Literature: Selections and Introductions. New York: Columbia UP, 2000. Print.

Bibliography

  • Choe-Wall, Yang-hi. Vision of a Phoenix: the Poems of Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn.
  • Kim, Jaihiun Joyce. Classical Korean Poetry.
  • Kim-Renaud, Young-Key. Creative Women of Korea: the Fifteenth through the Twentieth Centuries.
  • Lee, Peter H. Anthology of Korean Literature: from Early times to the Nineteenth Century.
  • Lee, Peter H. The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Korean Poetry.
  • McCann, David R. Early Korean Literature: Selections and Introductions.
  • McCann, David R. Form and Freedom in Korean Poetry.

External links