Korean Literature Overview

Korean Literature Overview

• Korean literature displays significant differences before and after Western influence.
• Early Korean literature was profoundly influenced by Shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
• Early Korean literature valued loyalty to the king, filial piety, respect for elders, and chastity.
• Writings were initially oral traditions, and some were recorded in poems called hyangga.
• The Goryeo Dynasty (918 CE) saw the development of hanshi (poems in Chinese characters), a major form of upper-class literature with emphasis on philosophy from Chinese classics. Shijo was also developed.
• The Choson Dynasty (1392-1910) saw a significant outpouring of literature in Hangul (Korean writing system), with a focus on equality and challenging social inequality.
• The shijo and important literary forms of the time are important.

Early Korean Literature

• Heavily influenced by Shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
• Primarily an oral tradition.
• Emphasized good deeds, loyalty, filial piety, respect for elders, friendship, and chastity.
• Writings often took the form of poems, called hyangga.

Goryeo Dynasty

• Established in 918.
• The name "Goryeo" is derived from "Goguryeo".
• The use of Chinese characters in literature influenced the country's literature.
• The upper class, mostly employed Classical Chinese.
• Hanshi reached maturity during the Koryo period, and shijo developed towards the end of the dynasty.

Choson Dynasty

• Overthrew the Goryeo Dynasty.
• Founded in what is now Kaesong.
• Major growth in Hangul (Korean alphabet) and the use of the Korean Language.
• Literature heavily focused on concepts like equality and the criticisms of social inequality.
• The usage of the Korean script grew and became a powerful voice within literature.

Religion

• Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shamanism had considerable impact on Korean culture and literature.
• A 2005 census indicated a mix of religions: most prominent being Buddhism, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Confucianism, Shamanism, and Chondogyo were also present.
• The influence of Shamanism, Confucianism, and other beliefs had a profound influence on the ideas and structures within Korean literature.

Prose and Fiction

• Korean prose encompasses narratives, fiction, and literary miscellany.
• Important myths include those concerning the Sun, Moon, the founding, and the lives of ancient Korean kings.
• Folktales often addressed themes of animal behavior, supernatural elements, moral lessons, and cleverness.
• Korean fiction frequently emerged in diverse forms, encompassing short stories, medium-length works, and lengthy novels.
• Early and mid-Joseon periods saw the growth of parable-like stories.
• Later, literary works focused on the experiences of commoners.

Oral Literature

• Transmitted through generations prior to Hangul's invention.
• Covered a wide range of topics including ballads, legends, and p'ansori ("story singing").
• Categorized by singer (male or female), subject, and regional style.

Modern Period

• After Western influence, Korean literature diversified and explored a broader array of topics.
• The period after 1894 brought western influence in education and media.
• The first printed Korean novel was a translation of Pilgrim’s Progress.
• Novels focused on the experiences and emotions of commoners, intellectuals, and those caught in the impact of political changes.
• Modern Korean literature encompasses a range of genres and stylistic elements.

Colonial Period (1910-1945)

• Free speech and the press were heavily restricted.
• Korean literature gained new forms and styles as the writers dealt with the challenges and changes brought about during the foreign colonial rule.
• Emphasis was placed on self-discovery and concrete reality.
• Literature often explored feelings of nationhood, and literary creativity blossomed.

Korean Historical Timeline

• A historical timeline chart depicts the various periods within Korean history and the key events in literature in each period.