EALC 275: Masterpieces of East Asian Literature Lecture #26: The Tale of Hong Kiltong Nov. 20, 2013Chronology of Korea • Legendary King Tangun • Three Kingdoms 2nd-7th century A.D. • Unified Silla 668-918 (compare Tang) • Koryô 918-1392 • Chosôn 1392-1910The Chosôn World (1392-1910) • Confucianism as the ruling ideology • Rule of the yangban elite: Confucian scholar-bureaucrats • Written Languages in Chosôn • -- Classical Chinese: language for the elite • -- Hangûl writing system, vernacular Korean, used in fiction and women’s writings, such as court diariesThe Chosôn World (1392-1910) King Chongjo (Lady Hyegyong’s son): • -an enlightened, reform-minded monarch • -despite the psychological scarring of his father’s execution, he was a successful king • -many restrictions on hereditary discriminated groups were eliminated somewhat successfully , to control the factional strife among his officials • -founded the new Royal Library to compile and organize a grand repository of works in order to advance scholarship and government policy • -many members of the new Royal Library were concubine’s children or their descendants, including the greatest thinker of the late Choson, Chong Yagyong.The Chosôn World (1392-1910) New Political Philosophy-- “Practical Learning”: • -Thinkers at King Chongjo’s Royal Library advocated a philosophy of “Practical Learning” • -move away from abstract philosophical speculation characteristic of traditional Neo-Confucianism • -emphasis on material-technological advances and good governance as the basis for a healthy society • -improving the livelihood of common peopleThe Chosôn World (1392-1910) New Cultural Trends—Popular novels and performance arts • Vernacular fiction: in the mid-15th century a native alphabet (Hangûl) to represent the sounds of Korean language was invented. For the most part, elites shunned the “vulgar script” and used Classical Chinese. However the simplicity and versatility of this alphabet was used in popular fiction and in writing by women, like court diaries. • P’ansori: The Song of Ch’unhyang began not in written form but rather as orally transmitted stories in a performance art called p’ansori. This was a distinctive “opera” genre that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries in which the singer or singers was accompanied by a drummer who keeps the beat and occasionally shouts responses and encouragement. They are full of characterization, plot twists, and long monologues.Language: Hangul A Printed Text of Tale of Hong Kiltong 洪吉童傳Tale of Hong Kiltong, 1 Concubines and their children • Strict patrilineal system • Concubines: • --lower status in the family • --less secure position • Concubine’s Children: • --illegitimate birth • --prohibited from the examination and administrationThe Tale of Hong Kiltong, 2 Vernacular Fiction • Fiction in Korea --low-status • --popular Chinese novels were widely read • Attributed to Hô Kyun (1569-1618) • --autobiographical? • A vernacular fiction: written in hangûl • Influence of Chinese literature • -- Monkey • --The Water MarginThe Tale of Hong Kiltong, 3 Birth of a hero • How was Hong Kiltong born? By whom? In what circumstances? • Father’s dream of a dragon, maid who becomes a concubine. • How is Hong Kiltong treated differently as a son born to secondary wife? • Classical hero: handsome, courageous, idealistic… • Misfit: tormented by his illegitimate birthHong Kiltong in Korean TV drama 2008 South Korean television series starring Kang Ji-hwan in the title roleThe Tale of Hong Kiltong, 4 Hong Kiltong’s dilemma • The problem of filial piety • Scholar-official path closed to him • --makes him a social outcast • --takes up the military and magical arts instead of the civil arts and study of the Confucian classics • --covert reference to “Practical Learning”?The Tale of Hong Kiltong, 5 The villains • His father’s other concubine • --not his father • Corrupt monks and officials • --not the king • What does this imply? • --desire for being accepted rather than overthrowingThe Tale of Hong Kiltong, 6 Obstacles and Magic Powers • Who is the Koksan woman and why does she want to harm Kiltong? • Father’s other concubine/ doesn’t have a son herself/ jealousy/ the fortune-teller • How does Kiltong know that an assassin is coming to kill him? • Omens: hears the raven’s cry and consults the eight trigrams in the Book of Changes. • How does he defeat the assassin? What appearance does he take on? • Power to create illusions/ appears as a herd boy riding on a donkey playing a flute/ a quintessential image of a Daoist Priest.The Tale of Hong Kiltong, 7 A righteous outlaw • “Save-the-poor” party • What is the appeal of this kind of figure? • -- brings justice to an unjust world • Similarities to and differences from Monkey’s rebellion?The Tale of Hong Kiltong, 8 Obstacles and Magic Powers • How does Kiltong become the general of a bandit army? • He finds an “underground” hideout/ He impresses the bandits with a feat of strength/ lifting a boulder/ claims his family lineage • How does Kiltong manage to confuse and evade the authorities hunting him? • He creates seven other Kiltongs using strawmen and all together they roam the eight provinces of Korea, fighting injustice. • He also disguises himself as an official and tours the realm. • What symbolic significance do these powers have? • Disguises and costume changes– indicates someone who would like to change their social role, but cannot. Assuming a role denied to him. • Eight duplicates and eight provinces: Kiltong as symbol of the “nation”Eight Provinces of Choson Korea Eight duplicates of Hong Kiltong roaming the country: Hong Kiltong as the “everyman.”The Tale of Hong Kiltong, 9 Endings: Creation of a Utopia • What is Kiltong’s condition to surrender and to leave Korea? • To be appointed the Minister of War? Monkey? • Where does Kiltong go after he leaves Korea? • He goes to China and takes over an island? Monkey? • What becomes of Kiltong after he establishes a stronghold on an island? • He becomes a king, equal in status to the king of Korea? Monkey? • “…he built thousands of houses and strove to develop agriculture. Having taught his people the various skills,