Hong Gildong jeon

Hong Gildong jeon

Opening page of Hong Gildong jeon.
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Hong Gildongjeon
McCune–Reischauer Hong Kildongjŏn
This is a Korean name; the family name is Hong.

Hong Gildong jeon (Hangul: 홍길동전; hanja: 洪吉童傳) is a Korean novel, often translated as The Story of Hong Gildong, written during the Joseon Dynasty. Hong Gildong, an illegitimate son of a noblemen and his lowborn concubine, is the main character of the story. Gifted with supreme intelligence and supernatural abilities, he steal from rich and corrupt aristocrats, which has drawn him comparisons to famous bandits like the English folk hero Robin Hood and Australia’s Ned Kelly. Historical sources point to the existence of a bandit named Hong Gildong who was arrested in 1500,[1] however the character's historical inspiration was the early 16th century Korean bandit and folk hero Im Kkeokjeong.[2]

Since the novel first appeared, the character of Hong Gildong has become a mainstay of Korean culture and literature. In Korea today, Hong Gildong is a common placeholder name, similar to John Doe in the United States.[3] Charles Montgomery of the website Korean Literature in Translation explains, “In Korean literature Hong Gildong is legion. He is a fixture from one of the most important early novels in Hangul – he is the first truly ‘Korean’ main character.”[4] Professor Minsoo Kang writes in the foreword to his translation, “The Story of Hong Gildong is arguably the single most important work of classic (i.e., premodern) prose fiction of Korea, in terms of not only its literary achievement but also of its influence on the larger culture.”[5] NPR’s Ari Shapiro explained on Fresh Air, "Sometimes, a single character can help define a country's sense of self. Here in the U.S., you might think of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby or Superman. In North and South Korea, it's Hong Gildong.”[6]

Plot

Various versions of Hong Gildong jeon exist, each including different details but following the same skeleton and timeline. The story is usually divided into three equal parts, each occurring in different settings.[7]

The first part is set in the residence of the Hong Family. After waking from an auspicious dream, the High Minister, Hong Mo, lies with a lowborn maid, who conceives Hong Gildong. The story then shifts to Gildong’s childhood where he masters his physical, mental, and magical abilities. The first part concludes with Hong Gildong stopping an assassin’s attempt on his life and then leaving the Hong residence, unsatisfied with his status as a secondary son.

In the second part, Hong Gildong becomes the leader of a band of outlaws whom he names Hwalbindang (“league of those who help the impoverished”).[8] Gildong and his band steal from locations where wealth is held throughout the country, like storehouse and temples. As his robberies become bolder and more frequent, he draws the attention of the King and ultimately ends up leaving the country in self-imposed exile.

The third part takes place in the country of Yul. Hong Gildong starts over with the Hwalbindang at the island of Jae and then overthrows the King of Yul to become King. He rules as a benevolent king and begins his own family at Yul, in which he treats his secondary and primary sons equally.

Literary Context/Themes/History

Authorship of the novel is generally attributed to Heo Gyun (허균), a radical intellectual who long dreamed of changing Korea into a fair society with less strict class hierarchies. Heo Gyun is said to be the author because of his radical ideas of political revolution, which are projected in Hong Gildong’s journey from secondary son to king. It is believed Heo Gyun wrote the book during the late 16th or early 17th century.

However, in recent years, emerging scholarship has contradicted previously accepted theories on the authorship of Hong Gildong jeon. In a 2013 article in Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture, Minsoo Kang argues that the claim for Heo Gyun as author of the novel is based on flawed and biased scholarship. He proposes instead that the novel was written around the mid-19th century "by an anonymous writer of secondary or commoner status."[9]

Hong Gildong is often viewed as a reflection of its time. Depending on the Heo Gyun authorship model or the one that Kang proposes, this perspective differs. Kang suggests that peace and prosperity in 18th century Korea under the rule of Yeongjo and Jeonjo allowed for increased social mobility and literacy. This led to the development of a market for popular fiction, and Hong Gildong jeon is exemplary of these kinds of novels.[10]

There are more than thirty-four existing manuscripts of Hong Gildong jeon. Scholars are uncertain which, if any, is the original manuscript, but some evidence suggests that the pilsa 89 manuscript is the oldest surviving version.[11]

Cultural Legacy

In addition to its reputation as a literary work, Hong Gildong jeon has become widely known in Korean culture through various adaptations across different mediums. The story has inspired films, TV shows, comics, literary re-tellings, and video games, and continues to be frequently adapted. There is a Hong Gildong theme park in Jangseong County,[12] traditionally thought to be the character’s birthplace, and a Hong Gildong festival is held in Jangseong each year.[13]

Adaptations

English Language Translations

External links

Notes

  1. "The Rumpus Interviews With Minsoo Kang". The Rumpus. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. (Polish) Joanna Rurarz (2009). Historia Korei. Dialog. ISBN 978-83-89899-28-6. P.237
  3. DBDic.com (디비딕닷컴) (2001). Neo geugeo ani? 너 그거 아니? (Did you know that?). ISBN 89-7075-229-3. Retrieved September 22, 2006 from Naver Books.
  4. http://www.ktlit.com/hong-gildong-as-the-impossible-key-to-korean-literature/
  5. Kang, Minsoo. The Story of Hong Gildong. “Introduction.” New York: Penguin, 2016.
  6. http://www.npr.org/2016/03/14/470427638/the-story-of-hong-gildong-helps-define-korean-sense-of-identity
  7. Story of Hong Gil Dong. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-310769-9.
  8. Kang, Minsoo. The Story of Hong Gildong. “Introduction.” New York: Penguin, 2016.
  9. Kang, Minsoo. "Introduction to the Story of Hong Gildong." Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture, Volume 6, 2013: 221-227. Project MUSE. Web. 19 Feb 2016.https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/azalea/v006/6.minsoo.html
  10. Kang, Minsoo. The Story of Hong Gildong. “Introduction.” New York: Penguin, 2016.
  11. Kang, Minsoo. "Introduction to the Story of Hong Gildong." Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature & Culture, Volume 6, 2013: 221-227. Project MUSE. Web. 19 Feb 2016. https://muse.jhu.edu/loginauth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/azalea/v006/6.minsoo.html
  12. http://www.honggildong.com/
  13. http://english.jangseong.go.kr/index.sko?menuCd=BA04001000000
  14. "Hong Gildong is a Korean Superhero". YOMYOMF. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  15. "A Brief History of Korean Animation: Part II". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  16. http://www.kmdb.or.kr/movie/md_basic.asp?nation=K&p_dataid=05191&keyword=%C8%AB%B1%E6%B5%BF
  17. http://www.kmdb.or.kr/movie/md_basic.asp?nation=K&p_dataid=05359&keyword=%C8%AB%B1%E6%B5%BF
  18. "Hong Kil Dong". MIFF. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  19. "Hardcore Gaming 101: A History of Korean Gaming". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  20. "Hardcore Gaming 101: A History of Korean Gaming". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  21. "Hardcore Gaming 101: A History of Korean Gaming". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  22. http://www.kmdb.or.kr/movie/md_basic.asp?nation=K&p_dataid=04809&keyword=%C8%AB%B1%E6%B5%BF
  23. "Hardcore Gaming 101: A History of Korean Gaming". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  24. "Hardcore Gaming 101: A History of Korean Gaming". Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  25. Park Jeong-woo (박정우). "Descendants of Hong Gil-dong (Korean Movie - 2009) - 홍길동의 후예 @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database". HanCinema. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  26. "Hong Gil-dong to be revived in musical" Korea Herald. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 2012-03-29
  27. "'Phantom Detective,' action thriller full of laughs". The Korea Times. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.