Hwang, Jin-Yi

Hwang, Jin-Yi (황진이)... She was a famous gisaeng (Korean Geisha, a singing and dancing girl) in Joseon Dynasty. (1520c~1560c) She was distinguished in poem, playing geomungo (Korean zitherlike instrument with six strings) and dancing. Korean people still love her and her works of art. Her poems are so beautiful, ardent, and easy to understand. All of gisaengs had their own nicknames that are called by their customers. Jin-Yi's nickname was Myeongwol (bright moon), so she used to make a poem by quoting from the moon. There is a famous part of poem of her about lost love. I feel sorry that I couldn't find full version of the poem, though it is still sad and beautiful. The name of this poem is 'the deep midwinter night'.


Oh that I might capture the essence of this deep midwinter night
And fold it softly into the waft of a spring-moon quilt,
Then fondly uncoil it the night my beloved returns.


Some people tend to think gisaengs as a bargirl or a prostitute, but in my opinion, they were entertainers who were good at sing a song, playing music, making a poem and speaking volubly. In 2006 and 2007, the TV drama and movie about Hwang, Jin-Yi were released in a row. The TV drama, Hwang, Jin-Yi, was a great hit in South Korea; I think it described the life of Hwang, Jin-Yi well. Besides her life story, there are so many things people could enjoy such as traditional Korean custome (Han-bok), Korean dancing and wonderful scenery of 4 seasons of Korea.
Here are some clips of Korean TV drama, Hwang, Jin-Yi, that I picked up from the youtube.







Here is a modified version of Han-bok in these days, and Korean people still wear Han-bok for wedding feasts.