Teaching East Asia: Korea Teaching East Asia: Korea | Page 166

could qualify them for public service positions. From the 15th century on, the poems written by
the scholars were either kasa, poems composed of an indefinite number of verses, or sijo. See the
following for more information: http://www.stockton.edu/~gilmorew/consorti/1deasia.htm
Part 2:
Teaching the Sijo:
A sijo is a three line poem particular to Korea, developed in the 15th century. The poem introduc-
es a theme in the first line, develops it in the second, has a twist or countertheme at the beginning
of the third line and concludes with a return to the original theme. The form of the poem relies on
set phrasing and syllable count, which will be explained later. Sijo were originally composed to be
sung to a fixed melody. Now they are literary works instead of musical ones.
Example 1:
A shadow strikes the water below; a monk passes by on the bridge,
“Stay awhile, reverend sir, Let me ask you where you go.”
He just points his staff at the white clouds and keeps on his way without turning.
Chong Chol (1536-1593)
Suggested Questions:
1. What is happening in the poem? (Literally, a monk is walking on a bridge, casting a shadow
in the water. A person asks him where he is going. He points to the clouds and walks ahead.)
2. Which words feel particularly important in the poem? (Some students may answer shadow;
bridge; stay; go; points; clouds; keeps. Ask them what feels important about those words. Ask
them to notice words that balance each other)
3. What do you think the theme of the poem is? (Some may talk about life as a journey; the
difference between earth shadow --and the Heavens white cloud; the commitment of the
monk and his focus on his goal)
4. What is the importance of the phrase that starts the third line, “He just points”? (Despite a
speaker’s attempt to get him to stay, the monk is focused on his journey; he doesn’t even take
the time to speak he just points; his answer causes us to examine the difference in earth and
sky, in the now and the hereafter.)
5. Try to explain the poem in terms of theme, countertheme, and a return to the theme, the pat-
tern of a sijo. (On a monk’s life journey, he is asked to pause, to turn away from his goals; he
points ahead, never turning away from his life’s journey)
Example 2:
Jade Green Stream, don’t boast so proud of your easy passing through these blue hills.
Once you have reached the broad sea, to return again will be hard.
While the ri ht oon lls these empty hills, why not pa se
hen o on, if yo will.
Hwang Chin-i (16th century)
Suggested Questions:
1. Ask the same five questions. Students may respond that the theme is a kind of “seize the day”
one about enjoying the moment. They may see it as a poem about nature and the inevitable
flow of time.
2. Ask the students: imagine that one character’s name is Jade Green Stream and one character’s
name is Bright Moon. How would they then explain the story of the poem?
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