Reading Notes W3: The song of Ch'un-Hyang, Part B

The Song of Ch'un-Hyang (74-89)

  • This passage is the most famous work of traditional Korea - a tale of romantic love, heroism, and fidelity (74)
  • P'ansori was shaped by social changes that took place during the Chosun Dynasty (74)
  • Chosun adoped Confucianism as the ideology for the state and people (society)
- it emphasized "inheritance through the male lineage of descendants and daughters were often erased from the family registers when they got married" (74).

  • Ch'un Hyang is the powerful daughter of a mudang in a Korean village
  • A new governor arrives and takes control of her village
  • He wants to see Ch'un Hyang immediately and once he does, he wants to marry her but she refuses
  • The governor has the yamen guards and servants take Ch'un away for a beating
  • The slaves knew what was coming and told her, "You stupid woman, if you talk to the officers like that, you'll never save your life" (83).
  • They then pulled her down to the courtyard as the soldiers held spears, clubs, paddles
  • The executioner must obey the governor's orders and beat her hard without pity or he'll be punished too
  • After each stroke, there is a stanza in the passage for each stroke explaining what Ch'un must have been thinking during each hit
  • The officers and servants turned their heads and wiped their tears because of how bad they felt for Ch'un (86)
  • The governor says the reason for Ch'un's beating is for insulting him and then sends her to prison 
  • Her mother finds out what had happened and questions why such a brutal punishment was done upon her daughter
  • In prison, Ch'un waits and hopes her husband will save her

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