Yi Hwang (李滉, 이황, 1501-1570) was a Chosun dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar and literati bureaucrat. He was of the Jinbo Yi Clan (眞寶李氏, 진보이씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Gyeongho (景浩, 경호); his pen name (號, 호) was Toegye (退溪, 퇴계); and his posthumous name (諡, 시) was Munsun (文純, 문순). As a Neo-Confucian Scholar, he is most famous for writing several treatises on Neo-Confucianism and establishing the Dosan Seoweon (陶山書院, 도산서원), a private Confucian academy. As a literati bureaucrat, he was appointed various offices and served four kings of the Chosun dynasty. After his death, he was posthumously promoted to the highest ministerial office. Yi Hwang first appeared on the 1000 Won note in 1983.
陶山月夜詠梅 도산원야영매
At Mount Do in the Moonlit Night a Poem on the Apricot Tree
獨倚山窓夜色寒 독기산창야색한
梅梢月上正團團 매초월상정단단
不須更喚微風至 불수갱환미풍지
自有淸香滿院間 자유청향만원간
Alone I lean on the window to the mountain; the night hue becomes cold.
At the tip of the apricot tree, the moon rises, perfectly round and circular.
Even if I should not again call the winds to arrive,
Naturally, there is pure fragrance filling the space of my house.
步屧中庭月趁人 보섭중정월진인
梅邊行繞幾回巡 매변행요기회순
夜深坐久渾忘起 야심좌구혼망기
香滿衣布影滿身 향만의포영만신
Walking in my wooden shoes in the courtyard, the moon follows a man.
At the edges of the apricot tree, I travel around; how many times did I revolve around?
As the night grows deep, sitting for awhile, it becomes blurry and I forget to stand up.
The fragrance fills my clothes and the shadow fills my body.
晩發梅兄更識眞 만발매형갱식진
故應知我怯寒辰 고은지아겁한신
可憐此夜宜蘇病 가련차양의소병
能作終宵對月人 능작종소대월인
The lately blossoming apricot is magnificent and still more recognizes the truth.
Therefore, it certainly knows me and that I fear the cold season.
What a pity! If this night justly revives me from my illness,
Then I can make me the entire night a man facing the moon.
Notes:
- Mount Do (陶山, 도산, Do San) is a mountain north of Andong (安東, 안동).
Characters:
- 梢(초) – The end tip of a tree branch (나뭇가지의 끝).
- 喚(환) – To call (부르다).
- 屧(섭) – Wooden shoes (나막신).
- 趁(진) – To follow (쫓다).
- 繞(요) – To cover (두르다).
- 渾(훈) – To be blurry (흐리다).
- 兄(형) – Here, to be excellent (훌륭하다).
- 宵(소) – Night (밤).
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