Yi Gok (李穀, 이곡, 1298-1351) was a literati bureaucrat during the Goryeo Dynasty (高麗, 고려, 918-1392). He was of the Hansan Yi Clan (韓山李氏, 한산이씨); his courtesy name (字, 자) was Jungbo (仲父 , 중보); his pen name (號, 호) was Gajeong (稼亭, 가정); and his posthumous name (諡, 시) was Munhyo (文孝, 문효). He passed the civil examinations (科擧, 과거) in Yuan Dynasty China (元, 원, 1271-1368).
In the poem below, Yi Gok writes about the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Jungchujeol (仲秋節, 중추절). It is more commonly known as Chuseok (秋夕, 추석) or Hangawi (한가위). Today, Chuseok is one of the most important traditional Korean holidays. Families head back to their hometowns and carry out ancestral rites.
中秋翫月 중추완월
Teasing the Moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival
客路相逢喜可知 객로상봉희가지
况當佳節共吟詩 황당가절홍음시
他鄕異縣各千里 타향이현각천리
古月今人此一時 고월금인차일시
徹夜秋光淸欲滴 철야추광청욕적
明朝世事浩難期 명조세사호난기
無端頃刻冰輪側 무단경각빙륜칙
仰面貪看豈敢辭 앙면탐간기감사
On the travelers’ road, people can know the joy of a meeting.
Moreover, on this beautiful occasion, together they recite poetry.
Another’s village and a different prefecture, each is a thousand Li away.
The ancient moon and today’s people, these are at all one time.
All night, the autumn light is like a clear water drop.
Tomorrow morning, the world’s affairs will be as if extensively difficult duties.
Without any aims, in an instant, next to the icy moon,
How does one dare to refuse to look up to greedily stare at it?
Definitions:
Guest • road • one another • to meet • joyous • to be able • to know
Moreover • properly • beautiful • day • together • to recite • poetry
Other • village • different • prefecture • each • thousand • Li
Ancient • moon • today • people • this • one • time
to pierce • night • autumn • light • to be clear • to become • water drop
tomorrow • morning • world • affairs • to be extensive • to be difficult • promises
To not have • end • in a moment • time • ice • wheel • adjacent
To look upward • face • to be greedy • to look • how • to dare • to refuse
Notes:
- 冰輪(빙륜) – Literally, “ice wheel.” Refers to the moon.
Copyright Notice This work by Kuiwon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. |