"The Hymn of Death" Korean Classics
Last edited Sat Jul 1, 2023, 11:52 PM - Edit history (1)
I became intrigued with this song, "Death Song" or "In Praise of Death" and when I heard it again recently. While I was trying to find a better contemporary recording of the 1926 song, found the video below which connects the song to a scene from Mr. Sunshine which I think was well intentioned but leads somewhat astray from the actual historical account of the artist, Yun_Sim-deok, who originally wrote, sang, and recorded the song in 1926.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yun_Sim-deok
In some other performances on video, it seemed that quite a few South Koreans know the words to the song by heart. . It's kind of a legend at this point, with historical, ethical and philosophical significance depending on who is watching. There is a connection to national pride and the independence movement.
This is the link to the second movie (1991) on the Korean Classics channel provided by the Korean Cultural Center in NY. There are other movies there, almost all of which I haven't watched. Warning mature theme.
https://www.koreanculture.org/from-korea-films/2023/04/24/korean-classic-film-9
It's both a morality tale and a portrayal of the times after Japan broke down the traditional Chosun cultural barrier to exploit Korea. It was quite long at about 2:50. I was going to watch in two sittings but ended up staying up late. The complex relationship between Japan and Korea is portrayed from the Korean point of view. It's better than Pachinko, but I'm not dismissing that story or novel by any means, enjoyed season one and the novel. The 1991 film quality leaves something to be desired. Someone said in the comments it needs to be "remastered."
This is the best contemporary version of the song I could find by Na Yoon-sun 나윤선. There are others on line including the original from 1926.
윤심덕 작사/노래 (1926) Death Song (rough translation)
On that vast wilderness, life is running
Where is the place that your going to?
Alone in a world of perilous stormy seas
What is it that you seek?
This world reduced to tears
If I die, will I only know suffering?
Lives seeking happiness
What you seek is futile
That flower laughing, and that bird crying
Their fate is all the same.
In life absorbed, piteous life
You, dancing on the knife's edge, driven to death
Immersed in vanity, fretful life
Do I know of your deceit?
Things of this world are futile
Then after you die, all is gone
The original hangul lyrics from kiss7.tistory.com. The version in the video is one of the updated variants.
[사의 찬미 뜻, 노래와 가사 - 윤심덕 작사/노래]
https://kiss7.tistory.com/1060
Although it seems counter-intuitive, I think the song inspires strength and inspiration in the Korean people who hear it. .
