Son Ho-yun (Korean: 손호연, Japanese: 孫戶姸, 1923–2003) was the only Korean poet who wrote Japanese waka poetry.[1] She received the Order of Cultural Merit from the Republic of Korea in 2000 and a commendation from the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2002 for her contributions to mutual understanding between Korea and Japan.[2]
Education
editSon graduated from Jinmyeong Girls’ High School in Seoul in 1940, then studied abroad at Tokyo Imperial Women’s University in 1943 with the scholarship of Yi Bang-Ja, the princess consort of the last Crown Prince of Korea and a member of the Japanese Imperial Family.[3]
She later studied under Sasaki Nobutsuna[4] and Nakanishi Susumu, who are leaders in the field of waka poetry.[5] 1979, she entered the Department of Classical Studies at Showa Women's University, and in 1980, she studied Japanese classical literature at the graduate school of Seijo University.[6]
Career
editSon wrote over 2000 waka poems in 60 years and was recognized as a master of tanka in Japan.[7] Susumu Nakanishi praised her poetry as “a song that contains Korean emotions that the Japanese cannot imitate and transcends national borders.”[8]
In 1944, she published her first tanka collection, Hoyunga Collection. In 1958, she published her second tanka collection, The First Mugunghwa. In 1968, she published her third tanka collection, The Second Mugunghwa. In 1980, she published her fourth tanka collection, The Third Mugunghwa, and in 1990, she published her fifth tanka collection, The Fourth Mugunghwa. Eight years later, in 1998, she published her sixth tanka collection, The Fifth Mugunghwa.[3][6]
Honors and Legacy
editIn 1997, a monument to Son Ho-Yun was erected in Rokkasho-mura, Aomori Prefecture,[7] and monuments to her poems were erected in six places across the Aomori Prefecture.[9]
In 1998, Son Ho-Yun became the first Korean invited to speak at the Utakai Hajime or New Year's Address hosted by Emperor Akihito.[8]
At the 2005 Korea-Japan Summit, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi quoted Son’s tanka to Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, saying, “I have one earnest wish: for a country without conflict.”[10]
References
edit- ^ "[수요광장] 한국문학의 장으로 들어온 손호연의 단가 미학". 경인일보 (in Korean). 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "일본에서 더 유명한 '短歌 명인' 손호연 시인을 아시나요". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b "Son Ho-yun, Korean leading writer of tanka poetry". The Korea Times. 2022-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ 김, 호정 (2023-11-02). ""어머니 손호연, 해방 후에도 단가로 명성…일본인의 말 한마디 덕"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "[부고]'와카' 시인 손호연씨". The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). 2003-11-23. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b Academy of Korean Studies, Directory; http://people.aks.ac.kr/front/dirSer/ppl/pplView.aks?pplId=PPL_8KOR_A1923_2_0031344&isEQ=true&kristalSearchArea=B
- ^ a b "'단가의 대가' 손호연 시인을 기리며…". Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b "'60년 동행'日 단가를 향한 戀歌". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). 2002-10-18. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "한일간의 사랑과 평화를 기원하며 - 손호연(孫戶姸) 여사가 남긴 혼신의 단가". mindan.org. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "일본 短歌 시인이던 어머니, 원조 한류 스타였죠". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2024-08-29.