Encounter: A Novel of Nineteenth-Century Korea
by Moo-sook Hahn
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Description
This historical novel, Encounter (Mannam), by Hahn Moo-Sook, one of Asia's most honored writers, is a story of the resilience in the Korean spirit. It is told through the experiences of Tasan, a high-ranking official and foremost Neo-Confucian scholar at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Because of Tasan's fascination with Western learning, then synonymous with Catholicism, he is exiled to a remote province for 18 years. In banishment he meets people from various social and religious show more backgrounds-Buddhist monks, peasants, shamans-whom he would not otherwise have met. The events of Tasan's life are effectively used to depict the confluence of Buddhist, Neo-Confucian, Taoist, and shamanistic beliefs in traditional Korea.A subplot involves three young sisters, the daughters of a prominent Catholic aristocrat, and affords the reader vivid glimpses into Yi-dynasty women's lives, particularly those of palace ladies, scholars' wives, tavern keepers, shamans, and slaves. In contrast to the long-held Confucian stereotype of female subservience, this story illustrates the richness of women's contribution to Korean culture and tradition.Encounter's detailed narrative provides a broad and informed view of nineteenth-century Korea, making it a highly useful book for courses on Korean literature and society. It will also be an engaging read for lovers of historical fiction. show lessTags
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A must-read tour-de-force for anyone with interest in Korean history or literature. Tasan was a highly regarded Confucian scholar, who chose a life of poverty for scholarship, and to find out more about Catholicism, which had just entered Korea via the Jesuits in China (a Bible was brought from Beijing during one of Korea's regular tributary visits to its suzerain leader). Less than a Xian testament, this exceptional narrative reveals a precise picture of 18th and 19th century Korean life, politics, class, an deeply thoughtful and informed internal struggle, and how Confucian and Xian ideals, when realized, are compatible.
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7 Works 47 Members
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Voices from Asia (5)
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Encounter: A Novel of Nineteenth-Century Korea
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Historical Fiction, General Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 895.7 — Literature & rhetoric Literatures of other languages Literatures of East and Southeast Asia Korean
- LCC
- PL992.26 .M8 .M3613 — Language and Literature Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania Languages of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania Korean language and literature Korean literature Individual authors and works
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 29
- Popularity
- 949,738
- Reviews
- 1
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
