Korea Under Japanese Rule

Randomly encountering this video from the 1930s on Korea under Japanese rule brought back memories of Primitive Selves: Koreana in the Japanese Colonial Gaze, 1910–1945 by Atkins. We highly recommend it for a look at the way colonialism and culture interacted in the context of Japanese occupation of Korea. It brings to mind a similar book on Haiti and the US during the US Occupation of Haiti from 1915-1934 by Renda. Of course, the US policymakers, marines, and anthropologists did not see themselves as sharing a "racial" origin with Haitians, but a shared discourse of primitivism shaped both colonial ventures. We suspect Haiti also played a role in sparking the racial interests of white America and the West in "black" peoples during the interwar years, like the Japanese interest in Korean culture, shamanism, and superstition.

The Story of Hong Gildong

Minsoo Kang's translation of the longest of the extant copies of The Story of Hong Gildong successfully makes the Korean tale accessible to modern Anglophone readers. The introduction to the text also persuasively makes the case for a relatively recent composition of the story in the 19th century (or possibly late 18th century). Instead of Kim Taejun's attempts to read the tale as subversive of Joseon mores and conventions, it actually is a rather traditional story bemoaning the plight of "secondary" sons. But like so many "traditional" tales, the protagonist, Hong Gildong, ends up becoming king of "Annam" and rules as an ideal king after leading a band of robbers in Joseon. 

The main problem and frustration of Hong Gildong was the discrimination against low-born children of yangban, who could not serve in high positions in the administration and military. There is also a general critique of provincial government corruption and exploitation of the lower classes, but it is hard to read this Robin Hood-like character as being revolutionary or ushering in a new society. It is immersed in a world where Confucian, Buddhist, Daoist, and classical Chinese texts are referenced by Hong Gildong and where magic and miraculous events occur in favor of the protagonist. All the world needs is to recognize the talent and merit of those born to concubines and ensure proper kingship and the five relationships. 

As to be expected, there is not much characterization and the plot moves rapidly along. This reader was actually reminded of the Alexander Romance, a somewhat similar tale of wonders and exploration as Alexander the Great traversed the known world and beyond. Some of the episodes are entertaining, there are moments of magic and amusing episodes with shamans and physiognomists. One can see why the character became something of a folk-hero and its legacy persists to this day. 

This Week's Crop of Readings...

So, this week I read two books. Atkins on Japanese colonialism in Korea and the role of culture and ambivalence on modernity was fascinating for adding some interesting nuance to Japanese imperialism in East Asia. Although I could be speaking out of ignorance here, but it would have been interesting if the book had expanded Japanese colonialism's ambivalence on modernity and claims to protect Asia (pan-Asianism) in other parts of the empire, such as Taiwan, or other parts of the continent during World War II. Nonetheless, an interesting look at how colonialism and anthropology went hand in hand and actually helped pave the way for Korean nationalism (in spite of Japanese imperialism). In other news, Cisneros's The House on Mango Street was pure delight. Short, sweet, endearing, and set in Chicago, the perspective of a child in a series of vignettes about her neighborhood brought to mind works of numerous other writers yet something unique and original can be found here. I'm ashamed I waited so long to read it.