Song of the Yellow Bird
AuthorYuri of Goguryeo
Original title황조가
CountryKorea
LanguageClassical Chinese
Publication date
17 BC

Song of the Yellow Bird (Korean: 황조가; Hanja: 黃鳥歌, Hwangjoga) is the oldest known Korean song[1] and was written by Yuri of Goguryeo in 17 B.C. It was written lamenting the loss of one of his wives who left his household following a quarrel with another of his wives. While Yuri of Goguryeo was away hunting, his second wife, Chihui, who was Han Chinese, was scolded by his first wife, Hwa hui: “How can you be so rude even though you are only a concubine?"[2] Chihui left the household, never to return. Missing her greatly, Yuri of Goguryeo wrote this song.[3]

A Chinese translation of Song of the Yellow Bird is recorded in the Samguk Sagi.

Song Structure

One day, Yuri of Goguryeo saw a couple of yellow birds (Oriolus chinensis), and wrote the Song of the Yellow Bird.[4]

翩翩黃鳥,
雌雄相依。
念我之獨,
誰其與歸?

Orioles fly smoothly
Female and male cuddle close together
Thinking of my loneliness
Whom shall I go with?

References

  1. Doosan Encyclopedia 치희 雉姬. Doosan Encyclopedia.
  2. 河村啓介 (2012-04-28). 韓国時代劇秘話 王朝を揺るがす男と女の物語. Gakken. p. 17. ISBN 978-4054053212.
  3. Academy of Korean Studies 치희 雉姬. Academy of Korean Studies.
  4. 河村啓介 (2012-04-28). 韓国時代劇秘話 王朝を揺るがす男と女の物語. Gakken. p. 20. ISBN 978-4054053212.
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