Hwang Jini - The Legendary Comfort Woman - Korean Drama Series

 

Get To Know Hwang Jini, The Legendary Comfort Woman - Those of you who have watched the Hwang Jini drama series must be familiar with this comfort woman figure. She is touted as one of the women with legendary beauty in Korean history. His life story is written in various literature and theatre scripts in North and South Korea. What is the life story of Hwang Jini the beautiful gisaeng? Here's a bit of the story.

Myeongwol Who Is As Beautiful As The Full Moon

The official name that Hwang bears as a gisaeng is Myeongwol. This name means 'bright moon. Perhaps the name was given because Hwang's face is as beautiful as the full moon. Or because of his behaviour that deserves to be compared to the moon. At that time, the moon was often used as the personification of women, usually women who were beautiful or graceful. But history still knows him better than Hwang Jini or Hwang Jin-Yi, the most famous gisaeng during the Joseon Dynasty.

According to historians' estimates, Hwang Jini lived in the 16th century. His life history coincides with the reign of King Jungjong. Hwang is thought to have been born in 1506 in Kaesong. From an early age, Hwang Jini's beautiful face has become a byword. It is said that Hwang's beauty made one of his village youths die of a broken heart.

What's It Like Getting To Know Hwang Jini, The Legendary Comfort Woman?

The Beauty With The Mysterious Background

According to one of the speculations circulating, Hwang Jini is the son of an illicit relationship between an official and a gisaeng. However, the truth of this theory has not been confirmed. In those days, a woman could enter the gisaeng world for various reasons. The daughter of a gisaeng usually inherits her mother's profession. They are taught various gisaeng skills from an early age.

Not infrequently, families from the cheonmin caste or nobles who are experiencing financial difficulties sell their daughters to become gisaeng. Even women from the yangban class, the highest caste in Joseon, can descend into gisaeng. Usually, this happens because these women are considered to have been polluted or have lost their dignity.

Not An Ordinary Comfort Woman

During the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties, gisaengs were at the lowest social hierarchy. The gisaeng were from the cheonmin caste, on par with slaves, lowly coolies, and butchers. However, the gisaeng are provided with a fairly high level of education in etiquette and manners. Their appearance and behaviour are also very contrary to the characteristics of the common people. Because of this, gisaengs are called 'having the body of a low class, but with the mind of nobility'.

Hwang Jini himself is said to have a high intellect. She was able to speak and had a free mind, unlike other women of that time. Hwang is also known for his outstanding artistic talent. He is adept at composing sijo, an ancient Korean rhyme. According to The Word Shop, Hwang was educated by scholar So Kyongdok. Hwang can compose sijo in both Korean and Mandarin.