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토지 #10
토지 10 - 3부 2권
440 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1969
4 people want to read
About the author
Pak Kyongni
35 books40 followersPak Kyongni (December 2, 1926 – May 5, 2008) was a prominent South Korean novelist. She was born in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, and later lived in Wonju Gangwon Province. Pak made her literary debut in 1955, with Gyesan (계산, Calculations). She is, however, most well known for her 16-volume story Toji (토지, The Land), an epic saga set on the turbulent history of Korea during 19th and 20th century. It was later adapted into a movie, a television series and an opera.
Pak Kyongni died from lung cancer at the age of 81 on May 5, 2008 and many literary men recollected her as a guide for their literary works and life as a writer. She was posthumously awarded the country's top medal by the newly created Culture Ministry of South Korea for her promoting South Korean arts.
Pak Kyongni died from lung cancer at the age of 81 on May 5, 2008 and many literary men recollected her as a guide for their literary works and life as a writer. She was posthumously awarded the country's top medal by the newly created Culture Ministry of South Korea for her promoting South Korean arts.
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March 17, 2019
The background of the vol. 10 is from 1930 to 1938 when Japan made their colony policy of Korea more obvious.
As vol. 9, vol. 10 was tedious until the middle of the novel. But later I began to enjoy the book a lot and admired Kyongni Pak's intelligence and skills to make argumentative dialogues. Kyongni Pak expresses the superiority of Korean culture through the dialogues of the characters. The colors of Korean costumes are much more bright, alive and colorful than those of Japanese. The comparisons of style of houses, and castles of the two countries were made; the lines and shapes of Korean houses were made towards the sky and those of Japanese towards the earth. Another comparison of Ondol, Korean traditional architecture underfloor heating, and Tatami, flooring mat of Japan. Ondol is much cleaner and more practical.
Japanese culture and economy were developed as a group from deficiency of natural, personal, and spiritual resources and Korea was deteriorated as a group due to affluence of them. This can be like that every miller draws water to his own mill of the author as Korean, but I got consoled and agreed with her.
Patriotism or nationalism are also discussed; both are beautiful in the beginning, but later it can become immoral. Patriotism of the one who lost his country is loyal, but the patriotism of the one whose country invaded another country is neither beautiful nor humane.
I am overwhelmed by Kyongni Pak's vast knowledge of history and literature of Korea and other countries. In her work, she deals a lot with the consciousness of people. An interviewer with the author, a professor of social science, said he believed that Pak must have been much influenced by Dostoevsky and James Joyce, and Pak didn't deny it. I was amazed by author's deep affection and appreciation for James Joyce. Gladly I went Dublin and visited James Joyce's center in Sept. 2018 and I learned a lot more about James Joyce which I did not learn through his works, but Pak's knowledge of James Joyce is beyond that is touchable.
As vol. 9, vol. 10 was tedious until the middle of the novel. But later I began to enjoy the book a lot and admired Kyongni Pak's intelligence and skills to make argumentative dialogues. Kyongni Pak expresses the superiority of Korean culture through the dialogues of the characters. The colors of Korean costumes are much more bright, alive and colorful than those of Japanese. The comparisons of style of houses, and castles of the two countries were made; the lines and shapes of Korean houses were made towards the sky and those of Japanese towards the earth. Another comparison of Ondol, Korean traditional architecture underfloor heating, and Tatami, flooring mat of Japan. Ondol is much cleaner and more practical.
Japanese culture and economy were developed as a group from deficiency of natural, personal, and spiritual resources and Korea was deteriorated as a group due to affluence of them. This can be like that every miller draws water to his own mill of the author as Korean, but I got consoled and agreed with her.
Patriotism or nationalism are also discussed; both are beautiful in the beginning, but later it can become immoral. Patriotism of the one who lost his country is loyal, but the patriotism of the one whose country invaded another country is neither beautiful nor humane.
I am overwhelmed by Kyongni Pak's vast knowledge of history and literature of Korea and other countries. In her work, she deals a lot with the consciousness of people. An interviewer with the author, a professor of social science, said he believed that Pak must have been much influenced by Dostoevsky and James Joyce, and Pak didn't deny it. I was amazed by author's deep affection and appreciation for James Joyce. Gladly I went Dublin and visited James Joyce's center in Sept. 2018 and I learned a lot more about James Joyce which I did not learn through his works, but Pak's knowledge of James Joyce is beyond that is touchable.
Displaying 1 of 1 review