Song of the Yellow Bird

Song of the Yellow Bird (Korean황조가; 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]

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

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

Song structure

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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

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  1. ^ 치희 雉姬 [Song of the Yellow Bird] (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  2. ^ 河村 2012, p. 17.
  3. ^ 서, 영대, "치희 (雉姬)", Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean), Academy of Korean Studies, retrieved 2024-03-09
  4. ^ 河村 2012, p. 20.

Sources

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