Sijo is a traditional genre of Korean Poetry/song. Sijo's were sung for the last 600 years or so and are being sung even in various styles and on variety of themes. It is a three lined poem/song with 45 syllables arranged in three lines in a 15-15 -15 pattern. Slight variations using 44 or 46 syllables are also used.    

"The wind is pure and clear,
the moon is pure and bright.

The bamboo grove within the pines
is pure of worldly cares:

But a lute and piles of scrolls
can make it purer still"

[KWON HOMUN (1532-1587)  

[* Dedication Page
The Bamboo Grove - An Introduction to Sijo
edited and translated by Richard Rutt ~ Ann Arbor Paperbacks. ]

Essentially "the first two lines mimicking one another both in form and content and the last line introducing a twist or a counter theme which serves to sharpen the meaning"# enhancing the whole song

[ #from the Back Cover ~
The Bamboo Grove - An Introduction to Sijo
edited and translated by Richard Rutt ~ Ann Arbor Paperbacks. ]

This book "The Bamboo Grove - An Introduction to Sijo
edited and translated by Richard Rutt ~ Ann Arbor Paperbacks." is essential reading for somebody interested seriously in Sijo in English translation. Here are a few Sijo taken from this excellent book.  

 

"the white snow has left the valleys 
where the clouds are lowering

Is it true that somewhere
the plum tress have happily blossomed?

I stand here alone in the dusk  
and do not know where to go

[ YI SAEK (1328-1396) ]  "

[1- Historical songs ]  

"I thought about that fan
and why you sent it to me....

you must have meant me
to puff out the flame in my heart.

But my tears cannot quench it,
so what use a fan will be ?

[ ANONYMOUS ] "

[ 65-Love Songs ]  

 

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Please check the following site for more information about sijo written  by Larry Gross distinguished scholar, poet, translator.

http://thewordshop.tripod.com/Sijo/sijo-index.htm

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SIJOFORUM are selected and presented by Larry Gross.  

http://thewordshop.tripod.com/Sijo/poem.htm

 

In Yahoo Groups we have

 sijoforum  SIJO: A Korean lyric poetic tradition. presided by Larry Gross

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sijoforum/

This forum is ideal meeting place for those interested in this special genre.

 

 





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