[KS] Kisaeng

[Jennifer Jung-Kim]

Hi,

There are some good books in Korean, but in terms of English-language
sources, I can only think of:

"Chang Sa-hun, "Women Entertainers of the Yi Dynasty," in _Women of
the Yi Dynasty_ (Seoul: Research Center for Asian Women, Sookmyung
Women's University, 1986) pp 251-265

and parts of

Kim, Yung-Chung, ed, _Women of Korea: A History from Ancient Times to
1945_ (Seoul: Ewha Womans University, 1976).

I suppose any of the _Ch'unhyang_ films might provide some insight
into kisaeng social status, as well as how Confucian morality was
prevalent even at the lower social classes.  But I wouldn't say the
films are really about kisaeng.  There are also some kisaeng
characters in some translated literary works, but I can't think of any
that are really about kisaeng.

I have a section in my dissertation that deals with kisaeng (their
history, status during the colonial period, and social and labor
activism), but none of it has been published yet.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help -- I hope some of the literature
specialists can think of other sources that may help.

Jennifer Jung-Kim


On 1/16/06, Pete Morriss <pete.morriss at nuigalway.ie> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>         Intrigued by all the publicity about the filming of Memoirs of a Geisha, one of my students asked me if she could find out more about the Korean equivalent.  That's outside my main field, so I immediately thought of this list.  Does anybody know of anything - fiction, non-fiction, film, or whatever - that might give an insight into the lives of kisaeng?  Unfortunately, only English-language sources would be of any use in this case.
>         Many thanks,
>                 Pete Morriss
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Pete Morriss (Dr.)
> Department of Political Science and Sociology,
> National University of Ireland, Galway
> Ireland