Han Yong-un

Han Yong-un Poems

Han Yong-un Biography

Manhae (August 29, 1879 – June 29, 1944) was a twentieth century Korean Buddhist reformer and poet. Manhae was his pen name; his birth name was Han Yu-cheon, but he is universally known by the name he was given by his meditation instructor in 1907, Han Yong-un (also written Han Yong-woon) Manhae was born in northern Gyeongsang province in what is today South Korea. Prior to being ordained, he was involved in resistance to Japanese influence in the country, which culminated in the Japanese occupation from 1905 to 1945. The same year the occupation began, 1905, Manhae was ordained as a Buddhist monk at Baekdam Temple on Mt. Seorak. As a social writer, Manhae called for the reform of Korean Buddhism. Manhae's poetry dealt with both nationalism and sexual love. One of his more political collections was Nimui Chimmuk , published in 1926. These works revolve around the ideas of equality and freedom, and helped inspire the tendencies toward passive resistance and non-violence in the Korean independence movement.)

The Best Poem Of Han Yong-un

Parting Creates Beauty

Parting creates beauty.
There is no beauty of parting
in the ephemeral gold of the morning;
nor in the seamless black silk of the night;
nor in the eternal life which admits no death;
nor in the gorgeous celestial flower that never fades.
O love, if there is no parting, I cannot come back
to life in laughter after tearful death.
O parting!
Parting creates beauty.

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