(337) Will spring come in the lost field?

By Janet Shin

The summer heat is still scorching but time keeps passing and the chirping of crickets, a symbolic messenger of autumn, wakes us up in the morning, which relieves our nerves from the endless heat wave this year.

In a way, this is what saju tries to teach us. Namely, by knowing or conforming to the order of Heaven (知天命), the principle that rules all things, the changing of seasons and phenomena within it, humans can reach ultimate wisdom, by which they can also find peace.

The Korean Peninsula achieved its independence on Aug. 15, 1945, after the Japanese occupation (1910-45). Korean poet Lee Sang-hwa (1901-1943) wrote of the desperate awareness of the Korean people about the occupation in his poem, “Will spring come in the lost field?” A sense of futility, anguish and resistance is expressed in this poem, but there indeed was a fervent hope that spring, implying the day that the Korean people would take their land back, a day of true liberation, would eventually come just as the season takes its place according to the order of the universe.

More grief lies in this Korean history. There is the internal feud among the Korean people, a fratricidal conflict. Yun Deuk-yeong (1873-1940), an uncle of Empress Sunjeong during the reign of King Sunjong, the second emperor of the Korean Empire (1897-1910) and the last ruler of Joseon, accumulated tremendous wealth by standing up for the ambitions of Japan. He took various prestigious positions and built up enormous affluence by this.

Ironically, he sought eternal power by learning feng shui and various types of Oriental teachings at the same time. When I visited Ogin-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he built many mansions even a castle replicating a real French chateau which had been destroyed by fire, I spotted a house which had been given to his concubine. This was however almost abolished and I couldn’t find any trace of his glorious days.

There is, however, a vestige remaining in Gapsa Temple on Gyeryong mountain. It was believed to be a womb where the world will be reborn. He inscribed various patterns and words on rocks to signify the future spiritual power of the place. He obviously wished to govern the nation as its next ruler or president.

Despite all his aspirations, he didn’t know his own fate as he died at 67 before the country was liberated. His legacy, of course, has never been respected but rather denounced by the descendants of the country. What he studied and believed was thrown aside because what he prayed for was not out of loyalty to his nation.

A significant teaching is passed down to us about “studying destiny.” One should never try to take advantage of it, nor neglect good deeds.

Are you interested in learning more about the

ancient Chinese teachings, the “Four Pillars of

Destiny” and Oriental ways of fortunetelling or

fortunetellers? Janet teaches saju for the public

at Seoul National University of Education. For

further information, visit Janet’s website at

www.sajufortuneteller.modoo.at or her blog,

https://blog.naver.com/janet_shin. You can also

contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin@

hotmail.com. The writer is the author of

“Life’s Secrets.”