Heo Nanseolheon Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Korean name
Heo Nanseolheon
Portrait of Heo Nanseolheon
Hangul	허 초 희
Hanja	許楚姬
Revised Romanization	Heo Chohui
McCune–Reischauer	Hŏ Ch'ohŭi
Art name
Hangul	허 난 설 헌
Hanja	許蘭雪軒
Revised Romanization	Heo Nanseolheon
McCune–Reischauer	Hŏ Nansŏrhŏn

In this Korean name, the family name is Heo.

Heo Nanseolheon (1563 – 19 March 1589) was an amazing Korean painter and poet from the mid-Joseon dynasty period. She was the younger sister of Heo Bong, who was a politician and writer. She was also the older sister of Heo Gyun, a famous writer who wrote The Tale of Hong Gildong. Heo Nanseolheon wrote about 200 poems in Chinese style (called hanshi). She also wrote two poems in hangul, the Korean alphabet, though some people aren't sure if she wrote those two.

Her Life Story
- Growing Up as Heo Cho-hui
- Her Marriage and Challenges
Her Family
Her Writings
- Famous Poems
Works
Images for kids
See also

Her Life Story

Growing Up as Heo Cho-hui

Before she was known as Heo Nanseolheon, her name was Heo Cho-hui (허초희, 許楚姬). She was born in Gangneung into a very important political family. Her father, Heo Yeop, was a respected scholar. Even though her father believed that men were more important than women, her older brother, Heo Bong, saw her talent. He helped her learn about literature and writing.

From a young age, Heo Cho-hui was known as a very gifted poet. When she was only eight, she wrote a poem called "Inscriptions on the Ridge Pole of the White Jade Pavilion in the Kwanghan Palace." People loved it so much that they called her an "immortal maiden." Her brother Heo Bong taught her Chinese writing and classic books.

Heo Bong was also a strong political thinker. He was sent away to a place called Kapsan for three years because of his political views. Her younger brother, Heo Gyun, was also a talented poet. He studied with Yi Tal, who was an expert in Tang poetry. Heo Gyun helped Heo Cho-hui with her education, especially after their older brother was exiled. Yi Tal also shared Tang poetry with her, which influenced her writing style.

Her Marriage and Challenges

Heo Cho-hui married Kim Seong-rip, the son of a government official. Sadly, her marriage was not a happy one. Her husband often left her alone to spend time with other women. She also had a difficult relationship with her mother-in-law.

She had two children, a girl and a boy. Both of her children died very young, which was a great sorrow for her. Not long after her older brother Heo Bong passed away, Heo Nanseolheon herself died from an illness. She was only twenty-seven years old.

Some experts believe that she lived with her brothers for a long time before getting married. They think she wrote many of her nature-themed poems during that time. After she married, her poems often showed sadness and the difficulties faced by married women. This is because she felt lonely and cut off from her literary friends.

Her Family

Heo Nanseolheon came from a large and important family. Here are some of her close relatives:

Father: Heo Yeob (허엽, 許曄) (1517 - 1580)
Mother: Lady Kim of the Gangneung Kim clan
Stepmother: Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan
Older half-brother: Heo Seong (허성, 許筬) (1548 - 1612)
Older brother: Heo Bong (허봉, 許篈) (1551 - 1588)
Younger brother: Heo Gyun (허균, 許筠) (1569 - 1618)
Husband: Kim Seong-rib (김성립, 金誠立) (1562 - 1592)
Children:
- A son, Kim Hui-yun, who died young.
- A daughter, who also died young.

Her Writings

Heo Nanseolheon asked for most of her writings to be burned after she died. Luckily, some of her poems were saved and collected in a book called Nansŏrhŏn chip in 1913. This collection has 211 poems written in different Chinese styles.

In her time, most "serious" writing in Korea was done in Chinese. Writing in hangul was not seen as important for deep thoughts. However, Heo Nanseolheon's poems are special because they cover many different topics. This is partly because her marriage changed her feelings and experiences a lot.

There are two poems in the collection written in hangul. Some scholars debate if she actually wrote them. The titles of these hangul poems are similar to two of her confirmed Chinese poems. However, recent studies have questioned if she truly wrote them.

Famous Poems

Here are some examples of Heo Nanseolheon's beautiful poems:

"Song of Autumn Night"

This poem shows her earlier style, which was full of imagination and vivid pictures.

秋夜曲
蟪蛄切切風瀟瀟
芙蓉香褪永輪高
佳人手把金錯刀
挑燈永夜縫征袍
玉漏微微燈耿耿
罹幃寒逼秋宵永
邊衣裁罷剪刀冷
滿窓風動芭蕉影

"Song of Autumn Night"

The grasshoppers chirp loudly; the wind blows softly.
The lotus flower's scent fades; the moon hangs high.
A beautiful woman holds a gold knife;
She lights her lamp, sewing a soldier's uniform all night.
The water clock ticks quietly; the lamp glows brightly.
Inside the tent, the cold autumn night feels endless.
When the soldier's clothes are finished, her scissors are cold.
Outside the window, the wind makes the banana tree shadows dance.

—Heo Nanseolheon

—Translated by Kuiwon

"The Young Seamstress"

This poem shows her sympathy for people who were not rich.

貧女吟
豈是乏容色
工鍼復工織
少小長寒門
良媒不相識
夜久織未休
戛戛鳴寒機
機中一匹練
終作阿誰衣
手把金翦刀
夜寒十指直
爲人作嫁衣
年年還獨宿

"The Young Seamstress"

How can this tired face be pretty?
I work at embroidery, then go back to weaving.
I grew up in a poor home,
So no matchmaker knows me.
All night I weave without stopping,
The loom goes clack-clack, clack-clack, a cold sound.
I weave a roll of cloth on the loom, and wonder
For whose house, whose daughter will it be a wedding dress?
With scissors in hand, I cut the cloth;
And though the night is cold, all ten fingers are stiff.
I make clothes for others who are getting married,
While year after year, I must sleep alone.

—Heo Nanseolheon

—Translated by David R. McCann

"Woman's Grievance"

This poem shows the sad feelings she had after her marriage.

閨怨
錦帶羅裙積淚痕
一年芳草恨王孫
瑤箏彈盡江南曲
雨打梨花晝掩門
月樓秋盡玉屛空
霜打蘆洲下暮鴻
瑤瑟一彈人不見
藕花零落野塘中

"Woman's Grievance"

My embroidered sash and silk skirt are wet with tears,
Every year, the fragrant plants mourn a prince.
On my lute, I play the South River Song until it ends;
Rain hits the peach blossoms, and the door stays shut all day.
Autumn ends at the moonlit house; its jade screen is empty.
Frost covers the reed island; wild geese land for the night.
I play my beautiful lute. No one sees me.
Lotus flowers fall into the pond.

—Heo Nanseolheon

—Translated by Yang-hi Cheo-Wall