Eowudong or Uhwudong (어우동, 於宇同; 1440 - 18 October 1480), also known as Eoeuludong (어을우동, 於乙宇同), née Park (박, 朴), was a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n dancer, writer, artist, and poet from a noble family in the

Joseon Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...

of the 15th century. Most of her work has not been preserved.

Life

Born as Park Gu-ma (박구마, 朴丘麻), Uhwudong was from was a noble family of the Joseon Dynasty. She married Yi Dong, prince Taegang (태강수 이동, 泰江守李仝), the grandson of

King Taejong Taejong of Joseon (13 June 1367 – 8 June 1422), personal name Yi Bang-won ( Korean: 이방원; Hanja: 李芳遠), was the third ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the father of King Sejong the Great. Before ascending to the throne, he ...

. She was forced to divorce him on account of adultery charges and subsequently she became an active poet, writer, artist, and dancer. She was noted for her exceptional beauty, dancing, singing talent, poetry, quick wit and charm, and extraordinary intellect.

Sex scandal and execution

In 1480, she was put on trial for adultery. She was charged with having committed adultery with multiple male partners, including royal relatives, court officials and slaves.Pae-yong Yi:
Women in Korean History 한국 역사 속의 여성들
' During this time period, the position of women deteriorated in Korea with the introduction of Confucian gender segregation, and there was an increasing severity in the persecution of women who committed adultery, and particularly noblewomen. Several such cases are known, such as those of Yu Gam-dong, who was sentenced to become a slave

kisaeng Kisaeng (Hangul: 기생, Hanja: 妓生, RR: ''Gisaeng''), also called ginyeo (Hangul: 기녀, Hanja: 妓女), were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men ...

, and Geumeumdong and Dongja, both noblewomen who were punished for having committed adultery with male relatives. Yi Gu-ji was also an example of committing adultery. The case of Uhwudong was however the perhaps most infamous of all, and became a famous scandal involving many men of high standing. The case ended with her conviction and execution. The death penalty for female adultery was formally introduced by king

Jungjong of Joseon Jungjong of Joseon (16 April 1488 – 29 November 1544), personal name Yi Yeok (Korean: 이역; Hanja: 李懌), firstly titled Grand Prince Jinseong (Korean: 진성대군; Hanja: 晉城大君), was the 11th ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. ...

in 1513.

Family

* Father ** Park Yun-chang (박윤창, 朴允昌) * Mother ** Jeong Gwi-deok (정귀덕, 鄭貴德) (? - 20 June 1488) * Sibling(s) ** Older brother - Park Seong-geun (박성근, 朴成根) (? - 22 August 1488) * Husband ** Yi Dong (이동, 李仝) *** Father-in-law - Yi Jeong, Prince Yeongcheon (영천군 정) (1422 - ?) *** Mother-in-law - Princess Consort Kwon of the Yecheon Kwon clan (군부인 예천 권씨) * Children ** Daughter - Yi Beon-jwa (이번좌) ** Unnamed son

Works

Although only a handful of

sijo ''Sijo'' () is a Korean traditional poetic form that emerged in the Goryeo period, flourished during the Joseon Dynasty, and is still written today. Bucolic, metaphysical, and cosmological themes are often explored. The three lines average 14� ...

(formatted verse used in Korea, as in English sonnet) and

geomungo The geomungo (also spelled ''komungo'' or ''kŏmun'go'') or ''hyeongeum'' (literally "black zither", also spelled ''hyongum'' or ''hyŏn'gŭm'') is a traditional Korean plucked zither with both bridges and frets. ''Geomungo'' is a representative ...

pieces exist today, they nonetheless show skilled craftsmanship of words and musical arrangement. These verses hint at the tragedy of her lost loves. Some are also responses to numerous famous classic Chinese poems and literature.

Poems

��淚丁東夜氣淸 / The beads flow and illuminate the nightref>There is also a saying that this poet is not Uhwudong's poem. 玉淚丁東夜氣淸 / The beads flow like tears, illuminate the night 白雲高捲月分明 / The white clouds flow high, the moonlight is brighter. 間房叔謐餘香在 / Your scent remains in one small room. 可寫如今夢裏情 / I will be able to picture a dreamlike affection. ��馬臺空經幾歲 / How long has the Baekma-dae been empty?'' 白馬臺空經幾歲 / How many years passed the house been empty? 落花巖立過多時 / 'The stone with fluttering flowers(Nakwha-am)' spent many years standing. 靑山若不曾緘黙 / If the 'blue mountain(Cheong-san)' was not silent, 千古興亡問可知 / I would have been able to find out about the rising and falling of long time.

Legacy

Her personal life has become almost myth-like, having inspired novels, movies, TV series, operas, and numerous poets. After the destruction of the

in 1910, due to her renowned assertive and independent nature, she has become a modern popular cultural icon of

In popular culture

* Portrayed by

Lee Bo-hee Lee Bo-hee (born 25 May 1959) is a South Korean actress. Lee won a number of awards for her film roles in the 1980s, including Best New Actress for ''The Green Pine Tree'' at the 22nd Grand Bell Awards, Best Actress for '' Eoudong'' at the 22nd K ...

in the 1985 film '' Eoudong''. * Portrayed by Kim Muh-hee in the 1987 film ''

Yohwa Eoeuludong ''Yohwa Eoludong'' ( 요화 어을우동) is a 1987 South Korean film about the incredible life of Joseon-era kisaeng writer, artist and poet Uhwudong directed by Kim Gi-hyun and starring Kim Muh-hee. Plot summary The story follows Eoludong (U ...

''. * Portrayed by Kim Sa-rang in the 2007-2008 SBS TV series ''

The King and I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the childre ...

''. * Portrayed by Kang Eun-bi in the 2015 film ''Ownerless Flower Uhwudong''.

External links

어우동

왕가의 며느리였던 '어우동'은 어떤 스캔들? - 오마이뉴스
2012.03.01

References

{{authority control Year of birth unknown 1480 deaths Korean writers Korean female dancers Korean artists Kisaeng 15th-century Korean women writers 15th-century Korean writers 15th-century Korean painters People from North Chungcheong Province 1440 births Korean women poets Korean women writers 15th-century Korean poets 15th-century dancers 15th-century women singers Executed Korean women 15th-century executions People executed for adultery