The calligrapher's daughter_ a novel - Eugenia Kim [187]
Meiji (MAY-EE-jee). Reign/era name of the period when the 122nd emperor of Japan, Mutsuhito, was in power, 1868–1912.
moksa (MOHK-sah). Minister, reverend. With the honorific suffix, Moksa-nim (mohk-sah-NEEM).
mudang (MOO-dahng). Female shaman who acts as intercessor between humans and the spirit world.
nuna (NOO-nah). Sister. How a male sibling addresses his older sister (versus unnee, used by female siblings).
olgae (OHL-geh). Sister-in-law. How a female addresses her younger sister-in-law; versus hyung-nim, how a female addresses her older sister-in-law.
omana (OH-mah-nah). Exclamation of surprise or alarm.
ondol (OHN-dohl). Literally, “warm stone.” A type of granite and concrete flooring interlaced with flues for heating.
oppa (OHP-bah). Brother. How a female sibling addresses her older brother (versus hyung, how a male addresses his older brother). With the honorific, oppa-nim. Revised romanization: obba.
Sam-il (SAHM-eel). March First, a Korean holiday commemorating the national independence movement’s demonstration on that day in 1919.
Showa (SHOW-ah). Reign/era name of the period when the 124th emperor of Japan, Hirohito, was in power, 1926–89.
sijo (SEE-joh). Classic Korean form of poetry consisting of three lines, each with fourteen to sixteen syllables, with the middle line the longest. The first line presents the theme or idea, the second line develops, challenges or counters it, and the third line resolves the poem, sometimes with a surprise ending.
Sollal (SOH-lahl). New Year’s Day.
ssi-abbuh-nim (SHEE-ah-buh-neem). Father-in-law, as used by a female, with the honorific suffix -nim. (A man would call his father-in-law Jangin-eorun.) Revised romanization: ssi-abeonim.
ssi-umma-nim (SHEE-uh-muh-neem). Mother-in-law, as used by a woman, with the honorific suffix -nim. (A man would call his mother-in-law Jangmonim.) Revised romanization: ssi-eomeonim.
sunsaeng-nim (sun-sayng-NEEM). Teacher, with the honorific suffix -nim.
Taegeukgi (TEH-guk-EE). Korean flag. Designed by Bak Yeong-hyo, the Korean ambassador to Japan, and proclaimed by King Gojong to be the official flag of Korea on March 6, 1883. Taegeuk refers to the red and blue symbol in the center, which represents the origin of all things in the universe.
Taisho (Tah-EE-show). Reign/era name of the period when the 123rd Emperor of Japan, Yoshihito, was in power, 1912–26.
umma-nim (uh-muh-NEEM). Mother, with the honorific suffix -nim. Revised romanization: eomeonim.
unnee (UN-nee). Sister. How a female sibling addresses her older sister (versus nuna, used by males). Revised romanization: eonni.
won (WON). Unit of Korean currency issued by the Bank of Joseon during the occupation. Its value was equal to the Japanese yen. Won and yen are different pronunciations of the same Chinese character.
yah (YAH). Familiar and casual form of address similar to “hey.” Also an expressive sound like “ah” or “oh.”
yangban (YAHNG-bahn). Aristocratic class, or an aristocrat, through heredity.
yuhbo (yuh-boh). Familiar way of saying “hey you.” Also a term of endearment when used between spouses. Revised romanization: yeobo.
Acknowledgments
In addition to my parents’ papers, numerous resources helped inform this novel. Among them are works by JaHyun Kim Haboush, A New History of Korea by Ki-baik Lee, and Sources of Korean Tradition edited by Yongho Ch’oe, Peter H. Lee and Wm. Theodore de Bary. Three books were instrumental in shaping the Historical Note: A Concise History of Korea by Michael J. Seth, Everlasting Flower: A History of Korea by Keith Pratt and Korea Between Empires: 1895–1919 by Andre Schmid.
The four illustrations displayed on the title and part title pages were painted by my mother, Alice Hahn Hyegyung Kim. Unlike her father and brother who studied painting in their youths, my mother deferred pursuing her love of