Multiply-Translated Modernity in Korea : Samuel Smiles’ Self-Help and its Japanese and Korean Translations
Journal Title: International Journal of Korean History - Year 2011, Vol 16, Issue 2
Abstract
During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the translation of the Western books was closely connected to East Asia’s modernity and nationalism. Choosing which foreign texts would be translated and in what way was also dominated by a “word-power relationship.” I apply the concept of “translated modernity” in China and Japan to the idea of multiply-translated modernity in colonized Korea, because translation of texts originated from relationships between the West and the East, between both China and Japan and Korea, between the colonizer (Japan) and the colonized (Korea), and in the process of translation and re-translation. Trough Self-Help and its translations into both Japanese and Korean, I have examined translators, readers, and the contents of this book, the so-called “modern hero.” The characteristics of multiply-translated modernity in Korea are like this: First, the translation of Western thought, sometimes combining it with traditional texts, was used by translators to invoke Korean modernity. Second, the needs and desires of Korean readers in the1910s were multiple, based on their social status and political opinions. Third, translated books were utilized for competing with imperialism in the spiritual domain as well as in the material domain. The notion of the hero was useful to resist imperialism in the spiritual domain and the notion of a “modern hero” specifically was useful in the material domain.
Authors and Affiliations
Si-hyun Ryu
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP26366
- DOI -
- Views 425
- Downloads 24
Coming Home: Finding Our Space of Innocence Through Sagŭk Films
The emergence of South Korea as an economic super power has coincided with the rise in popularity of the sagŭk film genre. This is surprising because, for decades, sagŭk, a genre of film set in the premodern era based on...
East Asian Regionalisms and Korea in the 1940’s
This paper seeks to consider the various types of regionalisms in East Asia during the 1940’s, and Korea’s position in the United States’ “Great China Policy” and demilitarization and democratization plans for Japan. Aft...
Na, Chŏl and the Characteristics of His National Movement
Na, Chŏl was an active participant in the anti‐Japanese rebellions who in his time was also involved in several diplomatic activities. Moreover, Na is also well known as the person who created the Taejong religion (Ta...
Gaochang Buddhism and the Silk Road
At the crossroads between the West and the East in ancient times, one point along the Silk Road was Gaochang (the Turpan basin in Xinjiang) which played an important role in cultural exchange and the spread of Buddhism....
Direction of Public Opinion during the Taehan Empire and the People’s Perception of Their Era during the Period of Russo-Japanese Conflict-With a special focus on the Hwangsŏng sinmun
There have been many studies conducted on the subject of how the Hwangsŏng sinmun attempted to use its articles to get the Korean population to support the notion of the forging of an alliance with Japan that was base...