Sijo: Learn to Write Korean Poetry!
What is Sijo?
Sijo (시조) is a three-line form of Korean verse poetry, popular among nobility during and after the Goryeo period. This style often features romantic, abstract, natural, or religious topics and models a set pattern.
The first line presents the topic or story, the second extends this theme, and the third closes the poem. Typically, the second line or beginning of the third line introduces a twist or turn.
Each line is composed of 14-16 syllables, the entire poem totaling 44-46 syllables. The first half of each line should have 6-9 syllables, and the second half should have 5 or more, with a pause dividing the two halves.
Examples of Sijo
Now that we have a general overview of sijo, let’s look at some examples.
Below is a sijo by renowned Korean classical poet, Hwang Jin Yi (1522–1565):
Oh that I might capture the essence of this deep midwinter night
And fold it softly into the waft of a spring-moon quilt
Then fondly uncoil it the night my beloved returns.
Below is a well-known sijo by Yun Seon Do (1587–1671):
You ask how many friends I have? Water and stone, bamboo and pine,
The moon rising over the eastern hill is a joyful comrade.
Besides these five companions, what other pleasure should I ask?
Between the Lines
Though some poetic nuances and syllables are lost in translation, Yun Seon Do’s sijo offers a clear example of syllables and structure for English speakers and writers.
// = pause in the center of each line
You ask how many friends I have? // Water and stone, bamboo and pine, (8//8 → 16 syllables)
The moon rising over the // eastern hill is a joyful comrade. (6//9 → 16 syllables)
Besides these five companions, // what other pleasure should I ask? (7//8 → 15 syllables)
Counting the syllables in each line, we notice the first two lines contain 16 syllables, and the third line contains 15, fitting into the 14-16 syllable format. The first halves of each line has 6-9 syllables, and the second halves have 5 or more, with a distinct pause dividing each line.
I would pinpoint the poem’s turn in Line 3, “Besides these five companions,” which reveals the speaker’s preference for nature over societal acceptance. The final, satisfied question, “what other pleasure should I ask?” (Yun, line 3), both mirrors and counters the beginning question, “You ask how many friends I have?” (Yun, line 1), concluding the poem nicely.
Picking Up the Pen
People often perceive poetry as a one-and-done, over-dramatic outpouring of emotion. However, like any other art form, poetry requires diligence, revision, and practice.
To put this into action, I tried my hand at writing a sijo.
First, I formulated a theme or topic. What time, place, season, or setting do you want your sijo to take place? I remembered that sijos span many topics, and, inspired by Yun Seon Do’s poem, I drew from nature. From my desk, I heard the cicadas’ shrill rattling rhythm, an intriguing sound. I found my topic right outside my window!
Second, I planned the “twist” in my poem. The Writer’s Digest describes the essence of a sijo twist very well: “Decide what you want the theme of your poem to be, and then think about what the opposite of that would be—that’s your anti-theme, or “twist.”’ Taking this piece of advice, I found the cicadas’ rattling irritating in the evening, which I detailed in my first line. The opposite of this irritation would be a relaxing or soothing effect. Though the cicadas can be annoying, I cannot sleep soundly without their rattling noises. I found my twist!
Third, I needed to find a satisfying conclusion. Falling asleep seemed like a calming and comforting close to my sijo. I found my ending!
Fourth, I broke down my sijo structure. For clarity, I followed the structure mentioned in the “What is Sijo?” section: 6-9 syllables in the first half of each line and 5+ in the last half, divided by a pause. I also made sure each lines was between 14-16 syllables. It can be tricky to fit syllables into this structure, and I ended up revising my second line over ten times! However, don’t be discouraged; your finished sijo will be worth it!
Finally, it’s time to write!
Cicadas roar from their perch, // high in the trees, hidden in leaves (7//8 → 15 syllables)
Leaves thunder, ringing my ears, // and stirs grumbles, stinging my throat, (7//8 → 15 syllables)
Until I close my eyes to sleep, // the storm now a lullaby. (8//7 --> 15 syllables)
Here’s my final sijo:
Cicadas roar from their perch, high in the trees, hidden in leaves
Leaves thunder, ringing my ears, and stirs grumbles, stinging my throat,
Until I close my eyes to sleep, the storm now a lullaby.
-Madeline Chun, 전 나영
Passing On the Pen
Now that you’ve learned about sijo and the writing process, it’s your turn to write a sijo! Remember, sijo can be about any topic, and you can certainly draw inspiration from your surroundings.
If you would like to share your sijo, check back here on September 1st for an exciting announcement!
Resources
Below are some resources used to write this post that may be helpful to you. I would highly recommend exploring the Sejong Society* resources if you are interested in learning more about sijo.
Image Source:
Korean Literature, upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Middle_Class_in_Joseon.jpg.
