Name a new fact your learned about Korean culture from reading the book

[Claudia DCD]

What I'm noticing in this book is the tons of research that must have gone into this time period in Korean history. From styles of dress to what inhabits the gardens, let alone historical events. What's one fact you learned about Korea or this time period through reading this book that you hadn't known beforehand? Or, what is a fact about Korean culture that will help readers understand the story better?

I'll name the obvious: I didn't know 1912 was the year of the Rat. My western influence wanted 1918, the time of the last pandemic, to be the year of the rat, matching it to symbolism of the plague. But that must be disrespectful to those actually born in the year of the rat and its symbolism of plenty and never going hungry. It's also a lot more complicated than that, as the book shows. It's the various symbolisms tying together the time of day and the season. I wonder if there were fortune tellers in Korea that helped navigate the complicated omens of each person's birth.

[Twylla]

Lady Sougyon was glad she had a son because a son would stay in her life, whereas a daughter would not. Daughters evidently just disappear into their own families and their husbands' families. In America, we have the opposite tendency. There is an old saying "A daughter is a daughter all of her life; a son is a son until he takes a wife." I thought that was an interesting contrast.

[Book Lover Jack]

How extremely shameful and regretful divorce was especially for the yangban. Divorce is generally looked down upon but the unbearable 'love life' Embon's mother had to endure to prevent divorce was just too much.

[Sou Hi]

What I'm noticing in this book is the tons of research that must have gone into this time period in Korean history. From styles of dress to what inhabits the gardens, let alone historical events. What's one fact you learned about Korea or this time period through reading this book that you hadn't known beforehand? Or, what is a fact about Korean culture that will help readers understand the story better?

I'll name the obvious: I didn't know 1912 was the year of the Rat. My western influence wanted 1918, the time of the last pandemic, to be the year of the rat, matching it to symbolism of the plague. But that must be disrespectful to those actually born in the year of the rat and its symbolism of plenty and never going hungry. It's also a lot more complicated than that, as the book shows. It's the various symbolisms tying together the time of day and the season. I wonder if there were fortune tellers in Korea that helped navigate the complicated omens of each person's birth.

Chinese Zodiac is actually quite famous in Asia. It may sound strange to Westerners, but it's a traditional thing in China, Korea, Japan, and other Eastern countries. It's similar to the twelve astrological signs, but it uses 12 animals (both real and imaginary) instead of 12 constellations. The signs will differ a bit according to each country's beliefs. Based on their own characteristic, these animals represent how others perceive you or how you present yourself. Of course, Asian fortunetellers would employ the signs for many things, such as predicting one's future, finding a good day for marriages, moving, or constructing. Still, that's their specialty which requires advanced research. If you are interested, you can search for this "Chinese Zodiac" term on Google. By the way, last year (2020) is the year of the Rat, too .

[Eutoc]

I never knew Korea was oppressed in the hands of Japan in the early 20th century. The history shared in the book was quite captivating.

[enna_idEsrun]

Learning that Japanese ancestors were in fact Korean aristocrats was an interesting fact that came out in the novel, I thought. More interesting was that while this truth might have brought peace, harmony and respect between them as a people, it divided them instead.

[lavkathleen]

The gender norms! I guess I shouldn't be surprised about the intensity of women oppression around that time, but I wasn't expecting them to be trained to always look down during the wedding! Not to mention the laws regarding inheritance. They basically have nothing unless they marry a good man. It's a tragedy.

[Bridgetbruso99]

I had no idea that they put wax on the bride's eyes on the day of the wedding so she cannot open them!! That sounds so dangerous! I wonder how many of them still do this and how many brides have to go to the hospital bc of wax getting in their eye on their wedding day.

[Ahbed Nadir]

I learnt about the palza which were basically Japanese omens or curses that directed their destinies from when they're born till death. I learnt that they put great stock in the timing of birth as they believe certain dates or times bring wealth whereas others signify bad omens.

[Fliesie01]

To me, it was interesting to learn that the bride should bow before all the members of her new in-laws and in a specific order. It was interesting to read that the prince had it perfectly planned that his daughter, a princess, would not bow to anyone. Therefore breaking traditions.

[Atieno Magero]

I never knew that Korea was under Japanese rule for a time. I discovered this fact from this book.

[bardhaselmani]

I personally learned so much.
I am a European so I am quite uninformed about Asian history in general.
I learned about marriage rituals for example which was interesting.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

The strained relationship between Japan and Korea. I knew that Japan was not "the good guy" in history, but I never new that Korea suffered so much from its oppression.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

What I'm noticing in this book is the tons of research that must have gone into this time period in Korean history. From styles of dress to what inhabits the gardens, let alone historical events. What's one fact you learned about Korea or this time period through reading this book that you hadn't known beforehand? Or, what is a fact about Korean culture that will help readers understand the story better?

I'll name the obvious: I didn't know 1912 was the year of the Rat. My western influence wanted 1918, the time of the last pandemic, to be the year of the rat, matching it to symbolism of the plague. But that must be disrespectful to those actually born in the year of the rat and its symbolism of plenty and never going hungry. It's also a lot more complicated than that, as the book shows. It's the various symbolisms tying together the time of day and the season. I wonder if there were fortune tellers in Korea that helped navigate the complicated omens of each person's birth.

As far as I know, rats are not a bad omen because it's considered that they only come to houses that are bountiful. But I could be wrong. What caught my attention was the incredible importance that in-laws have in the family structure, to the point where Prince Aansoon chose an orphan to marry his daughter.

[Sararob06]

I learned that Korean surnames are traditionally monosyllabic. I’m not terribly familiar with Asian culture and know very little about traditional naming standards from any region. I found the part about their disdain for the multisyllabic Japanese names interesting also.