Cho Chi-hun

Cho Chi-hun (; December 3, 1920 – May 17, 1968) was a Korean poet, critic, and activist.

Biography Cho Chi-hun was born on December 3, 1920, in Yeongyang, Keishōhoku Province, Korea, Empire of Japan. His birthname was Cho Dong-tak. He graduated from Hyehwa College in 1941 with a degree in Liberal Arts. He taught at Odaesan Buddhist College and in 1946, after Korean Liberation, founded the Association of Young Writers (Cheongnyeon munhakga hyeophoe). Cho also served as president of the Society of Korean Poets (Hanguk Siin hyeophoe) and from 1947 served as a professor at Korea University. Cho Chi-hun was also the first head of the Korea University National Culture Research Institute. He died on May 17, 1968.

The origin of the dance antedates the introduction of Buddhism into Korea and expresses the traditional Korean philosophy of the harmony of heaven and earth. Popularly, however, it is taken to represent the inner conflict of an apostate nun, or the sorrow of a beautiful woman's renunciation of her erotic past, which the poet references. The dancer Han Yong-Suk used to claim that it was her performance which inspired the poet, after he had watched it many times.

Works in Translation Brother Enemy

Works in Korean (partial) Criticism A Theory on History of Korean Culture Anthologies The Blue Deer Short Lines over Grasses:풀잎 단장(斷章) Selected Poems of Cho Chi-hun Stand Before History Lingering Resonance Stylish Antique Costumes:고풍의상(古風依裳)

Essays Leaning against the Window Poetry and Life Theory of Integrity Aesthetics of Rocks.

Awards Literature Prize of the Free Writers' Association, 1956