Ku Sang et al / 구상 / 2005 / KDC구분 > literature > Korean Literature > Korean Poetry > 20th century poetry > 1945-1999

Poetry. Asian Studies. To celebrate the first anniversary of his death, a book of selected poems by the late Ku Sang (1919-2004) has been published by Seoul Selection in English translation. Translated by Brother Anthony of Taize at Sogang University, the book contains a total of 99 poems arranged not in chronological order, but under five major themes: Mystery of Meeting, River, Fields, Sin and Grace, and Eternity Today. This book includes some rare black-and-white photos of Ku, including those taken with fellow writers, with social dignitaries, and in his private library. Ku pursued his own aesthetic sense based on Christianity while incorporating traditional Korean thought as well as Zen Buddhism and the Taoist philosophy of Lao Zi and Chuang Zi of ancient China. His work mostly searches for the meaning of human existence and the cosmos. Rather than focusing on poetic techniques, Ku used common expressions found in our daily lives that were nevertheless rich in meaning.