Calligraphy by An Jung-geun

"Calligraphy by An Jung-geun – Gyeollisauigwiwisumyeong" is one of a group of works of calligraphy that An Jung-geun (1879–1910) brushed in prison after shooting dead Ito Hirobumi, the mastermind behind Japan's invasion of Joseon, at Harbin Station in Manchuria on 26 October 1909, before his death at Lüshun Prison on 26 March 1910. These jointly designated works were written in February and March of 1910; on the left of each is written "Gyeongsul, the 2nd (or 3rd) month, written in Lüshun Prison by An Jung-geun, a man of Korea," followed by an impression of his palm used as a seal. Much of the content is instructive, drawn from the Analects and the Records of the Grand Historian, alongside passages expressing his own state of mind, remarks on the changing times, warnings to Japan, and honorific pen-names written out for certain individuals. Most of the pieces were given to Japanese officials of the time, such as prosecutors and prison guards. Among them, the piece known by the phrase "Yokbo dongyang seon-gae jeongnyak si gwasil gi chuhoe hageup" was given to a man named Orita Tadasu, who had served in the Russo-Japanese War and afterwards worked at Lüshun Prison; when his family returned to Japan after Liberation on 15 August 1945, it passed to his nephew, Orita Kanji, who donated it to Dankook University on 20 February 1989. The piece known as "Eonchungsin haengdokgyeong manbanggahaeng" was donated to the Society for the Veneration of Patriot An Jung-geun in October 2002 by the grandson of a man who had served as a guard at Lüshun Prison during An's imprisonment. The pieces "Gukga anwi nosimchosa" and "Wiguk heonsin gunin bonbun" bear the inscription "presented to Prosecutor Yasuoka" at the front, and were given to the prosecutor involved in the case at the time. Gyeollisa ui gwiwi sumyeong (見利思義見危授命): on seeing gain, think of righteousness; when facing danger, offer up one's life.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seo-gu, Busan

Designation

Treasure · 보물