Yi Saik. (1328—1395)
Though an orthodox Confucian, his finest poems deal with the teachings of Taoism. The following example illustrates the Korean attitude towards the world of immortals “beyond the Pong-nai Hills.”
Across the dusty market place One came
With mountain herbs to sell and gourds of wine.
He raised his hand toward the Pong-nai Hills
And sang to me—
“Why do you linger here?
Why do you tend the fires of greed for gain?
Quench them forever and set forth with me.
Shall I not teach you from the Blue Jade Book?[7]
Drink but one goblet of the Moonlight Gem[8]
And, in the perfumed vapor of such wine,
This earth will vanish like a lustful dream.
Then you will climb the dawn heights of Taisan
Until the ocean seems a rounded disc
Far, far below. Your eyes will learn to read
Footprints of days that now you think are lost.
Then you will learn that nothing comes or goes
Excepting dreams which vanish into dreams.
You will be as the changeless pine that stands
Untouched by time upon the river brink.
But they who linger in the market place
Are but as reeds that fade when summer goes.”