Queen In-mok. (Circa 1600 A.D.)
The second queen of King Sun-jo and mother of Prince Yung-chang, who was murdered by Kwang-hai. After the death of her son Queen In-mok lived alone for nineteen years. In the hope of finding peace she devoted herself to religious exercises. She copied the sacred Mita Book of the Buddha. This relic of her is still preserved at the Monastery of Yu-jom-sa in the Diamond Mountains. It is written in characters of gold. A note at the end says, “May my parents and my son Prince Yung-chang find eternal blessing in the world beyond by my having copied this.” She is mentioned as a “princess great in scholarship” and also as a poetess, but the following is the only authentic poem of hers which appears to survive.
The weary ox, grown old with years of toil,
Nods slowly off to sleep.
Poor, broken beast, chafed neck, torn skin, gaunt bones
And hooves worn down on miles of scorching stones!
Ploughing is over. Now the spring rains fall.
Why do they keep him tethered by this wall?
Why does his master strike him with the goad?
He could not carry one more brushwood load.
His eyes are frightened and his limbs recoil.
Helpless—for him I weep.
Who first taught men to use the cruel goad?