Ri Si Hang and his poem

Once Ri Si Hang (1672-1736) worked as an official of Songgyungwan, an official of the Ministry of Culture and Education and a headman of Tokchon county. Later, he was shunned by the bureaucrats of the ruling faction since he had brought the counterplan regarding the defense of the northwestern districts before the feudal government. He retired from the political life and moved to Mangyongdae in Pyongyang. He studied the history and culture of Pyongyang and composed many poems showing a great pride that he lived in Pyongyang.

The content of his poem “Mt. Kumsu” is as follows:

Frost fell overnight and Mt. Kumsu is covered with the fallen leaves.

It looks like a cirrus intortus which Vega is on.

The people in Sogyong have enjoyed music generation after generation.

It looks as if all of them wore their dancing dress.