Reading the Diary of Na Man'gap
The Diary of 1636: The Second Manchu Invasion of Korea was written by a Chosŏn dynasty official Na Man'gap (1592–1642) recorded the second Manchu invasion in his Diary of 1636, the only first-person account chronicling the dramatic Korean resistance to the attack. It is translated by George Kallander.
UCLA students offer their perspectives, reflections, and interpretations.
Illustrated Excerpts from the Diary of 1636
The Diary of 1636 is a collection of the translated diary entries of Na Man’gap during the Manchu invasion of the same year. Through the translations by George Kallander, we are introduced to Na Man'gap. Na was a scholar who most notably wrote about the Chosŏn war against the Manchu in 1636. His first-person account was in the form of a diary where he chronicled the war and the events around him.…
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The Diary of King Injo
Before the Second Attack
In class, we read a diary of Na Man’gap, a demoted member of the court who was with king Injo and the court when the Manchus attacked Korea. After reading his personal account of the second Manchu invasion, I was inspired to create my own rendition that took the perspective of Chosŏn’s king, Injo, who initially kept the Ming as an ally because of their help against the invasion from Japan.…
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Namhan Mountain Fortress
This is a painting of the Namhan Mountain Fortress (Namhan sansŏng),), which is the fortress where King Injo of Chosŏn and his soldiers took refuge during Second Manchu Invasion of Korea in 1636. The white snow against the dark tinted background evokes the cold and desolate winter, the time of year the invasion is taking place. This dark tone also represents feelings of despair and uncertainty as…
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