Ajumma's Journal: spring

Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts

Monday, April 19, 2010

Quintessential Spring in Korea Photos

My posting on the Quintessential Winter in Korea Photos was also featured in Korea.net. Thought it was time to follow up with my choice of pics for spring.

1. Plowing the Fields - This one reminds me of a picture of Breughel's "Fall of Icarus" - Doesn't even need an image of a boy falling into the water in the far distance with the recent Cheonan tragedy still fresh in our minds.

2. Making Soybean Sauce- Children continue a spring tradition by learning to make gochujang. (Yonhap News)

3. Spring blossoms and Spring Fashion Catalogues: The new season heralds pastel blossoms and new fashion catalogues. Vogue Korea April 2010 has an editorial entitled "Will you Date Me?" with a decidedly retro and romantic look.

4. Outdoor traditional performances - "Nori" or folk music performers enthrall outdoor audiences as they welcome the return of spring. (KBS WORLD / Jang Jin-kyoung)

5. Hanja on Hanji - Calligraphy of couplets written on paper and then pasted on doors are another custom observed during Ipchun.

6. Spring cleaning - An annual community service at Gyeongbuk Palace by volunteers to spruce up the National Treasure. (KBS WORLD / Sung Dae-woo) From the KNTO website: "The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea will be holding a reenactment of Spring Cleaning at the royal palaces....The event aims to provide tourists with a chance to experience routine maintenance & cleanup activities, depicting palaces’ traditional preparation in welcoming in the spring." Click here for the schedule of events and hands-on experiences which will be held until 25th April.

7. Restoring the Grass - Workers at Seoul Plaza replace grass which was killed by the winter frost or damaged by the ice- skating rink set up in winter. (KBS WORLD / Jang Jin-kyoung)

8. Bring out the Masks - You know it's spring when face masks become fashionable in Korea with the scourge of yelllow dust blowing in from China.

9. Preparing Lotus Lanterns - If you visit Buddhist temples in spring, you're likely to come across ajummas making lotus lanterns in preparations for Buddha's birthday.

10. Savouring the Greens - Naeng-i, or shepherd's purse, Dallae or wild garlic, Ssuk or wormwood are among the spring herbs that Koreans can enjoy during this season.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Nature Plays Cat and Mouse With Korea's Weather Forecasters?

I used to trust the annual schedules that indicated the best times to visit different parts of Korea to see the cherry blossoms - didn't have problems in 2007 using the schedule posted on the KNTO website to plan my itinerary. But these days, it looks as if nature is making difficult the job of predicting when the cherry blossoms will appear. The discrepancy of more than a week is quite glaring and most inconvenient for those outside Korea who want to fly in specially to see these springtime flowers and to take part in the spring festivals. Now I wonder how much credence the autumn foliage schedule will have.

"What took you so long?" Cherry blossoms finally bloom at Yeouido around the 16th and 17th of March.

According to this 2010 schedule taken from the KNTO website, the cherry trees were expected to bloom around the 6th of April in Seoul.

sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/04/19/2010041900396.html

http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=&searchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=5&cid=970238&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Sombre Spring

The cherry blossoms are out in Jinhae but it may be a bittersweet sight for many, given the tragic loss of lives when the Cheonan naval boat sank. While some people may see the spring flowers as a sign of renewed life, the Japanese have had a long-standing fascination with the sakura as the blossoms symbolised the beauty and the brevity of life. The second view may prevail this season as a nation mourns the deaths of so many young men.

Caption from the JoongAng Daily: "Tourists admire cherry blossoms yesterday in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang, during the 48th Gunhangje, an annual cherry blossom festival. A number of events were canceled after the sinking of the Navy ship Cheonan. [NEWSIS]

source:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2918977

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Maehwa Festival

There are three places in South Korea where you have your fill of plum or apricot blossoms ( maehwa). Top of the list is the Gwangyang Festival in the southern province of Jeollanam-do. it will be held between the 13th and the 21st of March this year.

Reason to head south to Maehwa Village a.k.a. Seomjin Village near Gwangyang City? It has the reputation of possessing the highest number of Japanese apricot trees ( more than 100,000 trees apparently).

It's hard to imagine what life in this quiet village by the Seomjin River was like before Kim Ocheon brought the saplings from Japan to transplant them on the mountain slopes here around 1940. Other villagers soon caught the maehwa fever, continued his good work and now they can share the fruits ( literally and figuratively) with the rest of their countrypeople as well as tourists from around the world. We can now enjoy organic maekwa fruits as well as other related food and drink items made from the green variety known as Cheong-maesil.

If you have a car, take the scenic road which runs alongside National Road No. 19, with the Seomjingang River on its left. Don't forget to pack lots of film and batteries for your cameras as you're bound to get trigger happy capturing shot after shot of maehwa in all its pastel glory.

If you don't fancy sharing the joys of springtime with crowds of visitors, check out the second place which also has Japanese apricots at Bohae-maehwa (Japanese apricot) Farm in Yejeong-ri, Sani-myeon Haenam-gun, also in Jeollanam-do. It's the property of the Bohae Distillery Company with around 14,000 Japanese apricot trees and you're advised to phone the farm beforehand (☎061-532-4959) to check when exactly is the best time to visit.

It may be too late already to catch the blossoming of these flowers in Jeju Island but you may make a note to be there next year at Hueree Nature Farm which also has a mini maehwa fest. If the timing is off, at least you have a great picnic and enjoy the pastoral setting complete with farm animals.
Sources:
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=700154
http://www.gwangyang.go.kr/maehwa/

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Many-Splendoured Delights of Maehwa and Maesil

The plum blossom is not only pretty to look at but also pretty good for the body in more ways than one.

Koreans use the flowers ( maehwa) to make apricot flower tea while the dried fruits ( maesil) are used to make Japanese apricot tea. The fruits have high levels of citric acid which help to boost your energy levels.

The Chinese and Koreans have been tapping on the medicinal properties of the maesil for more than 3,000 years. They've found that it's useful for dealing with stomach ailments and digestive problems. It's also been claimed that it can fight sterility, cancer, epilepsy and haliotosis.

Maesil is reputed to have four times the amount of calcium which can be found in an apple. Its iron content is also much higher, besides being rich in magnesium and zinc.

Maesil-cha is a popular drink especially during summer while Maesil juice is sold as a health tonic. You can buy the concentrated syrup from supermarkets - just mix a few spoonfuls into water to enjoy a glass of Maesil juice at your own convenience.

If that's too tame for you, there's also Maesil ju (매실주). Some of the more well-known names for the plum wine are Mae Hwa Su, Mae Chui Soon, and Seol Joong Mae. The whole fruits are also included in the liquor bottles.

Apparently there's also chopped maesil mixed with gochujang (hot pepper sauce). Couldn't find a picture or Korean name for that dish but found on the KNTO website a picture of tteok shaped like maehwa.

sources:
http://discoverkorea.co.kr/bbs/zboard.php?id=gallery&page=2&category=&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&keyword=&prev_no=&sn1=&divpage=1
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/115_20399.html
http://www.invil.org/english/speciality/fruit/others/contents.jsp?con_no=841962&page_no=1
http://www.foodinkorea.org/eng_food/korfood/korfood9_2.jsp
http://www.momoy.com/2007/03/15/japanese-apricot-flower-festival/
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=969529
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/images/wallpaper/0811/paper0811_01_1024.jpg
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/culturenlife/culturenlife_tour_detail.htm?No=1351
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=292955
http://www.korea.net/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20090223002
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=41577
http://www.joonsfamily.com/lofiversion/index.php/t20373.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtFvdNZ1jwg
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/10/203_20685.html
http://www.goldeneagletrading.com/korea/korea.html
http://english.bohae.co.kr/main.php?act=MATCHSOON&PG=A07
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/10/123_26078.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prun_mume

Maehwa With Many A.K.A.s

What’s in a name? A lot of confusion when it comes to maehwa or maesil (hangul: 매실; hanja: 梅實) from the Rosaceae family.

Also known as prunus mume, Chinese plum, Japanese apricot, Japanese plum, and winter plum, it comes in a variety of colours as well, from pure white to red though the white ones seem more common in South Korea.

Flowers from this tree emerge in late winter ( end of January – early March) so they are regarded both as winter blossoms and harbingers of spring.

Traditionally, the maesil / maehwa is one of the “Three Friends in the Cold Season, “Sehansamu”; the other two are the pine tree and bamboo and it also appears as one of the “Four Noble Men” or “Sagunja”, alongside the orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo.

Plum Blossom Fan, Ink on paper fan, Late 19th century, Joseon Dynasty by Chong Tae-gyu (active ca. 1870), Korean Founders Society Purchase, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence P. Fisher.

Its delicate beauty which belies its hardy character is probably why it’s a popular subject in Korean art and literature.

Mother-of-pearl plum blossoms appear on the cover of a Gu-jeol-pan tray.

Just saw this photo featured in the JoongAng Daily - a timely reminder again of how the maehwa is a symbol of fortitude and endurance. Next posting: Food and drinks from the maehwa/ maesil.

Sources:

http://discoverkorea.co.kr/bbs/zboard.php?id=gallery&page=2&category=&sn=off&ss=on&sc=on&keyword=&prev_no=&sn1=&divpage=1
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/115_20399.html
http://www.invil.org/english/speciality/fruit/others/contents.jsp?con_no=841962&page_no=1
http://www.foodinkorea.org/eng_food/korfood/korfood9_2.jsp
http://www.momoy.com/2007/03/15/japanese-apricot-flower-festival/
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=969529
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/images/wallpaper/0811/paper0811_01_1024.jpg
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/culturenlife/culturenlife_tour_detail.htm?No=1351
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=292955
http://www.korea.net/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20090223002
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=41577
http://www.joonsfamily.com/lofiversion/index.php/t20373.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtFvdNZ1jwg
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/10/203_20685.html
http://www.goldeneagletrading.com/korea/korea.html
http://english.bohae.co.kr/main.php?act=MATCHSOON&PG=A07
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/10/123_26078.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume

http://www.korean-arts.com/paintings/plum_blossoms/plum_blossoms_3.htm
http://www.korean-arts.com/bowls_plates/Trays%20and%20Coasters/plum_blossoms_gu-jeol-pan.htm

In the Mood for Maehwa

Thinking of spring flowers reminds me of Iljimae - the TV drama series that features Lee Jun-ki in a Robin Hood type role and Park Hyo Shin's lovely ballad. I thought the main character used the branch of apricot blossom or Japanese apricot ( maehwa) as his signature simply because it reminded him of the apricot blossoms in his childhood home.

But I've just learnt that the mae-hwa is one of the few trees that can withstand the freezing temperatures in winter and so has become a symbol of fortitude and endurance. The elegant profile of the blossoms on the branches is also associated with the virtues of the nobility.

More on maehwa in the next posting but in the meantime, enjoy the theme song from this popular drama. Thanks to lolgalygal for putting it up on youtube.

source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtFvdNZ1jwg

Friday, March 5, 2010

Which Flower ALMOST Became The National Flower of Korea?

Turns out the azalea, another spring flower, lost out to the Rose of Sharon when it came to deciding which flower should have pride of place as the national symbol. Never mind. It has at least claim to be part of the national psyche as one of Korea's most famous and beloved poems, Azaleas, by the poet, Kim So-wol (1902-1934), For a fascinating article by Brother Anthony or An Sonjae on how the poem can be translated and interpreted in different ways, click here.

Meanwhile, here are two versions. The first is by Kim Jai-hiun.

If you go away,

sick of the sight of me,

I'll let you go without a word.
But I'll also gather by the armful
the azaleas flaming in Yaksan, Yongbyon
and scatter them in your path.
Tread gently
and lightly
as you pass.
If you go away,
sick of the sight of me,
I will weep no tears, though I die without you.

And here's the second by David McGunn:

When you turn away from seeing me
and go,
gently, without a word, I shall send you away.
From Mount Yak in Yôngbyôn,
Azaleas
I shall gather an armful and scatter them on your way.
Step after step away
on those flowers placed
before you, press deep, step lightly, and go.
When you turn away from seeing me
and go,
though I die, no, not a single tear shall fall.

Click here to hear the lyric set to music.

Probably the best way to enjoy these flowers is to head for the hills but if your ankles don't permit, then stick to the city parks as this plant can be seen in many parts of the country.

Or check out some of the springtime festivals in Korea which are dedicated to this flower.

Foreigners who are taught how to make Jindallae hwajeon (진달래 화전) a.k.a. azalea pancakes, should also be taught how to distinguish the edible common azalea ( Chamggot or true flower) from the poisonous royal azaleas which are named Gaeggot or dog flower.

These pretty Korean pancakes are made from kneaded glutinous rice flour and sugar, decorated with Rhododendron mucronulatum and pan-fried. No idea of they taste as good as they look. Hwajeon is usually served on Samjinal, the third day of the third lunar month. There's also a traditional alcoholic beverage using azalea blossoms, called Tugyonju. Has anyone out there tried the stuff?

Sources:

http://www.korea.net/News/issues/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20070429005&part=106&SearchDay=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea
http://www.foreston.go.kr/english/info/43jeam.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/02/169_12227.html
http://www.korea.net/kois/eng_vns_read.asp?movie_no=246
http://www.rhodyman.net/rarhodytox.html
http://english.seoul.go.kr/gtk/news/reports_view.php?idx=1104&cPage=41
http://english.tour2korea.com/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=530701
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Azalea
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/culturenlife/culturenlife_tour_detail.htm?No=1311
http://www.koreana.or.kr/months/news_view.asp?b_idx=533&lang=en&page_type=list
http://www.mcst.go.kr/english/issue/issueView.jsp?pSeq=1082
http://fulltilt.ncu.edu.tw/Content.asp?I_No=44&Period=4
http://www.korea.net/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20080408023&part=109&SearchDay=
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_6_6_1.jsp?sel=1&num=10&no=9
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Korean_pancake-Jindallae_hwajeon-02.jpg

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Make A Date With Forsythia

Call me a botanical snob, but I'm not crazy about forsythia. Its particular yellow hue doesn't really get me excited but obviously it's got a special place in the hearts of Seoulites who have adopted it as one of its city symbols.

Forsythias, 개나리(Gae Na Ri) , native flowers of Korea, have also become associated with the rejuvenation of love, thanks to a local legend about a poet. He was inspired to write the verse below when he found his faithful wife patiently waiting for him on his return from a long journey.

"In the late spring, the canaries come,

The forsythia fades and the apricots fall,

And in the bamboo shade of my mountain home,

Forever abides, my love, my all."

There are even some festivals dedicated to this spring flower -Yudalsan in Mokpo,Jeollanam-do ( for instance, has a Forsythia Festival. Eungbong-san, in Seoul also celebrates spring with its own forsythia festival in Seongdong-gu. For more information on spring festivals for 2010, click here.

What's interesting is that the flowers are one rare natural source of lactose ( milk sugar) which you usually only get from milk. Not sure if that discovery has led to any commercial application but apparently the fruit of the plant with its antibiotic properties, has been used traditionally to reduce fevers, swelling and eczema. Trust the Koreans to have developed a way to make liquor out of forsythia as well.

Koreans have found another use for the forsythia - the sticks are used to play a Korean string instrument called ajaeng. Some musicians these days, though, may prefer to use a horsehair bow instead of the stick as they think it produces a more mellow vibe.

If you are or plan to be in Korea this month, check out this chart below to plan your date with the forsythia.

For other articles on spring flowers, please click below:
posting on magnolias
posting on cherry blossoms

source:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=966240
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/03/115_20322.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/11/153_42923.html
http://www.korea.net/News/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20080502018&part=109&SearchDay=
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsythia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajaeng
http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/outdoorliving/article/414774--forsythia-triumphs-over-snobbery
http://www.korea.net/korea/e_movie.asp?code=W0701&id=791&kdepth2=Festivals&Movies&page=21
http://www.mcst.go.kr/english/issue/issueView.jsp?pSeq=1082
http://www.ecplaza.net/news/13/11230/koreas_prime_springtime.html
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=n3MgSchHBjYC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq=forsythia+%2B+korean+legend&source=bl&ots=RvYWt_PMx1&sig=7SABOj8a6-X9uM4EuShHbrsVrPo&hl=en&ei=YRSPS7ffCIy_rAe8zaSLCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=forsythia%20%2B%20korean%20legend&f=false

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Much Ado About Magnolias

During my first visit to Korea during spring ( my very first and only experience of spring in 2007), my mind was on cherry blossoms. But the first thing that caught my eye on the first day of that visit was a leafless tree just outside the main temple of Donghak-sa with elegant white blooms. Didn't know it at that time but I soon learnt I had just seen my first magnolias.

목련꽃 "Mongnan - kkot" a.k.a. magnolias have started appearing in places like Jeju

- a sign that spring's just around the corner.

Here are some interesting things which I've just learnt about these "aristocrats of ancient lineage" as described by E.H. 'Chinese' Wilson. It's hard to believe but these trees existed even before the bees ( 20 -95 million years ago) so the flowers developed pretty hardy petals so that beetles could crawl into them to aid in pollination. The ancestors of these trees have survived ice ages and continental drifts and now their progeny are scattered all over parts of Asia as far south as Sulawesi and as far west as Cuba.

Who's lucky enough to live in an apartment next to a magnolia tree?

Magnolias also have a great track record as hardy trees which can deal effectively with air pollution so it’s not surprising to see them in town gardens. They have the enviable distinction of looking even more resplendent as they get older. Hmmm, maybe I should be reincarnated as a magnolia tree with creamy white or yellow or magenta blooms in my next life. ( just kidding).

Found this other comment by Orson S. Card which gave me pause for thought: .".. magnolias shed worse than cats. And not delicate little brown pine needles. These are big sloppy brown leaves, thick as cardboard and about the size of a brochure. On top of that, they drop ugly cones that are big enough you can sprain your ankle if you step on one in the dark." The Japs wouldn't agree with Mr. Card as they use the leaves of the magnolia obovata to wrap food and as cooking dishes in certain parts of the country.

Aside from looking extremely decorative, magnolia trees have proven rather useful. The Chinese have used the fragrant bark of M.officinalis ( hou po OR 厚朴) as part of their traditional medicine as it's believed to have anti-anxiety properties and may help to reduce allergic and asthmatic reactions. Buddhist monks in Haeinsa have turned the wood of silver magnolias into printing blocks for their sutras.

They've also been adopted as symbols - the white magnolia of Daejeon represents friendship while Siebold's Magnolia is the national flower of North Korea. The flowers stand for grace and elegance in the hearts and minds of most Koreans but for many Budhhists, the magnolias symbolize the attainment of nirvana after long and painful suffering.

Unfortunately my few pics of the magnolias didn't turn out so great with the overcast sky and the poor timing in the evening. So I'm grateful to those who've posted these lovely pics on the Net - thanks for sharing these magnolias with the rest of us!

sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT5wCejDrPU
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/gardening/full-of-eastern-promise-magnolias-are-a-magnificent-harbinger-of-summer-anna-pavord-takes-great-pleasure-in-finding-the-right-plant-to-suit-her-dorset-garden-744573.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/12/162_41949.html
http://www.lifeinkorea.com/travel/skyongsang/tripitaka.htm
http://www.mortonarb.org/tree-collections/taxonomic-groups/flowering-trees/magnolia.html
http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2009-06-14.shtml
http://www.gaok.or.kr/eng/e03_infor/infor060.jsp

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Ipchun

Thursday is Ipchun or the official beginning of spring according to the lunar calendar used by the Chinese and Koreans.``Ipchun'' is one of the 24 seasonal divisions that mark the start of spring. It is characterised by mild easterly winds chasing away the winter frost, bugs awakening from their long winter sleep and fish shrugging off their sluggish habits to swim more actively beneath the icy layers of lakes and ponds.

Apricot blossoms are another sign that warmer spring days are around the corner.

Some ladies admiring pussy willows in Busan

A foreigner maintains a Korean tradition. Koreans used to stick papers called ``ipchuncheob'' on the ceiling or above entry ways to welcome the new season. The papers would carry hopes for the new year such as "Ipchun daegil" meaning "Great Fortune in Spring" or "Spring Leads to Paths of Greatness" OR ``Geongangdagyeong '' which stands for "Happiness and Fortune Arriving With Spring".

Cute kindy kids in hanbok, posting couplets written in hanja at the gates of the Namsangol Hanok Village in downtown Seoul. The greetings read, ‘Welcome Spring With All Blessings,’ and ‘Spring With All Fortune.’

from Korea Times, Photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Ipchun is also the time when halmeonis and ajummas get together to make doenjang ( fermented soypaste).

Can you feel the east wind blowing and hear the ice melting now?

Sources:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/02/05/2010020500249.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/02/04/2010020400309.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/02/115_38787.html
http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20090130013&part=106&SearchDay=
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2009/02/115_38907.html
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/12/153_39068.html

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