Selection from the Korean poet's epic 30-volume series of books featuring a poem about every person he has known in his 81-year life.
Ko Un Book order
August 1, 1933
Jiří Kolář (1913–2002) was a pivotal figure in post-war Czech art, known for his relentless experimentation and boundary-pushing approach to traditional artistic forms. A leading proponent of Art Informel and a founder of the UB 12 group, Kolář's work was deeply influenced by his profound interest in language, poetry, and the visual dimensions of communication. His artistic practice was characterized by the innovative use of "overprints" and techniques of transformation and recombination, where he merged diverse materials and imagery to forge novel meanings and perspectives. Kolář's enduring legacy lies in his persistent drive for artistic innovation and his significant synthesis of literature and visual arts.
- 2015
- 2012
First Person Sorrowful
- 152 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Ko Un has long been a living legend in Korea, both as a poet and as a person. Allen Ginsberg once wrote, 'Ko Un is a magnificent poet, combination of Buddhist cognoscente, passionate political libertarian, and naturalist historian.'
- 2012
This Side of Time: Poems by Ko Un
- 128 pages
- 5 hours of reading
Ko Un writes spare, short-line lyrics direct to the point, but often intricate in both wit and meaning. --Gary Snyder
- 2006
Flowers of a Moment
- 140 pages
- 5 hours of reading
Featuring 180 brief zen poems, this collection showcases the profound simplicity and spiritual depth of Korea's most cherished poet, celebrated for his evocative language and contemplative themes. As a four-time Nobel Prize nominee, the poet's work invites readers to explore the nuances of life, nature, and the human experience through a lens of tranquility and insight. Each poem serves as a meditative reflection, encouraging mindfulness and a deeper connection to the world around us.
- 2005
Little Pilgrim
- 384 pages
- 14 hours of reading
Focusing on the journey of self-discovery, the narrative follows Sudhana as he embarks on a quest for truth, inspired by the Gandavyuha scripture. Over two decades, he encounters a diverse array of teachers, including humans, animals, and spirits, while exploring breathtaking landscapes such as mountains, valleys, and villages. This adventure mirrors the themes found in Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, blending profound philosophical insights with an engaging exploration of life's challenges and revelations.
- 2005
Ten Thousand Lives
- 364 pages
- 13 hours of reading
Born in 1933 in a small rural village in Korea’s North Cholla Province, Ko Un grew up in a Japanese-controlled land that was soon to experience the horrors of the Korean War. He became a Buddhist Monk in 1952, and began writing in the late 1950s. Ten Thousand Lives is his major, ongoing work, which began during his imprisonment, with a determination to describe every person he had ever met. Maninbo , as it is known in Korea, is now in its 20th volume, and he has plans for five more volumes before its completion. The selection in this volume—from the first 10 volumes—represents one of the major classics of twentieth-century Korean literature, published for the first time in English.
