(Translation) Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim

[James Nicoll]

Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim (Translated by Anton Hur)

Three strangers unite against an oppressive empire.

https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/rage

[quadibloc]

No doubt the comment in your review,

"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."

was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.

I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

The People's Republic of China, which was a strong supporter of the
nightmare that is North Korea.

The United States of America, since it has influenced South Korean
culture greatly, leading to several Christian denominations being
active in the country.

Of course, though, the USA is not an evil empire.

John Savard

[Paul S Person]

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.
The People's Republic of China, which was a strong supporter of the
nightmare that is North Korea.
The United States of America, since it has influenced South Korean
culture greatly, leading to several Christian denominations being
active in the country.
Of course, though, the USA is not an evil empire.

Not yet, anyway.

[Robert Woodward]

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

[James Nicoll]

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

[Chris Buckley]

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

Chris

[Tony Nance]

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

Are you maybe looking at this on your phone? On my 15" laptop screen,
it's pretty clearly labeled - "Japan and Korea" in the lower left, for
example. "Sea of Japan" is larger, just "northeast" of the center, and
the letters J A P A N are larger yet, along the right/east boundary of
Japan.

Tony

[Chris Buckley]

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

Are you maybe looking at this on your phone? On my 15" laptop screen,
it's pretty clearly labeled - "Japan and Korea" in the lower left, for
example. "Sea of Japan" is larger, just "northeast" of the center, and
the letters J A P A N are larger yet, along the right/east boundary of
Japan.

Hmm... Old equipment on both ends. 27 inch HDMI monitor, but one of the
first ones with undoubtedly lower resolution. And my eyes on the other end
are getting poorer; cataract surgery is looming and it's getting difficult
to read hard copy books. I do most of my reading on this monitor these days.

Chris

[Paul S Person]

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by Tony Nance

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

Are you maybe looking at this on your phone? On my 15" laptop screen,
it's pretty clearly labeled - "Japan and Korea" in the lower left, for
example. "Sea of Japan" is larger, just "northeast" of the center, and
the letters J A P A N are larger yet, along the right/east boundary of
Japan.

Hmm... Old equipment on both ends. 27 inch HDMI monitor, but one of the
first ones with undoubtedly lower resolution. And my eyes on the other end
are getting poorer; cataract surgery is looming and it's getting difficult
to read hard copy books. I do most of my reading on this monitor these days.

May your surgery go well!

[Paul S Person]

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

The left map appears to be showing various political entities in the
general area of Korea. It might be useful with some Korean historical
movies set a century or two ago.

The right map shows Japan and Korea. Close, aren't they?

But neither really /implicates/ Japan, as far as I can tell.

[Scott Lurndal]

<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by quadibloc
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace

<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley
Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

The left map appears to be showing various political entities in the
general area of Korea. It might be useful with some Korean historical
movies set a century or two ago.
The right map shows Japan and Korea. Close, aren't they?
But neither really /implicates/ Japan, as far as I can tell.

This, on the other hand..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanshin-ron

in conjunction with

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokushin-ron

[Paul S Person]

Post by Scott Lurndal
<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by quadibloc
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace

<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley
Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very non-conclusive.)

The left map appears to be showing various political entities in the
general area of Korea. It might be useful with some Korean historical
movies set a century or two ago.
The right map shows Japan and Korea. Close, aren't they?
But neither really /implicates/ Japan, as far as I can tell.

This, on the other hand..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanshin-ron
in conjunction with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokushin-ron

Those Korean Historical Movies I mentioned above generally involve
Japan invading Korea at various times in the past. As, indeed, does
/Uprising/, which I streamed yesterday on Netflix.

My point wasn't that Japan didn't abuse Korea; my point was that the
two maps don't implicate Japan. Something else was needed.

[James Nicoll]

Post by quadibloc

Post by Scott Lurndal
<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by quadibloc
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to =

replace

Post by Scott Lurndal
<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley
Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very =

non-conclusive.)

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by Paul S Person
The left map appears to be showing various political entities in the
general area of Korea. It might be useful with some Korean historical
movies set a century or two ago.
The right map shows Japan and Korea. Close, aren't they?
But neither really /implicates/ Japan, as far as I can tell.

This, on the other hand..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanshin-ron
in conjunction with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokushin-ron

Those Korean Historical Movies I mentioned above generally involve
Japan invading Korea at various times in the past. As, indeed, does
/Uprising/, which I streamed yesterday on Netflix.
My point wasn't that Japan didn't abuse Korea; my point was that the
two maps don't implicate Japan. Something else was needed.

One map depicts the Four Commanderies of Han, established by China
in Korea. The other depicts Korea as part of the Japanese Empire.

[Paul S Person]

Post by James Nicoll

Post by quadibloc

Post by Scott Lurndal
<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley

Post by quadibloc
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to =

replace

Post by Scott Lurndal
<snip>

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Chris Buckley
Unfortunately, it actually requires knowledge of Geography to
interpret, which may be asking a bit much. (Nothing can be read of
the image's labels and what the coloring shows is very =

non-conclusive.)

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by Paul S Person
The left map appears to be showing various political entities in the
general area of Korea. It might be useful with some Korean historical
movies set a century or two ago.
The right map shows Japan and Korea. Close, aren't they?
But neither really /implicates/ Japan, as far as I can tell.

This, on the other hand..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanshin-ron
in conjunction with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokushin-ron

Those Korean Historical Movies I mentioned above generally involve
Japan invading Korea at various times in the past. As, indeed, does
/Uprising/, which I streamed yesterday on Netflix.
My point wasn't that Japan didn't abuse Korea; my point was that the
two maps don't implicate Japan. Something else was needed.

One map depicts the Four Commanderies of Han, established by China
in Korea. The other depicts Korea as part of the Japanese Empire.

But it doesn't say so. And it has some very strange numbers on it.
Suffient enlargement shows that these are the dates covered (BCE -75
[I would think -75BC would be CE 75, unless the lack of a year 0
affects this], CE 106). Are we to take it that Jin was not part of
China, at least at this time? Who can say?

This would be a lot earlier than the films I was talking about, BTW.
For one thing, they all have firearms in them, although swords are not
only present but plentiful.

And the second is just "Japan and Korea". The unreadable stuff in red
(by the time I enlarge it so it isn't in 1-pt type any more it is too
blurred for me, at least, to read) may or may not be relevant, who can
say?

If I showed you a map of "The USA and Mexico", would you conclude that
Mexico was occupied by the USA? Didn't think so.

They just aren't enough. Even allowing for the fact that the one on
the left is suggesting China rather than Japan as "the Enemy".

[Robert Woodward]

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

I didn't really notice the part to the right (and didn't need it anyway).

[quadibloc]

Post by James Nicoll
Is the image directly below "I suppose we will never know what those
models were." only visible to me?

If it was, and I didn't simply ignore it, you must have fixed your site;
now I see a map of Korea showing areas into which it was divided (with
names that appear Chinese) next to, in much reduced size, a National
Geographic map showing both Japan and Korea.

I could have seen it, but ignored it as not containing any explicit
statement of anything political in the relations between the countries
pictured.

John Savard

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

For firmly read "by martial law and humiliation" of the Koreans.
Korea has a long history of division and rulers who wished to be
treated like gods and were as remote as possible from the people
who did the work which was much like Japan before it was really
opened to the West in 1945. Japan has mounted military expeditions
to Korea for various reasons from Imperial expansion to simply
piracy.
Japanese had traveled to the West around the time of the
Meji Restoration but they did not bring many democratic ideals
back with them. They were after western science and technoly in
order to create a powerful state to contest for control of Asia
with the West.
After Meji and after the death of his son. Young Hirohito came
to power influenced by the State Shinto cult and the militarists
who wished to expand their power on the Asian continent.
Shortly they usurped the Civilian Govenment and assassinted leaders
opposed to the rush to War in China then with the Pacific
Powers who finally allied to oppose the Imperial Japanese Army, of
which the Navy was a subordinate branch, led by the USA after Pearl
Harbor. Which is when the Allies in the Pacific began to make
progress.
Korea and Taiwan were quite happy to throw off the Japanese
rule. And as in the past the Korean Peninsula split into warring
states. And the result of the Japanese Colonization is emnity
by both the North and South Koreas toward their island neighbors.

I read about this stuff because I developed an interest in manga
and Japanese anime and wanted to understand the background of the
images and ideas.

bliss
__
b l i s s dash s f 4 e v e r at d s l e x t r e m e dot c o m

[James Nicoll]

Post by Bobbie Sellers

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

For firmly read "by martial law and humiliation" of the Koreans.
Korea has a long history of division and rulers who wished to be
treated like gods and were as remote as possible from the people
who did the work which was much like Japan before it was really
opened to the West in 1945. Japan has mounted military expeditions
to Korea for various reasons from Imperial expansion to simply
piracy.
Japanese had traveled to the West around the time of the
Meji Restoration but they did not bring many democratic ideals
back with them. They were after western science and technoly in
order to create a powerful state to contest for control of Asia
with the West.
After Meji and after the death of his son. Young Hirohito came
to power influenced by the State Shinto cult and the militarists
who wished to expand their power on the Asian continent.
Shortly they usurped the Civilian Govenment and assassinted leaders
opposed to the rush to War in China then with the Pacific
Powers who finally allied to oppose the Imperial Japanese Army, of
which the Navy was a subordinate branch, led by the USA after Pearl
Harbor. Which is when the Allies in the Pacific began to make
progress.
Korea and Taiwan were quite happy to throw off the Japanese
rule. And as in the past the Korean Peninsula split into warring
states. And the result of the Japanese Colonization is emnity
by both the North and South Koreas toward their island neighbors.
I read about this stuff because I developed an interest in manga
and Japanese anime and wanted to understand the background of the
images and ideas.

Back in August, I reviewed Showa: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki,
which covers Hirohito's reign, as witnessed by Mizuki.

One interesting aspect is that Mizuki portrays himself as an
absolute knucklehead, the sort of fellow who would, on finding
himself stuck with boring band duty during WWII, request a
transfer because he was unaware this would involve being sent to
the front.

[Bobbie Sellers]

Post by James Nicoll

Post by Bobbie Sellers

Post by Robert Woodward

Post by quadibloc
No doubt the comment in your review,
"I wonder where on Earth a Korean author would get the idea of a
relentlessly expansionist, exploitative empire determined to replace the
cultures and religions of neighboring countries with the Empire’s
hegemonic culture? It seems almost as though Kim has specific models in
mind. I suppose we will never know what those models were."
was intended as a joke, and was written with tongue in cheek.
I can think of two candidates off the top of my head, of course.

And I thought of ONE direct example off the top of my head. Japan from
the late 19th century to the end of WWII ruled Korea ... firmly.

For firmly read "by martial law and humiliation" of the Koreans.
Korea has a long history of division and rulers who wished to be
treated like gods and were as remote as possible from the people
who did the work which was much like Japan before it was really
opened to the West in 1945. Japan has mounted military expeditions
to Korea for various reasons from Imperial expansion to simply
piracy.
Japanese had traveled to the West around the time of the
Meji Restoration but they did not bring many democratic ideals
back with them. They were after western science and technoly in
order to create a powerful state to contest for control of Asia
with the West.
After Meji and after the death of his son. Young Hirohito came
to power influenced by the State Shinto cult and the militarists
who wished to expand their power on the Asian continent.
Shortly they usurped the Civilian Govenment and assassinted leaders
opposed to the rush to War in China then with the Pacific
Powers who finally allied to oppose the Imperial Japanese Army, of
which the Navy was a subordinate branch, led by the USA after Pearl
Harbor. Which is when the Allies in the Pacific began to make
progress.
Korea and Taiwan were quite happy to throw off the Japanese
rule. And as in the past the Korean Peninsula split into warring
states. And the result of the Japanese Colonization is emnity
by both the North and South Koreas toward their island neighbors.
I read about this stuff because I developed an interest in manga
and Japanese anime and wanted to understand the background of the
images and ideas.

Back in August, I reviewed Showa: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki,
which covers Hirohito's reign, as witnessed by Mizuki.
One interesting aspect is that Mizuki portrays himself as an
absolute knucklehead, the sort of fellow who would, on finding
himself stuck with boring band duty during WW II, request a
transfer because he was unaware this would involve being sent to
the front.

Well I have read all of Showa and a lot of other of Mizuki's
Mizuki's work and one thing is clear that like a lot of artists he
was not in very good touch with reality while growing up. But he
had talent and however fitfully he trained it, grew up despite losing
his arm in the War and became a great artist aka mangaka.

Have you finished his work either Showa or "Forward to Our Honorable
Deaths" where he describes in detail his miliiary experience
in the Imperial Japanese Army. The knucklehead was a great survivor who
did not understand the IJA's need to send soldiers to an honorablee
death. Which I think is a very western way of thinking. Also he
fraternized with the native people which was not a Japanese way of
behaving at all.

Another excellent book by a Japanese artist which is the
lightly fictionalised life of the artist from post-war on.
Notes from 2009.
"A Drifting Life" by Yoshihiro Tatsumi is
a lightly fictionalized memoir in manga format running
to 856 pages,8 3/4" x 6 1/2" and 2 inches thick,on good
paper with paper covers
"A Drifting Life" starts about 1948 with the
young protagonist obsessed with creating manga and in
the midst of his troubled family before chronicling
the narrators journey into the world of manga meeting along
the way all the great mangaka of the period, and ending with
the Seventh Anniversary Memorial of the death of Tezuka Osamu
and the pseudonymous author's musing over a cup of coffee.
Despite the length it was easily a one day,
one setting read. Watch him as a child meet Tezuka as
a University student and see how he helped support his
family by "Postcard" manga contests. Read about the
proto-otaku of the time. His initial success and
exploitation by the publishers of the time.

His drive to create a manga beyond manga which
he call "gekiga" or drama manga to distinguish it from
the children's manga and the 4 panel manga strips which
were the main forms.

Nearly 50 years of manga and mangaka history
in manga. And if it is not precisely gekiga it will
do as well.
This is published by Drawn & Quarterly and I
found this copy at the local Borders for $29.95 when
I happened to have a 30% discount coupon and some
spare change courtesy of a friend.

On the other hand the Osamu Tezuka bio just
tells us what we knew that he died from overwork
despite inventing the modern mangaka assistants shop.

bliss