Album of Verses about Plum Blossoms

16th century

This book of poetry, elegantly written in Chinese characters, celebrates the flowers of the plum tree, the first blooms to appear in very early spring and a symbol of fortitude, renewal, and hope. The author of the verses, who is also the calligrapher of the album, is best known by his creative name, Toegye. He is considered the father of Korean Neo-Confucianism, a philosophical movement that would inform every aspect of political, educational, religious, and literary life for four hundred years. His contributions are so fundamental to Korean history that he appears on the 1,000-won note, the equivalent of the U.S. one-dollar bill.