Heo Nanseolheon

Heo Nanseolheon was a prominent Korean female poet and painter of the mid-Joseon dynasty. She was the younger sister of Heo Bong, a minister and political writer, and elder to Heo Gyun, a prominent writer of the time and credited as the author of The Tale of Hong Gildong. Her own writings consisted of some two hundred poems written in Chinese verse (hanshi), and two poems written in hangul (though her authorship of the hangul poems is contested). She was also skilled in calligraphy and painting, especially of orchids. She married at the age of 14, but her husband died soon after. She then devoted herself to literary pursuits and became famous for her talent and beauty. She died of an illness at the age of 27. Her poems reflect her sorrow, loneliness, and longing for freedom and happiness. She also expressed her criticism of the social norms and expectations that confined women’s lives. She is regarded as one of the most influential female poets in Korean history.