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Reflections on the Special Exhibition for the 115th Anniversary of Ahn Jung-geun’s Patriotic Deed at Harbin

By Sujan Shakya (Special Corre | 기사입력 2025/01/22 [21:32]

Reflections on the Special Exhibition for the 115th Anniversary of Ahn Jung-geun’s Patriotic Deed at Harbin

By Sujan Shakya (Special Corre | 입력 : 2025/01/22 [21:32]

 



I’ve heard that to fully understand the Korean language, one must also grasp Hanja (Chinese characters). In the past, Hanja was taught in Korea’s public education system. As we progresses to an advanced level of the Korean language, foreigners, too, must learn Hanja to deeply understand Korea’s history and society.

 

Recently, I visited the Special Exhibition for the  115th Anniversary of Ahn Jung-geun’s Patriotic Deed at Harbin at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. Held on the 3rd floor from October 24th until March 31st next year, the exhibition provided insights into Ahn Jung-geun’s life (生), righteousness (義), and thoughts ((思) for me.

 

 



In the 'Life (生)” section exploring his roots, what struck me most was that he was a devout Catholic with the baptismal name Thomas. His Korean name, "Doma," is derived from Thomas. This connection between his unwavering faith and principles was both surprising and fascinating. I closely examined his seal, engraved with “Corée An Thomas,” symbolizing his identity — Korea, his family name An, and his baptismal name Thomas. When I encountered the Buddhist term Gukrak (Pure Land), which refers to a perfectly blissful and liberated world, I felt glad, as it seemed to reflect Ahn Jung-geun's aspiration for peace of mind and a free, harmonious world beyond religious boundaries. This resonated deeply and left a lasting impression, especially as it also intuitively connected with Nepalese people who integrate Buddhism into their daily lives. Through the image of Father Wilhelm sitting with Ahn Jung-geun's brothers, I could clearly see how profoundly Catholicism influenced Ahn Jung-geun. After exploring Ahn Jung-geun's spiritual world, I moved on to the section on Righteousness (義).

 

In the “Righteousness” section, the phrase in his calligraphy “Gukgaanwi Nosimchosa (國家安危 勞心焦思)” caught my eye. The Korean explanation felt unfamiliar, so I first read it in English: "I belabor my heart and brood anxiously over our nation's security." Does it mean worrying and being tormented by the safety of the nation? Suddenly, a figure who worries about the safety of the nation began to feel unfamiliar. How could one worry about the safety of the nation? I had heard of phrases like “Gahwa Mansaseong” (家和萬事成, Family harmony brings success in everything) or “Sushin Jega Chiguk Pyeongcheonha” (修身齊家治國平天下, First cultivate yourself, then harmonize your family, govern your country, and bring peace to the world), but I had never encountered a man who was not concerned with himself, but with the future of the nation. I became curious about this man. 

 

That's right, isn't he an Independence Activist? The Ahn Jung-geun I had tried to memorize just as a figure in a textbook suddenly came to life in my mind, as a young man who cared deeply about the nation's security and future. 

 

It is hard to admit that I am ignorant in front of others, yet here was the concept of “Minihogak, Buchihamun”(敏而好學 不恥下問, Being quick-witted and eager to learn and not being ashamed to ask those below you). It made me wonder what mindset he must have had to endure day after day for independence. I was amazed at how such resolute integrity could come from him, and it felt almost unbelievable. Only after seeing how he actually founded a school and trained talented individuals through education, as well as his interactions with other activists, did the true meaning of "patriotism" in this third story start to take shape for me.

 

 

In the fifth story, "Comrades," I spent quite a while thinking about what the word "comrade" truly means. Does it mean a friend who transcends friendship? I carefully examined each work. "For independence, I would trade my life!" The story of him cutting off his finger and swearing an oath with eleven comrades to form the Dongeuidanjihoe , a society for independence, is famous even among foreigners. His deep yearning for independence is clearly felt in the two characters he wrote for "independence" (獨立) and in his last words, "Even in heaven, I will dedicate myself to restoring our nation's sovereignty." I also felt grateful to realize how fortunate it was that he was skilled in calligraphy and left behind many works.

 

In the third section, where I got a glimpse of his thoughts, his criticism of Japanese imperialism and his concern for the future of East Asia as an intellectual stood out. After assassinating Ito Hirobumi and being arrested by Russian police at the scene, he remained calm throughout the entire process, from his imprisonment in Lüshun prison to his execution. As the title of the seventh story, "Peace," suggests, he had achieved inner peace. With seven marks on his chest and abdomen, symbolizing the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, he was said to have been born under their influence. As an educator, soldier, and thinker, he devoted himself to the future of his country and completed his mission through death. His calm, composed, and utterly pure face, along with the desperation in his severed fingers, moved all the viewers to tears.

 

In Nepal, there are also warriors who defended their independence — the Gurkhas, whom the Nepali people proudly cherish. The Gurkhas were the army that fought alongside the British to defeat the Nazis in World War II and are known as the best mercenaries in the world. The motto that best describes the Gurkha mercenaries is, "Better to die than be a coward." The Gurkhas became famous during the Nepal-Britain War (1814-1816), when they earned notable achievements in the war between the Gurkha Kingdom, which founded the Nepalese state, and the British East India Company. They successfully prevented Nepal from falling into colonization. Protecting their independence from Britain is a great source of pride for the Nepalese people.

 

I have always thought the Gurkhas are impressive, but I’ve never considered joining the military. Defending the country is the duty of the Gurkha people, so it’s not something I should worry about — it’s as if I’m saying that national defense and security aren’t my responsibility. Nepal is a country protected by the Gurkha people, and people from other ethnic groups cannot serve in the military, even if they want to. This has been the case since Nepal was a kingdom.

 

Since Nepal has never been a colonized nation, I believe it might be hard for the people there to deeply internalize the true value of independence movements or the nobility of independence martyrs. Likewise, I cannot fully understand why Koreans create musicals, films, and exhibitions to remember figures like Ahn Jung-geun. However, the more I engage with these contents, the more I realize, in the geopolitical and historical context of Korea, how the efforts and pride in risking one’s life to protect the country from foreign invasions resonate deeply. It is clear to me that Korea's position on the international stage today stems from the integrity and efforts of such figures.

 

The Special Exhibition for the 115th Anniversary of Ahn Jung-geun’s Patriotic Deed at Harbin was an insightful exhibition that provided a well-rounded view of Ahn Jung-geun as a figure. It felt like reading an autobiography or a diary, rather than just encountering a symbolic figure through various cultural contents.

 

 

#KoreanLanguage #Hanja #AhnJungGeun #Patriotism #Righteousness #History #Catholicism #PureLand #IndependenceActivist #Calligraphy #Minihogak #Buchihamun #Comrades #Dongeuidanjihoe #Gurkhas #NationalDefense #Nepal #안중근 #하얼빈의거 #독립운동

 
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