SEESAW GIRL

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Park, Linda Sue. 1999. SEESAW GIRL. Ill. By Jean and Mou-sien Tseng. New York: Clarion. ISBN 0395915147

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In seventeenth-century Korea, girls of the upper class are not allowed outside of the walls of their families Inner Court until they married and then they were restricted to the Inner Court of their husband’s home. This is the world of twelve-year-old Jade Blossom, whose father is one of the king’s most trusted advisers.

Jade Blossom’s world is turned upside down when her beloved cousin and playmate, Willow, is married and sent to live in her husband’s Inner Court since she is now considered a member of that family. Who will help Jade Blossom sabotage her brother’s lessons or help with the tedious chore of unstitching the clothing, washing it, pounding out the wrinkles, and then sewing all the garments back together?

Jade soon develops a plan in which she can go outside of her father’s home to see her cousin. After sneaking out in a basket used to gather vegetables, Jade Blossom reaches the market place. To her amazement, she sees women and girls outside. In her silk clothing, it is obvious that Jade is of a royal family so she gets help to dirty her silk clothes.

During the process, some strangers to Korea are brought to the market place. Jade Blossom is amazed by their ‘red faces, eyes that seemed to have no color at all and noses that protrude like the beaks of birds”. Some even had “yellow or brown sheep’s wool on their cheeks and chins” and hair “the color of straw”.

Jade leaves the town and starts down the road to see the house in which her cousin now resides. When she knocks on the gate she is treated as a peasant and the gatekeeper refuses to let her see her cousin, believing that she is lying. Willow refuses to see her, but insists that she is not to be punished. A disappointed Willow goes back into the town. When the servant who was in charge of her family’s cart sees her, he is horrified. He puts her on the seat of the cart, covering her with cloth he purchased so that she could not be seen by” the eyes of strangers”.

Jade Blossom is returned to her home, where she is met by her mother who is shocked that she went out, but is understanding about her daughter’s curiosity. As Jade struggles with the memory of the men in chains and the beauty of the outside world that she cannot be a part of, her father wisely counsels her through her brother (“Our father has told me that , as you already know, these events are not the affairs of women. But he also knows what you saw that day, and he believes that unanswered curiosity can build a road to danger. I will tell you what I know.”)Jade’s brother shares his knowledge with her, helps her learn to paint (“painting was a noble art reserved for men”), and Jade Blossom is able to find some contentment in her life.

She still dreams of the beautiful mountains she has heard her brother talk about, so, using a long wooden board, a sheaf of straw, and an unsuspecting cousin, she creates a seesaw on which, when she jumps and then is thrust into the air, she can see outside the walls of her home.”As she flew through the air, she glimpsed them (the mountains) only for an instant, but it was long enough for her to make a picture in her mind—a picture that she would paint as truly as she was able.” The seesaw gave Jade Blossom more than just a glimpse of the world outside, it gave her a dream for her future.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This novel is written simply because it is intended for children. Linda Sue Park uses language and shares customs that are part of the Korean culture at that time. Jade Blossom refers to her brother as “Elder Brother”, her formal name to call her father is “Abu-Ji”, and her father talks of the Five Virtues of Confucius.

The wedding tradition of the groom bringing a goose to the wedding to symbolize faithfulness since geese mate for life was another Korean tradition written in this book. Men eating first and why the clothes were taken apart before they were washed (“Don’t you know that dirt hides in the stitching, in all the pockets and corners? Wherever there is dirt, the spirits of sickness can hide, too”) also help mark the historic setting of this book.

The significance of Jade Blossom’s curiosity and escape into the “real world” is not truly understood until the author’s end notes are read. Linda Sue Park explains about the Choson period in Korea (from 1300-1900) in which “Korean girls were not allowed to leave their homes”. The prisoners that Jade Blossom sees are Dutch explorers who were lost in a storm and wound up in Korea, which forbid strangers from entering it.


Park also shares information about the Korean aristocracy and how the great paintings of the time came from men, even though some anonymous paintings from that era might be done by women, just as Jade Blossom did.

There are also notes about the “standing and jumping” seesaw which had been used in Korea for hundreds of years. This authentic information raises many questions for young people to be able to research and discover more about Korea and this time in their history.

Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng’s illustrations help explain some of the details of this time. The definite lines between the girls of the time and the boys is shown in an illustration of Jade Blossom and Willow sitting embroidering while Tiger Heart (Jade’s brother) is standing at the door talking to his mother about the trouble he is in. The simplicity of the room is shown along with the sewing kits and the definite divide between the women and men. When Graceful Willow is to be married, the author says that she has an elaborate wedding headdress, but the illustrators bring to life how truly ornate the headdress is as well as the rest of Graceful Willow’s wedding attire. The Illustrations add depth and detail to this novel.



4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publisher’s Weekly:”This first novel set in 17th-century Korea centers on twelve-year-old Jade Blossom, daughter of one of the king’s advisers. With all the temerity of a 1990’s girl, Jade plays tricks on her brother (with the help of her cousin Willow), and her yearnings to see the world outside of her family’s walled household ultimately leads her into trouble. She conceals herself in a basket on market day and catches her first glimpse of the mountains as well as a group of imprisoned Dutch sailors. Park manages to get across many of society’s restriction on girls and women, but often relies on telling rather than showing. For example, Jade says how much her view of the mountains affects her, yet she never describes what it is about the vista that moves her. Readers gain little insight into Jade’s relationship with other members of her household or her daily routine. Though the novel glosses over the meaning of the Dutch sailors’ appearance, a closing author’s note helps to put it into context. Fortunately, Jean and Mou-sien Tseng’s animated black-and-white drawings fill in many details missing in the text concerning dress and setting.”

School Library journal:”Life in 17th-century Korea is not easy for a girl, even for the daughter of a wealthy family. Jade Blossom must learn to do the laundry, sew the clothes back together after each washing, help in the kitchen, and embroider flawlessly. Her world is circumscribed by the walls of the Inner Court where she will spend her life until she marries and then will be confined to the Inner Court of her husband’s household. However, when her aunt and best friend since childhood gets married, Jade is determined to see her again. Park maintains a fine tension between the spirited girl’s curiosity and her very limited sphere. Certainly Jade looks for opportunities to expand her horizons, but after her first disastrous foray to see Willow, she learns that those chances have to come within the wall of her own home. The story is full of lively action and vivid descriptions, enhanced by appealing black-and-white paintings, to give a clear sense of the period and reveal the world as Jade sees it. Even the minor characters have substance. The girl’s parents are understanding but not indulgent. Her father is a thoughtful man, distant from the family, but looking at the possibilities for the future of his country. Her mother recognizes Jade’s longings and shows her that it is possible to be content with her life. Like Jade’s stand-up seesaw, Park’s novel offers readers a brief but enticing glimpse at another time and place.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Students could compare and contrast the five virtues of Confucius to the Golden Rule by using a T-chart.

For discussion the students could talk about what Susan B. Anthony would say to the Korean Emperor concerning the rights of girls and women.

Students could be shown the steps in embroidery. They could discuss which way they would want to capture an image-through painting or embroidery. The discussion could include which would be easier, more true to the actual image, which would be more valued, etc.

Students could study Korean writing. They could practice writing in that manner.

Using the concept of simple machines, students could study the Korean Seesaw, telling which simple machines are involved. They could design their own Korean Seesaw.

Subjects to Research:
Dutch Explorers in Korea
Choson Period
Confucius
Korean clothing

Resources:
Han, Heung-Gi. LET’S VISIT KOREA. ISBN: 1565910109
Han, Suzanne Crowder. LET’S LEARN ABOUT KOREA: CUSTOMS OF KOREA. ISBN 1565910001
Landau, Elaine. A TRUE BOOK: KOREA. ISBN 0516267663
Lane, Kimberly. COME LOOK WITH ME: ASIAN ART. ISBN 1890674192
Stickler, John. LAND OF MORNING CALM: KOREAN CULTURE THEN AND NOW. ISBN 1885008228
Tracy, Kathleen. BIOGRAPHY FROM ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CONFUCIUS. ISBN 158415246X
Young, Sunny. HANBOK: THE ART OF KOREAN CLOTHING. ISBN 1565910826