IV. "Ambivalence"

Background Story

The Prince cried in his heart because the Japanese took thousands of young Cho-Sun people (Korean). They used the men as soldiers on the frontier of World War II.  They used the women as 'entertainers' for the Japanese soldiers.  These entertainers were girls and women that the soldiers repeatedly raped.  This made the Prince very sad.  He was powerless to help them from the brutalities forced upon them.  The Japanese had a rule which insisted that the royal family should participate in their wars.  Because of his marriage to the Princess, and hence his inclusion in the royal family, Prince Lee Un was given the rank of commandant and forced to fight  on the war frontier.  The Prince contemplated his tragic circumstances in silence.  His country awaited liberation and a Japanese soldier, struck the Prince as a morbid irony.  He wanted to scream to the world, "I am not a member of the Japanese royal family.  I am the crowned Cho-Sun Prince".  His painful outcries remained suppressed in his heart.  His position as commandant was in name only, he actually had no power.  He was always being observed by the Japanese.  Even today, it still seems incredulous that he remained silent, and did nothing to resist the Japanese.  Eventually, the Japanese lost the war.  Along with the end of the Devil's outstretched hand.  The suppression of his feelings during his regrettable past confused the Prince.  He screamed, "How can I go back to my young life as the Prince?  I'm now old.  What did I do for my own country?"


Description

This robe shows the struggle of the Prince through the shape of the dragon. The reduction of his power is represented by the use of black thread.  His head is now at the bottom of the robe, symbolizing his downgraded status.  The dragon's eyes are bloodshot, showing the confusion in the Prince.  The background is in a strong blue, the color of peace, in line with Korea's liberation at this time.  The white wisps across the background represent the brightness of Korea's future.