PERPETUUM VER EST

Solly Levi Photography

Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931, Finnish) ~ Spring Night, 1914

"In celebration of Mary’s birth, Henry’s coat of arms depicted a little Tudor Rose (Mary) emerging from a Pomegranate, (the symbol of the house of Aragon, Mary’s mother). The stone feature originally adorned the gatehouse of Beaulieu Palace, now residing in the Chapel at New Hall School."

Chang Kyehyang (1598–1680), also known as Jang Gye-hyang, was a poet, painter, and philanthropist. She was the first woman to write a cookbook in the history of East Asia.

The young poet

Chang Kyehyang was the daughter of a scholar. At the age of nine, she astonished her father by writing her first poem, Ode to the Saint, in which she lamented that she could not meet the great scholars of the past while expressing gratitude for being able to study their works.

She went on to write other poems, exploring themes such as nature and mourning. Chang Kyehyang was also a talented calligrapher and painter, notably producing a painting of a tiger. Her father later arranged her marriage to his most accomplished student, Yi Si-myeong, a widower whose first wife had died at a young age.

Philanthropist

Chang Kyehyang raised seven sons and devoted great care to their education. One of them later became a minister at the royal court. She also raised and educated the son and daughter her husband had from his first marriage.

A generous philanthropist, Chang Kyehyang sought to provide alternative food sources for the poor and the starving people of her region. She also protected her community during times of war and strife.

She explained her actions with these words:

“It is the order of the universe to live together; the highest order of moral law is sharing his or her own wealth with less fortunate people.”

Recipes for Tasty Food

In 1670, Chang Kyehyang wrote Ŭmsik timibang  (Recipes for Tasty Food), the first cookbook written by a woman in the history of East Asia and the first cookbook written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Although women from prominent families had undoubtedly developed and passed down recipes orally for generations, hers was the first known work of its kind to be written down.

Unlike Classical Chinese, which was primarily used by government officials and educated men, Hangul offered women new opportunities for literary expression. They developed a rich literary culture of their own, producing novels, poetry, memoirs, and works devoted to domestic life.

The cookbook was probably intended at first for the younger women of her family. Chang Kyehyang wished to preserve the culinary traditions of her region. As a result, Ŭmsik timibang contains a wealth of information on the preparation of soju, along with a wide variety of dishes and cooking techniques.

Chang Kyehyang's purpose is best captured in the preface to her book:

“All men and women eat and drink, but few know the true meaning of taste.”

If you enjoy this blog, consider supporting me on Ko-fi!

Further reading: 

Kaff Lucy, “How Women in Chosŏn Korea Legitimized Han'gul”

Park Hyunhee, Soju: A Global History

Story by Herodotus in The Histories book 5 chapter 87 about why the Athenians adopted the Ionian dress. Only one Athenian male had survived an attack on Aegina and returned to Athens.

It would seem that he made his way to Athens and told of the mishap. When the wives of the men who had gone to attack Aegina heard this, they were very angry that he alone should be safe. They gathered round him and stabbed him with the brooch-pins of their garments, each asking him where her husband was. This is how this man met his end, and the Athenians found the action of their women to be more dreadful than their own misfortune. They could find, it is said, no other way to punish the women than changing their dress to the Ionian fashion. Until then the Athenian women had worn Dorian dress, which is very like the Corinthian. It was changed, therefore, to the linen tunic, so that they might have no brooch-pins to use.

Andromeda of Sparta give us some great examples of ancient Greek brooch pins, measuring from 3.3 inches to 8.7 inches in length!

I am here for the ancient Greek Hatpin Discourse.

^ The Mourning Athena relief with Athena wearing a peplos, c. 460 BC. As you can see, it is pinned at both shoulders.

Queluz Palace,

Queluz, Sintra Municipality, Lisbon District, Portugal,

Detail of the Palace Throne dais and chairs for the Portuguese Monarchs in the Embassadors Room.

Schloss Seehof, Memmelsdorf, Bamberg, Germany,

Mary I's Fight For The Throne

20th July - Mary is victorious

Having heard of Robert Dudley proclaiming Jane queen in Kings Lynn, Mary sends "requiring them to apprehend the Lord Robert and also to lie in wait for the like apprehension of the Duke, if it shall happen him flee, as it is suspected he will do" following Mary's proclamation for his arrest on the 18th. 1

The Earl of Oxford finally arrives at Framlingham "with a large force of men whom he had quickly been able to gather at the moment of his desertion of the duke." 2

Still wanting more men, Mary and her Council decide to "discharge all manner of gaols [...] within the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk" 3, while 500 are appointed to attend upon Mary at all times to guard her from harm. 4

In the afternoon her troops are mustered in two separate companies led by the Earl of Sussex and Lord Thomas Wentworth, where "the standards were unfurled and the military colours set up; everyone armed themselves fully as if about to meet the enemy. The infantry made ready their pikes, the cavalry brandished lances, the archer bent his bow, and girded on his quiver; the harquebusier filled his weapon with powder, inserted its leaden ball and set his match burning." 5

At 4pm, Mary rides out from Framlingham castle on a white horse, and "gave warning in an order that no harquebusier should fire his gun, nor any archer release his arrow until her majesty had inspected the army. When this order was given, such was the respect that everyone felt for their sovereign that no harquebusier nor archer fired after the command; but the soldiers bowed low to the ground and awaited their beloved mistress's arrival." 6

On foot, Mary walks around the two divisions of her army for 3 hours, "speaking to them with exceptional kindness and with an approach so wonderfully relaxed as can scarcely be described, in consideration of their esteem for their sovereign, that she completely won everyone's affections." 7

After she finishes inspecting her troops, the cavalry put on a rousing display as they "streamed forth and beat and trod the ground with such a thunderous noise and spread so widely through the field that it seemed like one enemy in pursuit of another." 8

Returning to the castle, a delighted Mary discovers the "most welcome news, scarcely to be hoped for, that Northumberland had abandoned hope of success because of the continual desertions of his supporters, and on 19th July had likewise taken flight from Bury in the middle of the night." 9

The Earl of Arundel and Marquis of Winchester arrive to confirm the news, and reveal that the Privy Council have proclaimed her Queen in London. They go to their knees with a "dagger turned towards [their] stomachs in recognition of [their] offence and submission to the penalty deserved." 10

They also bring a letter wrote by the Privy Council following their proclamation a day prior:

Our bounden duties most humbly remembered to your excellent Majesty, it may like the same to understand that we your most humble faithful and obedient subjects, having always (God we take to witness) remained your Highness’ true and humble subjects in our hearts ever since the death of our late sovereign lord and master your Highness’ brother, whom God pardon; and seeing hitherto no possibility to utter our determination herein, without great destruction and bloodshed both of our selves and others till this time, have this day proclaimed in your City of London, your Majesty to be our true natural Sovereign liege lady and Queen, most humbly beseeching your Majesty to pardon and remit our former infirmities, and most graciously to accept our meanings, which have been ever to serve your Highness truly, and so shall remain with all our powers and forces to the effusion of our blood, as these bearers our very good lords the earl of Arundel and Lord Paget can, and be ready more particularly to declare; to whom it pay please your excellent Majesty to give firm credence; and thus we do and shall daily pray to Almighty God for the preservation of your most royal person long to reign over us, from your Majesties City of London, this day of XIX July, the first year of your most prosperous reign. 11

Mary gladly accepts their submission.

While Mary was inspecting her army, Northumberland had proclaimed her queen in Cambridge and retreated to the house of Sir John Cheke. The Mayor, discovering this, "attended by a large force drawn from both town and gown, had the duke's lodging surrounded and watched on all sides to stop him leaving or escaping." 12

Now, Mary sends Henry Jerningham and Northumberland's former ally the Earl of Arundel to arrest him. 13

Meanwhile...

Jane Grey, Guildford Dudley and the Duchess of Northumberland are detained in the Tower as prisoners. 14

The Bishop of London flees the city after his sermons. 15

Sources:

1.Acts of the Privy Council, Vol 4

2. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

3. Acts of the Privy Council, Vol 4

4. Acts of the Privy Council, Vol 4

5. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

6. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

7. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

8. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

9. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

10. Spanish State Papers, 22nd July 1553

11. Memorials of the Most Reverend Father in God, Thomas Cranmer, sometime Lord Archbishop of Canterbury

12. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

13. Vita Mariae Angliae Reginae of Robert Wingfield

14. Spanish State Papers, 22nd July 1553

Castello di Gabiano, Gabiano, Piedmont, Italy,

Zvíkov castle, Zvíkovské Podhradí, Czechia,

Burg Scharfenstein, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany,

Chateau de Maintenon,  Maintenon, Eure-et-Loire, France