Ahn Jung-geun's prison calligraphy repatriated from Japan, to be publicly displayed

A significant piece of Korean history is returning to public view as Ahn Jung-geun's posthumous calligraphy, penned during his imprisonment, is set to be unveiled in South Korea. The National Heritage Agency announced that the artwork, repatriated from Japan, will be accessible to the public this month.

The calligraphy features the phrase "Man-guk Gongbeop but-yeo daepao" (萬國公法不如大砲), which translates to "International law is not as good as cannons." This stark message, believed to be written by Ahn Jung-geun shortly before his execution, conveys a profound sense of disillusionment with the perceived impotence of international law in the face of overwhelming power.

Ahn Jung-geun, a revered independence activist, assassinated Itō Hirobumi in 1909 and was subsequently sentenced to death. During his roughly 40 days in prison before his execution, he produced a considerable volume of calligraphy. A distinctive feature of these works is the inclusion of a thumbprint, often in red ink, alongside the inscription "Daehan-guk-in Ahn Jung-geun" (대한민국인 안중근), meaning "Ahn Jung-geun, a Korean."

Currently, 31 of Ahn Jung-geun's calligraphic works are designated as national treasures. These pieces often contain excerpts from classical texts or express his firm beliefs, such as "Ji-sa-in-in-sal-sin-seong-in" (지사인인살신성인) and "Il-il-bu-dok-seo-gu-jung-saeng-hyeong-geuk" (일일부독서구중생형극). In recent times, several of his works that were abroad have been successively returned to Korea through auctions and donations, enriching the nation's cultural heritage.

“

International law is not as good as cannons.