Let Morning Shine on These Mountains and Rivers

Let Morning Shine on These Mountains and Rivers (Menghean: 아침은 빛나라 이 강산, Achimŭn Binnara i Gangsan), also known as Achimŭn Binnara and Aegukga, is the national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Menghe. It was composed in 1902 by Ri Ik-tae to celebrate the unification of the Federative Republic of Menghe. The song has four verses, but only the first two are legally recognized as part of the national anthem, and at most public events only the first verse is sung.

Names

The full name of the national anthem, as reaffirmed in Article 137 of the 1990 Constitution, is 아침은 빛나라 이 강산, or "Let Morning Shine on These Mountains and Rivers." It is frequently shortened to the less wordy Achimŭn Binnara, or "Let Morning Shine." This title is taken from the first line of the anthem. It is also known simply as "The Patriotic Song" or "Song of Love for one's Country" (애국가 / 愛國歌, Aegukga), though this term can refer to any national anthem, and its use in Menghe is better interpreted as "the national anthem" or "our national anthem."

Some disagreement exists over the official title of the song. Ri Ik-tae's original manuscript lists "Aegukga" at the top of the page, and there is no evidence that he intended Achimŭn Binnara to serve as the title. Nevertheless, the anthem soon became known by its opening line, which by the 1920s was regularly used in reference to the song itself. Today, Aegukga and Achimŭn Binnara are used interchangeably in most contexts, though the 1990 Constitution and official Menghean laws on the anthem recognize the latter as its title.

History

Shortly after the Treaty of Unification between the rival states of Sinŭi and Namyang was signed in 1901, the new Federal Government opened a competition for the united country's new national anthem. Ri Ik-tae's submission won, and it was formally adopted in 1904.

Ri's anthem remained in place after Kwon Chong-hoon's coup, and it served as Menghe's anthem throughout the Pan-Septentrion War. In 1939, an unknown composer added two more verses celebrating the Menghean military's victories in the struggle against global imperialism, verses which were never returned to the anthem and are rarely sung today.

After Menghe's surrender in 1945, the Allied occupation authority forbade the singing of the anthem, part of a broader effort to roll back wartime nationalism. The ban remained in place after the formation of the nominally sovereign Republic of Menghe, which worked unsuccessfully to promote its own anthem. Opponents of the Allied occupation, whether Communist- or Nationalist-aligned, sang "Let Morning Shine" as a form of protest, and in time the song became a rallying cry for Menghean independence.

After the Democratic People's Republic of Menghe emerged victorious from the Menghean War of Liberation, "Let Morning Shine" was reinstated as the national anthem. The first verse remained unchanged, but the second verse was altered in 1969 to reflect the new regime's Communist ideology. Further alterations to the second verse came in 1994, after Choe Sŭng-min came to power, bringing the anthem to its current form.

In 1998, at the height of Choe Sŭng-min's cult of personality, the National Social Consultative Conference proposed changing the national anthem to Suryŏngnim-ŭl ttara chŏnmalli, dang-ŭl ttara chŏnmalli ("Following the Leader and the Party for Ten Million Miles"), a patriotic song which Choe Sŭng-min had several times identified as his favorite. Choe briefly entertained the idea, but later dismissed the proposal, choosing to retain the time-honored "Let Morning Shine" as the national anthem.

Lyrics

Lyrics in Menghean	Lyrics in Romaja	Translation
제1절 아침은 빛나라 이 강산 은금에 자원도 가득한 삼천리 아름다운 내 조국 반만년 오랜 력사에 찬란한 문화로 자라난 슬기론 인민의 이 영광 몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 멩화 길이 받드세	Je-il jŏl Achimŭn binnara i gangsan Ŭngŭme jiwŏndo gadŭghan Samchŏlli arŭmdaun nae joguk Banmannyŏn oraek ryŏksae Chanranhan munhwaro jaranan Sŭlgiron inmin-e i yŏnggwang Momgwa mam da bachŏ i Menghwa Giri baddŭse!	First verse: Let morning shine on these mountains and rivers Abundant with gold, silver, and natural wealth. My beautiful homeland, three thousand li across, With a history of five thousand years! The glory of a wise people, Brought up in a radiant culture, Devoting their bodies and minds to this Menghe: Let this path be followed!
제2절 십이월 정신을 다 안고 정의의 나라는 한길어 진리로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻 온 세계 앞서 나가리 솟는 힘 노도도 내밀어 인민의 뜻으로 선 나라 한없이 부강하는 이 멩화 길이 빛내세	Je-i jŏl Sibiwŏl jŏngsinŭl da ango Jŏngyi-e naranŭn hangirŏ Jinriro mungchyŏjin ŏksen ttŭt On segye apsŏ nagari Sonnŭn him nododo naemirŏ Inmin-e ttŭsuro sŏn nara Hanŏbsi buganghanŭn i Menghwa Giri binnaese!	Second verse: Embracing the Decembrist spirit, The sole path for a righteous nation, A firm will, bonded with the truth will go forth to the whole world. This country, established by the will of the people Breasts the raging waves with soaring strength! Forever glorify this rich and strong Menghe: Let this path shine!

External links

• Performance by the Armed Forces Chorus and Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oobYm1GHRJQ
• Performance by Joguk Janyŏ chorus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H9Jkscsqi4
• Instrumental performance by the Maehwa Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk1_hValwGs

See also

• Government of Menghe
• Politics of Menghe
• Choe Sŭng-min's cult of personality
• Oath of Allegiance (Menghe)