Son Byeong-hui, the leader of the March 1st Movement, was eventually captured by the Japanese and died in prison from a stroke. His funeral procession included ten cars, over 200 rickshaws, and more than 5,000 mourners, a testament to the profound respect he commanded. Son was a remarkable figure.
Son Byeong-hui’s large handwriting reflects his courage and boldness. Born the son of a low-ranking official, he was not academically inclined in his youth but was known for his fighting skills and sense of loyalty. It’s said that when a friend’s father faced execution due to the inability to pay a hundred nyang, Son secretly opened his father’s cabinet, allowing his friend to take the money. At the age of 22, Son joined the Donghak movement (Northern Faction) and later united with Jeon Bong-jun (Southern Faction) to lead the Donghak Peasant Revolution. Even when drinking with Ito Hirobumi, he retained his boldness and fearlessness.
His writing is full of vigor, almost as if it’s about to soar into the sky, yet it remains perfectly controlled. This reflects the sharp insight and political finesse of a master strategist. Before the Russo-Japanese War, Son predicted Japan’s victory and argued that Joseon should declare war on Russia and join Japan as a co-victor. He even offered military funds to Japan, aiming to balance power between Japan and Russia, a high-level strategy to secure Joseon’s position.
His handwriting forms precise, square shapes, with clear angles and well-connected lines, indicating his conservative nature. He was staunchly anti-feudal and anti-foreign, believing that Korea must eradicate corruption in the court and repel foreign powers. His cryptic handwriting, which took ten years to decipher, reads, “龍過江 必有風 信鳳人,” meaning, “When a dragon crosses a river, there will surely be winds, and great individuals will emerge.” In other words, when Korea faces great changes and challenges, a great leader will arise to overcome them. The phoenix, revered even by the Chinese as an auspicious symbol exclusive to the East, particularly Korea, represents this great leader.
