INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
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page 2609
REFLECTIONS OF FAMILY, GENDER, AND SOCIAL VALUES IN UZBEK AND
KOREAN PROVERBS
Bazarova Shaxlo Shuxratovna
Senior teacher at Samarkand State University
Samarkand,Uzbekistan
Email:shahina2444@mail.ru
Abstract:
This article explores a specific genre within Uzbek and Korean folk traditions —
proverbs. It focuses on how proverbs reflect and address gender-related themes. Folklore
includes various forms of expression such as songs, riddles, and sayings attributed to both
women and men. The article examines the unique characteristics of proverbs as a distinct genre
within this cultural context.
Key words:
gender roles, social values, poetics, gender, concept, proverb, feeling, folklore,
character, nation, mentality, spiritual interpretation.
Introduction
:Women's prose occupies a significant place in South Korean literature,
with a distinct historical trajectory that spans several periods of development. Unfortunately,
this topic has not yet received sufficient scholarly attention within Uzbek Korean studies. A
closer examination of the subject reveals that numerous genres within Korean oral folk
traditions express the emotional world and inner experiences of women. Notably, both Uzbek
and Korean oral folklore—particularly genres such as proverbs, riddles, quatrains, and folk
songs—offer vivid representations of gender-related themes. When these genres are analyzed in
depth, it becomes evident that they reflect the distinct realms of women and men, conveyed
through specific details and imagery.
In discussing the linguocultural features of proverbs, it is essential to address the unique
national character and mentality of each people. Proverbs, as a condensed form of cultural
expression, play a vital role in reflecting the worldview, history, traditions, and mentality of a
nation. They are a priceless component of folk creativity, emdiving the spiritual and cultural
identity of a people. As the renowned linguist Dal noted, “A collection of proverbs is a treasury
of wisdom drawn from the language and experience of the people, a distillation of common
sense, and a reflection of life’s truths as understood by the nation.” A comparative analysis of
Korean and Uzbek proverbs reveals them as mirrors of the historical, spiritual, and material
cultures of their respective peoples. Therefore, the comparative study of proverbs from different
languages offers valuable insight into the cultural and national characteristics of each people
and provides a deeper understanding of their mentality.
Moreover, gender representation holds particular importance in oral folklore genres. For
instance, Uzbek folklore includes proverbs specifically voiced by women that reflect their
living conditions and societal roles. These proverbs often address issues such as women's
upbringing, behavior, and perceived shortcomings, offering a window into the gender norms
and values embedded in traditional culture.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 2610
Proverbs Expressed from the Female
Perspective
Proverbs Expressed from the Male
Perspective
A petty mullah is the disgrace of religion;
A bad wife is the disgrace of flour.
Forty skills are too few for a man.
A child's nature is seen from a young age;
A woman's nature is known from her early
behavior.
A man has one soul,
A girl has forty.
A woman's beauty lies not in makeup, but in her
intellect.
A man’s wealth lies underground.
A div that did not receive a mother’s milk
Will not benefit from any nourishment.
If the father is pleased,
God is pleased.
A poplar grows by the elm,
A girl grows by watching her mother.
A young man worries about his people,
The people’s sorrow lies in his heart.
Do not enter the house of one with a bad door,
And do not marry the daughter of a bad mother.
If the people are strong, the man will not suffer
disgrace;
If the man is strong, the people will not suffer
disgrace.
The concept of "mentality" has only recently been incorporated into linguistic paradigms, yet it
is now widely applied across various fields. In a narrow sense, mentality is understood as a
"sphere of thought" or "worldview," while in a broader sense, it encompasses a people's
morality, upbringing, and imagination.
Literature Review and Methodology
: Linguist Boldirev categorizes world cultures into three
types based on their orientation toward the past, present, and future. The first group, described
as "conservative" cultures, places great importance on traditions. Examples of such cultures
include English, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and French. The second group is oriented toward
the present, living "in the here and now." These cultures tend to be more impressionable and
make decisions based on immediate circumstances. Latin American countries, the Philippines,
Ireland, and Turkey fall into this category. The third group, future-oriented cultures, emphasize
development and accumulation of resources for the future. North American cultures exemplify
this type. The cultures of the Korean and Uzbek peoples, which are the focus of this study, can
be classified within the "conservative" category. Therefore, proverbs from both cultures reflect
universal human values, virtues, customs, and philosophical concepts. Notably, identical or
similar proverbs in both languages may sometimes convey the same meaning, while at other
times, they express distinct characteristics unique to each culture.
For instance, Korean
proverbs include those created by women, reflecting details and everyday life situations specific
to their experiences. These genres also reveal social stratification in Korea. Proverbs, folk tales,
and songs of the lower social classes often express the despair and resentment of impoverished
people. This should be regarded as a natural phenomenon, as their poverty and the constant
domination by the upper classes have led to such feelings of despondency. Since proverbs
mirror the realities of life, it is natural for them to contain elements of hatred or grievance. The
sorrow expressed in these proverbs primarily represents the dissatisfaction and poverty of
women. For example:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
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Proverbs Spoken by Women
Korean Proverb
Explanation in English
여자가 한을 품으면 오뉴월에도 서리가 내
린다
A woman’s resentment is so powerful that it
can cause frost even in the height of summer.
시집 가서는 귀머거리
3
년이요
,
벙어리
3
년이라
After marriage, a woman is like a deaf person
for three years and mute for three years
(implying silence and submission in early
married life).
때리는 시어미보다 말리는 시누이가 더 밉
다
I dislike the sister-in-law who stops me more
than the mother-in-law who hits me.
아이가 셋이면 석 자 가시가 걸리지 않는다
In a household with three children, even the
sharpest thorn will not prick the mother
(meaning a busy mother has less time to worry
about troubles).
자식을 복 전에 어머니를 보랬다
Before looking at one’s children’s fortunes,
one should look after their mother.
둘째 며느리 삼아 보아야 맏며느리 착한 줄
안다
Only after taking a second daughter-in-law
does one realize how good the first one is.
Results:
Women often attribute these conflicts to poverty. Proverbs expressing poverty and
hardship are abundant, such as “
가난 구제는 나라도 못한다
” (“Even the government cannot
alleviate poverty”), “
똥구멍이 찢어지게 가난하다
” (“So poor that even the anus is torn”), and
“
피죽도 쑤어 줄 것 없고
,
새앙쥐 볼가심할 것 없다
” (“There is nothing even to cook thin
porridge, nor anything to soothe a newborn mouse”). Many of these proverbs indirectly attest to
the severity of poverty in people’s lives. Regarding the concept of mentality in Uzbek proverbs,
themes such as diligence, loyalty, respect for parents, and women’s roles in society are among
the most cherished topics in Uzbek culture. These values are equally reflected in Korean
proverbs, as diligence, respect for elders, honor for the young, and honesty are significant
virtues uniting Uzbek and Korean literary traditions.
Indeed,
proverbs
constitute
a
people's cultural heritage. They encapsulate a nation’s entire worldview, lifestyle, character,
and beliefs. Since each nation has its own unique traits, these characteristics inevitably
influence their proverbs. Even when the themes of proverbs are similar, the imagery and
expressions used are never identical. These distinctive portrayals provide the proverbs with
their national color and cultural specificity.
Discussion
: Above, we emphasized the presence of gender-specific features in oral folk
creativity, highlighting vivid examples within Korean folklore. To illustrate, we refer to the
following examples:
Proverbs Spoken by Men
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
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page 2612
Korean Proverb
Explanation in English
사위 사랑은 장모 며느리 사랑은 시아버지
The son-in-law is favored by the mother-in-
law, the daughter-in-law is favored by the
father-in-law.
영감님 주머니 돈은 내 돈이요 아들 주머니
돈은 사돈네 돈이다
The old man’s pocket money is mine, but the
son’s pocket money belongs to the in-laws
(implying different attitudes toward family
finances).
그 아버지에 그 아들
Like father, like son.
There is an important aspect that unites Korean and Uzbek proverbs: the issue of
upbringing. In the proverbs of both peoples, the family is regarded as sacred, with parents
holding a significant and authoritative position, and the upbringing of children is considered the
highest value. The character of children is often judged by the nature of their parents, as
children typically imitate their parents and strive to resemble them. Thus, the qualities of
parents are reflected in their offspring. Proverbs related to upbringing are frequently
encountered in the oral traditions of both cultures. This is because upbringing remains a vital
concern across all times and places, whether in Uzbek or Korean contexts. It is also important
to acknowledge that the figures of the “mother-in-law” and “daughter-in-law” are extensively
represented not only in Uzbek proverbs but also in Korean folk sayings. This is due to the
deeply ingrained value in both Korean and Uzbek cultures of honoring and caring for parents in
their old age, regarded as a sacred duty and the highest obligation. Consequently, even after
marriage, children often continue living with their parents. Therefore, the mother-in-law and
daughter-in-law relationship is an inseparable part of everyday life, and this relationship is
treated with great seriousness in both cultures.
Conclusion
: In conclusion, oral folk genres emdiv the spirit, morality, culture, and customs of
a people. In this study, we examined one genre of oral folklore—the genre of proverbs—and
analyzed the issue of gender within it. The presence of proverbs attributed to both women and
men in Uzbek and Korean folklore demonstrates that from the earliest stages of social
development, women’s creativity and their roles in society and the family have always occupied
a prominent place. This observation supports our understanding of the significant status of
women in traditional societies.
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
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page 2613
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