Uku Masing (born Hugo Albert Masing, 11 August 1909 – 25 April 1985) was an

Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...

polymath A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, ...

who contributed to

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

oriental studies Oriental studies is the academic field that studies Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology. In recent years, the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Middle Eastern studie ...

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

and to the field of

ethnology Ethnology (from the , meaning 'nation') is an academic field and discipline that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology). Sci ...

. He was a significant figure in Estonian religious philosophy. Masing also wrote poetry, mostly on religious issues. Masing authored one novel, ''Rapanui vabastamine ehk Kajakad jumalate kalmistul'' (''Liberation of

Rapa Nui Easter Island (, ; , ) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is renowned for its nearly 1,000 extant monumental statues, ...

'', or ''Seagulls at the Cemetery of Gods'') in the late 1930s, which was published posthumously in 1989. As a folklorist, he was a distinguished researcher of fairy tales, contributing to the international '' Encyclopedia of the Folktale''. He was awarded the

Righteous Among The Nations Righteous Among the Nations ( ) is a title used by Yad Vashem to describe people who, for various reasons, made an effort to assist victims, mostly Jews, who were being persecuted and exterminated by Nazi Germany, Fascist Romania, Fascist Italy, ...

Yad Vashem Yad Vashem (; ) is Israel's official memorial institution to the victims of Holocaust, the Holocaust known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (). It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Jews who were murdered; echoing the stories of the ...

and the

Israeli Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Israel (, Hebrew acronym Bagatz; ) is the Supreme court, highest court in Israel. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all other courts, and in some cases original jurisdiction. The Supreme Court consists of 15 jud ...

for his participation during the

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

in helping a

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

in Estonia escape capture from 1941 until the end of the war. His actions exposed him to great danger during this period requiring him to meet with his friend as well as lying to the

Gestapo The (, ), Syllabic abbreviation, abbreviated Gestapo (), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of F ...

Early life

Masing was born in Lipa village, Raikküla Parish,

Rapla County Rapla County ( or ''Raplamaa'') is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in the north-western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Harju County to ...

, on 11 August 1909 as Hugo Albert Masing. His parents were Ado Masing and Anna Masing. He had one sibling, a younger sister named Agnes Masing (married surname, Saag) born in 1911. A gifted polyglot, he was able to speak four languages by the end of secondary school and forty by the end of his life. He started to study theology at the

University of Tartu The University of Tartu (UT; ; ) is a public research university located in the city of Tartu, Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is also the largest and oldest university in the country.

in 1926. During his time there and after his graduation he published numerous poems, translations, and essays. His most famous work was in 1935 with the publication of ''Promontories into the Gulf of Rains'' (Estonian: ''Neemed vihmade lahte''). Masing was a member of the influential group of Estonian poets brought together in 1938 by literary scholar Ants Oras, who was greatly influenced by

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist and playwright.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biography''. New York: Oxford University ...

. The small circle of poets became known as '' Arbujad'' ("Soothsayers") and included Heiti Talvik, Betti Alver, Paul Viiding, Mart Raud, Bernard Kangro, August Sang and Kersti Merilaas. At his peak Masing was able to speak around 65 languages with the ability to translate from 20 of them. He was known for his ability to translate straight from original

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

, occidental European and oriental languages into

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also

...

. Such was his prolific nature that it is estimated over 10,000 pages of his manuscripts have yet to be published. Masing was known for his anti-German sentiment, which was the core of what at times was his general dislike of the Indo-European people (whom he sometimes called 'ethnic garbage' and referred to as Indo-Germanic people).

Righteous Among the Nations award

Masing lectured at the

in Estonia, where he was known as a brilliant teacher of theology and Semitic languages, if somewhat eccentric. After the German invasion of Estonia in World War II he gave up his teaching post at the university and devoted his time to protecting and salvaging Jewish cultural and religious items. Masing knew the Jewish folklorist, narrative researcher and theologian Isidor Levin from his teaching days, and decided to hide him from the Germans who most certainly would have brought him to death. Masing and his wife Eha helped Levin evade capture by supplying him with food, shelter, clothing and even forged documents, while on occasion lying to the

about knowledge of Isidor. For these actions, Masing and his wife were honoured as

Righteous Among the Nations Righteous Among the Nations ( ) is a title used by Yad Vashem to describe people who, for various reasons, made an effort to assist victims, mostly Jews, who were being persecuted and exterminated by Nazi Germany, Fascist Romania, Fascist Italy, ...

.The Righteous: The Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust By Sir Martin Gilbert; P.31
After the war, Masing also took part in investigating Nazi war crimes, in particular the Klooga concentration camp where many Jews had been killed.

Selection of scientific works

*193
"The Word of Yahweh"
— Acta et commentationes Universitatis Tartuensis (Dorpatensis). B, Humaniora. XXXIX, Tartu, 1936, pp. 1–60. *193
"Der Prophet Obadja. Bd. I: Einleitung in das Buch des Propheten Obadja. Teil I"
— Acta et commentationes Universitatis Tartuensis (Dorpatensis). B, Humaniora, XLI, Tartu, 1938, pp. 1–176. *1938 "Die Proklamation des Tab'alsohnes (Zu Zach. 9)". — In piam memcriam A. von Bulmerincq, Riga, 1938, pp. 117–126. *194
"Die Entstehung des Märchens vom gestohlenen Donnerinstrument (Aarne-Thompson 1148B)"
— Zeitschrift für deutsches Altertum und deutsche Literatur 81, 1944, pp. 23–31. *1960 "Das Evangelium des Alten Testaments". — Communio Viatorum 2, 1960, pp. 123–132. *1961 "Confessio amantis". — Communio Viatorum, 1961, pp. 139–160. *1963 "Panta dynata". — Communio Viatorum 4, pp. 242–262. *196
"C. Scott Littleton, The New Comparative Mythology: an anthropological assessment of the theories of Georges Dumézil"
—

Semiotica ''Semiotica'' is an academic journal covering semiotics. It is the official journal of the International Association for Semiotic Studies. Publication Since 2000, the journal publishes five issues per year. It is published in English and French. ...

1, 1969, pp. 339–355. *1973 "De hermeneutica". — Communio Viatorum 1–2, 1973, pp. 1–29 *197
"Akkadisches miksu in Osteuropa"
— Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft im Alten Vorderasien, J. Harmatta and G. Komoróczy (toim.); Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientarum Hungaricae 22, 1974 / 1976, pp. 521–526. *1976 "Some remarks on the mythology of the people of Catal Hüyük". — Acta et commentationes Universitatis Tartuensis 392: Oriental Studies 3 / Tartu Riikliku Ülikooli Toimetised 392, Töid orientalistika alalt 3, Tartu 1976, pp. 75–92. *1979 "Elpida echomen". — Communio Viatorum 1, 1979, pp. 1–28 *198
"Die "Hand" im Alten. Testament und die estnische Übersetzung"
— La main et les doigts dans l´expression linguistique, Lacito-Documents Eurasie 6, Paris, SELAF, 1981, pp. 213–222. *198
"Der Gegnersucher (AT 650 B). Varianten aus Kaukasien und Sibirien"
— Acta et commentationes Universitatis Tartuensis 558 / Oriental Studies VI, Tartu, 1981, lk. 17–35. *1982 Isidor Levin, Uku Masing
Armenische Märchen
— Eugen Diedrichs Verlag, Düsseldorf, 1982, 283 pp. *198
"Ocellot, Mal Ocellot"
— Folklorica: Festschrift for Felix J. Oinas. Indiana University, Uralic and Altaic Series 141. Bloomington, Indiana: Research Institute for Inner Asian Studies, 1982, pp. 173–184. *1984 "Esten". �
Enzyklopädie des Märchens. Handwörterbuch zur historischen und vergleichenden Erzählforschung
4. Berlin -New York: Walter de Gruyter, 1984, pp. 479–491.

About Uku Masing

* Vincent B. Leitch
"Religious Vision in Modern Poetry: Uku Masing Compared with Hopkins and Eliot"
- Journal of Baltic Studies 5, 1974, pp. 281–294. * Ivar Ivask
"Uku Masing: A poet between east and west"
- Journal of Baltic Studies 8, 1977, pp. 16–21. * Aira Võsa
"Spiegelt Sprache die Seele? Einige Aspekte in der religiösen Identität der Estinnen und Esten in den Augen von Uku Masing"
– Journal of the European Society of Women in Theological Research 14, 2006, pp. 109–120. * Peeter Espak

- Forschungen zur Anthropologie und Religionsgeschichte 43, 2012, pp. 71–85. * Urmas Nõmmik

- Forschungen zur Anthropologie und Religionsgeschichte 43, 2012, pp. 187–198.

References

External links

Uku Masing
– his activity to save Jews' lives during the

, at

website * *
''Uku Masing compared with Hopkins and Eliot'' by Vincent B. Leich
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masing, Uku 1909 births 1985 deaths People from Rapla Parish People from Kreis Harrien 20th-century Estonian philosophers 20th-century Estonian poets 20th-century Estonian translators Estonian theologians Analytic philosophers Anti-German sentiment in Europe Estonian folklorists Linguists from Estonia Religious philosophers Translators from Arabic Translators from Catalan Translators from Coptic Translators from English Translators from French Translators from German Translators from Greek Translators from Hebrew Translators from Italian Translators from Japanese Translators from Latin Translators from Sanskrit Translators from Sumerian Translators to Estonian Arbujad University of Tartu alumni Academic staff of the University of Tartu Righteous Among the Nations Burials at Raadi cemetery