The publication of Promontories into the Gulf of Rains in 1935 established Uku Masing as a significant voice within Estonian religious philosophy. Born in the village of Lipa in 1909, Masing developed into a polymath whose extensive body of work spanned theology, linguistics, and poetry, leaving behind over 10,000 pages of unpublished manuscripts upon his death in 1985.
Academic Foundation and Linguistic Range
Masing enrolled at the University of Tartu in 1926 to study theology. A gifted polyglot, he mastered numerous languages throughout his career, eventually attaining the ability to speak approximately 65 tongues and translate from 20. His expertise allowed him to translate directly from Hebrew and various oriental languages into Estonian. As a researcher, he contributed to international folklore studies, notably the Encyclopedia of the Folktale, and produced a series of academic texts on Semitic languages and mythology, including his 1936 work, The Word of Yahweh.
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In 1938, Masing joined a literary circle known as the Arbujad, or Soothsayers, organized by the scholar Ants Oras. This group, which included figures like Betti Alver and Heiti Talvik, focused on themes often influenced by T. S. Eliot. Masing’s own poetic output concentrated primarily on religious subjects. His only novel, Rapanui vabastamine ehk Kajakad jumalate kalmistul, was composed in the late 1930s but remained unpublished until 1989.
Holocaust Rescue and Recognition
Following the German invasion of Estonia during World War II, Masing resigned his teaching position at the University of Tartu. He and his wife, Eha, orchestrated the protection of the Jewish folklorist and theologian Isidor Levin. The couple provided food, clothing, and shelter to Levin, utilizing forged documents and deceptive statements to the Gestapo to ensure his safety. In 1969, Masing was honored as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem and the Israeli Supreme Court. After the war, he participated in investigations into Nazi crimes, specifically at the Klooga concentration camp.
Fast facts
- Born: 1909, Lipa
- Died: 1985, Tartu
- Education: University of Tartu
- Primary Occupations: Theologian, philosopher, poet, linguist
- Award: Righteous Among the Nations (1969)
- Languages spoken: Approx. 65
- Burial site: Raadi cemetery
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Uku Masing research?
He focused on theology, Semitic languages, oriental studies, philosophy, ethnology, and folklore.
How did Masing assist Jewish people during the Holocaust?
He and his wife hid the theologian Isidor Levin, providing him with shelter, food, and forged documents while deceiving Nazi authorities.
Achievements
- Righteous Among the Nations — 1969
- Worked as linguist, philosopher and poet
- Educated at University of Tartu