A History of Korea and Korean Music

The Three Periods

Most historians and scholars separate the history of Korean music into three distinct periods: Ancient Medieval Modern

Samguk Sagi

1Most of what we know about the ancient and traditional periods of Korean Music comes from a book known as the Samguk Sagi, “The History of the Three Kingdoms (of Korea)”

Though Korean, the book is written in Chinese script, the language of scholars all over East Asia

The book is the first compilation of Korean history, and the section that tells us about music and ceremony is called “Treatises”

1146 C.E.

Music of Ancient Period

The music of the ancient period (known as akkamu )subdivides into two major practices2:

Angmu – music and dance

Kamu – song and dance

Again, it should be reinforced that both performances were carried out as religious rites to honor the spirits of the earth and heavens.

• Based on religious rites and celebrations

• Used to honor nature, particularly the sun, the heavens, and the earth

The Amsa-dong Settlement is a re-imagining of what

ancient Korean settlements may have looked like.

The oldest form of Korean music is called sinawi. It developed in the ancient period as a way to communicate stories through

song3.

시나위

Goryeo Dynasty (918 – 1392)

4Established in 918 with the complete unification of warring tribal states, the dynasty is generally considered to be the beginning of the “medieval” era for Korea.

The period is known for its revitalization of Korean culture; it is the first time we can consider any cultural work as coming from a people who are uniquely “Korean.”

Joseon Dynasty(1392 – 1897)

Following the overthrow of the Goryeo dynasty, the Joseon rulers moved the capital to Seoul, where it remains today.

Joseon rule is marked by the rise of stringent legal restrictions and the rise of Confucianism as the official state religion.

Daechwita

Literally, “the great blowing and hitting”

Music of military processions and martial exercises during the Joseon Dynasty.

A Shift in Culture

*It is important to note the shift of the music’s primary intention – from religious worship to honoring the courts; the cultural dynamic shifts from religious to secular

The internal shift of Korean culture is moving from spiritual Buddhism to the more earthly-concerned Confucianism, and this change will be reflected in their music and art.

Medieval Music

Jeongak - the preferred style of the ruling upper-class; literally translates to “right” or “correct” music. Style emphasizes stringed and wind

instruments, especially the haegeum and the sogeum

Nongak – village music preferred by the larger population of commoners; literally translates to “farmer’s music” Style is mostly percussive, with the use of

multiple drums or buk

정악

농악

정악 Jeongak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OcZ2cxpgEw

농악 Nongak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RXxccApAvY

The Dawn of Modern Korea

Early In 1897, Joseon Korea became an imperialist state, unified under

Emperor Gojong. This would last until 1910, when the Empire of Japan would claim

Korea as a protectorate.

During Japanese rule, much of Korean culture was censored and suppressed, and otherwise replaced by Japanese influence.

Late The Japanese essentially ruled Korea until 1945. In 1950, the Korean War began, dividing the country into two

entities, North and South, which still exist today.

Early ModernKorean Music• During the occupation

of Korea by Japan, Joseon culture was

replaced with that of the Japanese.

• The courtly presentations of the Korean Joseon were replaced by imperial

marches and nationalist Japanese music.

• Oftentimes, this music embodied an anti-

western attitude along with being pro-Japanese,

especially during the height of the Second

World War.

Evolution of Anthems

Daehan Jeguk Aegukga – National

Anthem of the Joseon Korean Empire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo10zQKLPTU&src_vid=wZffHtvxtSs&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_4244696355

Lyrics: “God help the Emperor/May he live forever/Bestow treasures like mountain piles/May his influence and power reach across the world/Fifty million times may his blessings be renewed every day/God help the Emperor6

Aegukga – Current National

Anthem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CceXXXubvdE

Contemporary Popular Korean Music

(1955 - )

During the period immediately following the Korean War, the music of South Korea would become molded by foreign influence Western genres like orchestral music

and , soon to be followed by more contemporary styles like rock n’ roll and dance music.

Since foreign music began to influence Korea during the Joseon period, native Korean music and the music influenced by outsiders were set apart from one another, Yangak – music from outside influence,

(literally, “foreign music” Gugak – traditional, Korean music,

(literally “people’s music”) At times, however, these styles blend

together, as is the case for Korean New wave.

Genres of South Korean music:

Korean rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XixiMWRKbT0

Korean Pop (or “K-Pop”):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mPqycQ0tQ

Korean New Wave:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkx2IaGudb8

Korean Rap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0

Works Cited

1Lee, P. (1993). Sourcebook of Korean Civilization. (1st ed.) New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

2Bang-Song, S. (2000). Korean music: Historical and Other Aspects. Seoul, South Korea Jipmoondang Publishing Company.

3Kim, P. (1984). Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms.

4Kumja, P. (2003) Goryeo Dynasty: Korea’s Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392. San Francisco, CA: Chong-Moon Lee Asian Arts Center.

5Duncan, J. (2000) The Origins of the Choson Dynasty. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

6Koh, M. Korean Empire Retrieved from http://www.nationalanthems.info/kor.htm