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This article is about the traditional culture of Korea. For the modern culture, see Culture
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Contents
[hide]
1Traditional arts
1 1.1Dance
2 1.2Painting
3 1.3Crafts
4 1.4Ceramics
5 1.5Music
2Lifestyle
6 2.1Homes
7 2.2Gardens
8 2.3Clothing
9 2.4Cuisine
10 2.5Tea
11 2.6Festivals of the lunar calendar
12 2.7Beliefs
3World Heritage Sites
13 3.1Jongmyo Shrine
14 3.2Changdeokgung
15 3.3Bulguksa
16 3.4Tripitaka Koreana and Haeinsa
17 3.5Hwaseong
18 3.6Namhansanseong
19 3.7Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong
20 3.8Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa sites
21 3.9Gyeongju Area
22 3.10Complex of Goguryeo Tombs
23 3.11Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
24 3.12Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong
4See also
5References
6External links
Traditional arts[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Korean art ᄃ
Dance[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Korean dance ᄃ
Jinju geommu
Music, there is a distinction between court dance and folk dance. Common court dances
are jeongjaemu (정재무) performed at banquets, and ilmu (일무), performed at Korean
Confucian rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (향악정재, hyangak
jeongjae) and forms imported from Central Asia and China (당악정재, dangak jeongjae).
Ilmu are divided into civil dance (문무, munmu) and military dance (무무, mumu). Many
mask dramas and mask dances are performed in many regional areas of Korea.[7] The
traditional clothing is the genja, it is a special kind of dress that women wear on festivals.
It is pink with multiple symbols around the neck area.
Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary productions.
Taekkyeon ᄃ, a traditional Korean martial art, is central to the classic Korean dance.
Taekkyeon, being a complete system of integrated movement, found its core techniques
adaptable to mask, dance and other traditional artforms of Korea.
Painting[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Korean painting ᄃ
A celadon incense
burner from the Goryeo
Dynasty with Korean
kingfisher glaze
The use of earthenware
ᄃ on the Korean
peninsula goes back to
the Neolithic ᄃ. The
history of Korean
Ceramics ᄃ is long and
includes both Korean
pottery a later
development after the
traditional use of coils
and hammered clay to
create early votive and
sculptural artifacts.
During the Three Kingdoms period ᄃ, pottery was advanced in Silla ᄃ. The pottery ᄃ was
fired using a deoxidizing flame, which caused the distinctive blue grey celadon color ᄃ.
The surface was embossed with various geometrical patterns.
In the Goryeo period, jade green celadon ware became more popular. In the 12th century
sophisticated methods of inlaying were invented, allowing more elaborate decorations in
different colours. In Arts of Korea, Evelyn McCune states, "During the twelfth century,
the production of ceramic ware reached its highest refinement. Several new varieties
appeared simultaneously in the quarter of a century, one of which, the inlaid ware must be
considered a Korean invention."[9] Neither the Chinese nor the Japanese had produced
inlaid celadon, which was unique to Goryeo wares. William Bowyer Honey of the
Victoria and Albert Museum of England ᄃ, who after World War II wrote, "The best
Corean (Korean) wares were not only original, they are the most gracious and unaffected
pottery ever made. They have every virtue that pottery can have. This Corean pottery, in
fact, reached heights hardly attained even by the Chinese."[10]
White porcelain ᄃ became popular in the 15th century. It soon overtook celadon ware.
White porcelain was commonly painted or decorated with copper.
During the Imjin wars ᄃ in the 16th century, Korean potters were brought back to Japan ᄃ
where they heavily influenced Japanese ceramics.[11]Many Japanese pottery families
today can trace their art and ancestry to these Korean potters whom the Japanese captured
by the thousands during its repeated conquests of the Korean peninsula.[12][13][14]
In the late Joseon period (late 17th century) blue-and-white porcelain became popular.
Designs were painted in cobalt blue on white porcelain.
Music[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Music of Korea ᄃ
Pungmul
There is a genre
distinction between
folk music and court
music. Korean folk
music is varied and
complex, but all
forms maintain a set
of rhythms (called 장
단; Jangdan) and a
loosely defined set of melodic modes. Korean folk musics are Pansori ᄃ (판소리)
performed by one singer and one drummer. Occasionally, there might be dancers and
narraters. They have been designated an intangible cultural property in UNESCO's
Memory of the world ᄃ,[15] and Pungmul ᄃ (풍물) performed by drumming, dancing and
singing. Samul Nori is a type of Korean traditional music based on Pungmul, and Sanjo ᄃ
(산조) that is played without a pause in faster tempos. Nongak ᄃ (농악) means "farmers'
music".
Korean court music ᄃ can be traced to the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392.
Korean court musics include A-ak ᄃ, Dang-ak ᄃ and Hyang-ak ᄃ. Korean music is still
played and sung a lot.
Lifestyle[edit ᄃ]
Homes[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Korean architecture ᄃ
Traditional house,
hanok (한옥)
Traditional
farmer's house;
Folk Village,
Seoul
Korean traditional
houses are called
Hanok ᄃ (Hangul ᄃ:한
옥). Sites of residence are traditionally selected using traditional geomancy ᄃ. Although
geomancy had been a vital part of Korean culture and Korean Shamanism ᄃ since
prehistoric times, geomancy was later re-introduced by China during the Three Kingdoms
ᄃ period of Korea's history.
A house should be built against a hill and face south to receive as much sunlight as
possible. This orientation is still preferred in modern Korea. Geomancy also influences
the shape of the building, the direction it faces and the material the house is constructed
with.
Traditional Korean houses can be structured into an inner wing (안채, anchae) and an
outer wing (사랑채, sarangchae). The individual layout largely depends on the region and
the wealth of the family. Whereas aristocrats used the outer wing for receptions, poorer
people kept cattle in the sarangchae. The wealthier a family, the larger the house.
However, it was forbidden to any family except for the king to have a residence of more
than 99 kan. A kan is the distance between two pillars used in traditional houses.
The inner wing normally consisted of a living room, a kitchen and a wooden-floored
central hall. More rooms may be attached to this. Poorer farmers would not have any
outer wing. Floor heating (온돌, ondol ᄃ) has been used in Korea since prehistoric times.
The main building materials are wood ᄃ, clay ᄃ, tile ᄃ, stone ᄃ, and thatch ᄃ. Because
wood and clay were the most common materials used in the past not many old buildings
have survived into present times.
Gardens[edit ᄃ]
Hyangwonjeong, a
garden in
Gyeongbokgung,
Seoul
The principles of
temple gardens
and private
gardens are the same. Korean gardening in East Asia ᄃ is influenced by primarily Korean
Shamanism ᄃ and Korean folk religion ᄃ. Shamanism emphasizes nature and mystery,
paying great attention to the details of the layout. In contrast to Japanese and Chinese
gardens, which fill a garden with man made elements, traditional Korean gardens ᄃ avoid
artificialities, trying to make a garden "more natural than nature".
The lotus ᄃ pond is an important feature in the Korean garden. If there is a natural stream,
often a pavilion is built next to it, allowing the pleasure of watching the water ᄃ. Terraced
flower beds are a common feature in traditional Korean ᄃ gardens.
The Poseokjeong site near Gyeongju ᄃ was built in the Silla ᄃ period. It highlights the
importance of water in traditional Korean gardens. The garden of Poseokjeong features
an abalone-shaped watercourse. During the last days of the Silla ᄃ kingdom, the king's
guests would sit along the watercourse and chat while wine cups were floated during
banquets.
Clothing[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Hanbok ᄃ
See also: List of Korean clothing ᄃ
Hanbok
Bibimbap
Rice ᄃ is the staple food ᄃ of Korea.
Having been an almost exclusively agricultural country until recently, the essential
recipes in Korea are shaped by this experience. The main crops in Korea are rice, barley ᄃ,
beans ᄃ and Gochujang (hot pepper paste), but many supplementary crops are used. Fish
ᄃ and other seafood ᄃ are also important because Korea is a peninsula.
Fermented ᄃ recipes were also developed in early times, and often characterize traditional
Korean food. These include pickled ᄃ fish and pickled vegetables. This kind of food
provides essential proteins ᄃ and vitamins ᄃ during the winter.
A number of dishes have been developed. These can be divided into ceremonial foods
and ritual foods. Ceremonial foods are used when a child reaches 100 days, at the first
birthday, at a wedding ceremony, and the sixtieth birthday. Ritual foods are used at
funerals, at ancestral rites, shaman's offerings and as temple food.
A distinguishing characteristic of Temple Food is that it does not use the common five
strong-flavoured ingredients of Korean cuisine ᄃ--(garlic ᄃ, spring onion ᄃ, wild
rocambole ᄃ, leek ᄃ, and ginger ᄃ), and meat.
Kimchi ᄃ is one of the famous foods of Korea. Kimchi is pickled vegetables which
contain vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, iron, calcium, carotene, etc. There are
many types of kimchi including cabbage kimchi, spring onion kimchi, cucumber kimchi,
radish ᄃ kimchi, and sesame kimchi.
For ceremonies and rituals rice cakes ᄃ are vital. The colouring of the food and the
ingredients of the recipes are matched with a balance of yin and yang ᄃ.
Today, surasang ᄃ (traditional court ᄃ cuisine) is available to the whole population. In the
past vegetable dishes were essential, but meat consumption has increased. Traditional
dishes include ssambap ᄃ, bulgogi ᄃ, sinseollo ᄃ, kimchi ᄃ, bibimbap ᄃ, and gujeolpan ᄃ.
Tea[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Korean tea ᄃ
Originally tea was used for ceremonial purposes or as part of traditional herbal medicine
ᄃ. Some of teas made of fruits, leaves, seeds or roots are enjoyed. Five tastes of tea are
distinguished in Korea: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent.
Festivals of the lunar calendar[edit ᄃ]
Main article: Korean calendar ᄃ
Daeboreum
The traditional Korean
calendar ᄃ was based on
the lunisolar calendar ᄃ.
[17] Dates are
calculated from Korea's
meridian ᄃ.
Observances and festivals are rooted in Korean culture. The Korean lunar calendar ᄃ is
divided into 24 turning points (절기, jeolgi), each lasting about 15 days. The lunar
calendar was the timetable for the agrarian society in the past, but is vanishing in the
modern Korean lifestyle.
The Gregorian calendar ᄃ was officially adopted in 1895, but traditional holidays and age
reckoning ᄃ are still based on the old calendar.[17][18] Older generations still celebrate
their birthdays according to the lunar calendar.
The biggest festival in Korea today is Seollal (the traditional Korean New Year ᄃ). Other
important festivals include Daeboreum ᄃ (the first full moon), Dano ᄃ (spring festival),
and Chuseok ᄃ (harvest festival).
There are also a number of regional festivals, celebrated according to the lunar calendar.
See also Public holidays in North Korea ᄃ and Public holidays in South Korea ᄃ.
Beliefs[edit ᄃ]
Main articles: Korean shamanism ᄃ, Korean Buddhism ᄃ, and Korean Confucianism ᄃ
Haeinsa
The original
religion of
the Korean
people was
Shamanism ᄃ,
which though
not as
widespread
as in ancient times, still survives to this day. Female shamans or mudang are often called
upon to enlist the help of various spirits to achieve various means.
Buddhism ᄃ and Confucianism ᄃ were later introduced to Korea through cultural
exchanges with Chinese dynasties. Buddhism was the official religion of the Goryeo
dynasty, and many privileges were given to Buddhist monks during this period. However,
the Joseon period saw the suppression of Buddhism, where Buddhist monks and temples
were banned from the cities and confined to the countryside. In its place a strict form of
Confucianism ᄃ, which some see as even more strict than what had ever been adopted by
the Chinese, became the official philosophy.[19] Korean Confucianism ᄃ was epitomized
by the seonbi ᄃ class, scholars who passed up positions of wealth and power to lead lives
of study and integrity.
Throughout Korean history and culture, regardless of separation, the traditional beliefs of
Korean Shamanism ᄃ, Mahayana Buddhism ᄃ and Confucianism ᄃ have remained an
underlying influence of the religion of the Korean people as well as a vital aspect of their
culture.[20] In fact, all these traditions coexisted peacefully for hundreds of years. They
still exist in the more Christian South[21][22][23] and in the North, despite pressure from
its government ᄃ.[24][25]
In 1945, South Korea welcomed liberation from 36 years of Japanese colonial rule. Three
years later, it established a government based on liberal democracy and a market
economy. As the result of industrialization during the 1960s and 1970s, South Korea has
now grown to become a key global economy from the world's poorest and most hopeless
country.
During the process of development, two competing forces formed in South Korea: those
in favor of industrialization and those democratic forces rallying around the opposition
party. The conflict continued until the first half of 1980s. Democratization was completed
in 1986 when the decision was made to directly elect the president. Until that time, South
Korea had only directly elected its president a few times since the founding of the country
in 1948.
Throughout this process, South Korea has practiced the values of liberal democracy and
the principles of a market economy modeled on the efficient U.S. system. In addition,
South Korea has fostered three new values: peace, reconciliation and development.
Peace
The South Korean people learned the importance of peace through their three-year
experience during the Korean War, which began in 1950. The Korean War began at a time
when communism had spread to many parts of the world. South Korea and the United
States blocked this spread together. Since the cease-fire of Korean War, South Korea has
enjoyed relative peace and successfully developed both its economy and political system.
By contrast, North Korea has rejected peace and immersed itself in preparing for
aggression.
Reconciliation
South Korea has reconciled twice with a once aggressive neighbor. In 1965, South Korea
established diplomatic relations with Japan which invaded the Korean Peninsula and
ruled it as a colony for 36 years. Because of this diplomatic reconciliation, South Korea
and Japan became partners in fostering the peace and prosperity of Northeast Asia. South
Korea also established diplomatic ties with China in 1992 in spite of Beijing’s invasion of
South Korea with the help of North Korea. Since then, South Korea has contributed to
China’s open door policy and economic development.
Development
South Korea has achieved a high level development over the past 70 years. This success
has made it a model for developing nations in Asia and Africa. Many of these countries
have worked to learn from South Korea’s success.
With the first three steps of its development complete, South Korea is now embarking on
the fourth and fifth. These entail unifying the Korean Peninsula and taking on the role of
stabilizer for the peace in Northeast Asia. These two steps will contribute to peace in
Northeast Asia and ensure the national interests of the United States and South Korea.
They cannot be achieved without the absolute trust and support of the U.S. people and
government.
South Korea can now foster its values of liberal democracy and the market economy as
well as peace, reconciliation and development. I truly hope that these values can
contribute to the prosperity of many countries, including developing countries through
cooperation between South Korea and the United States.
So far the United States has not shared these values with North Korea or China, but only
with Japan and South Korea in Northeast Asia. Based on these universal values, South
Korea has achieved global success and has given hope to many developing nations. This
is the primary main reason I hope the United States continues to highly regard
cooperation with South Korea.