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Dancheong, decorative paintings on a building
at Gyeongbok Palace
Contents
[hide]
1Traditional arts
o 1.1Dance
o 1.2Painting
o 1.3Crafts
o 1.4Ceramics
o 1.5Music
2Lifestyle
o 2.1Homes
o 2.2Gardens
o 2.3Clothing
o 2.4Cuisine
o 2.5Tea
o 2.6Festivals of the lunar calendar
o 2.7Beliefs
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 (문
무,munmu) and military dance (무무, mumu). Many mask dramas and mask dances are performed
[7]
in many regional areas of Korea. 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, 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]
Main article: Korean painting
Crafts[edit]
Blue and White Porcelain Peach-Shaped Water Dropper
from the Joseon Dynasty 18th century
Lacquer drawer with mother-of-pearl inlay, at
the National Museum of Korea in Seoul
There is a unique set of handicrafts produced in Korea. Most of the handicrafts are created for a
particular everyday use, often giving priority to the practical use rather than aesthetics. Traditionally,
metal, wood, fabric, lacquerware, and earthenware were the main materials used, but later glass,
leather or paper have sporadically been used.
Ancient handicrafts, such as red and black pottery, share similarities with pottery of Chinese cultures
along the Yellow River. The relics found of the Bronze Age, however, are distinctive and more
elaborate.
Many sophisticated and elaborate handicrafts have been excavated, including gilt crowns, patterned
pottery, pots or ornaments. During theGoryeo period the use of bronze was advanced. Brass, that
is copper with one third zinc, has been a particularly popular material. The dynasty, however, is most
prominently renowned for its use of celadon ware.
During the Joseon period, popular handicrafts were made of porcelain and decorated with blue
painting. Woodcraft was also advanced during that period. This led to more sophisticated pieces of
furniture, including wardrobes, chests, tables or drawers.
Ceramics[edit]
Main articles: Korean pottery and porcelain and Celadon
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 장단; Jangdan) and a loosely defined set of
melodic modes. Korean folk musics are Pansori (판소리) performed by one singer and one
drummer. Occasionally, there might be dancers and narraters. They have been designated an
[15]
intangible cultural property inUNESCO's Memory of the world, and Pungmul (풍물) performed by
drumming, dancing and singing. Samul Nori is a type of Korean traditional music based on Pungmul,
and Sanjo (산조) that is played without a pause in faster tempos. Nongak (농악) means "farmers'
music".
Korean court music can be traced to the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty in 1392. Korean court
musics include A-ak, Dang-ak andHyang-ak. Korean music is still played and sung a lot.
Lifestyle[edit]
Homes[edit]
Main article: Korean architecture
Traditional house, hanok (한옥)
Hanbok
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Korean cuisine
Bibimbap
Rice is the staple food 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, beans and Gochujang (hot pepper paste), but many supplementary crops are
used. Fish and other seafood are also important because Korea is a peninsula.
Fermented recipes were also developed in early times, and often characterize traditional Korean
food. These include pickled fish and pickled vegetables. This kind of food provides
essential proteins and vitamins 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--(garlic, spring onion, wild rocambole, leek, and ginger), and
meat.
Kimchi 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 kimchi, and sesame kimchi.
For ceremonies and rituals rice cakes are vital. The colouring of the food and the ingredients of the
recipes are matched with a balance of yin and yang.
Today, surasang (traditional court cuisine) is available to the whole population. In the past vegetable
dishes were essential, but meat consumption has increased. Traditional dishes
include ssambap, bulgogi, sinseollo, kimchi, bibimbap, and gujeolpan.
Tea[edit]
Main article: Korean tea
Originally tea was used for ceremonial purposes or as part of traditional herbal medicine. 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]
Main article: Korean calendar
Daeboreum
[17]
The traditional Korean calendar was based on the lunisolar calendar. Dates are calculated from
Korea's meridian. Observances and festivals are rooted in Korean culture. The Korean lunar
calendar 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 was officially adopted in 1895, but traditional holidays and age
[17][18]
reckoning are still based on the old calendar. Older generations still celebrate their birthdays
according to the lunar calendar.
The biggest festival in Korea today is Seollal (the traditional Korean New Year). Other important
festivals include Daeboreum (the first full moon), Dano (spring festival), and Chuseok (harvest
festival).
There are also a number of regional festivals, celebrated according to the lunar calendar. See
also Public holidays in North Korea and Public holidays in South Korea.
Beliefs[edit]
Main articles: Korean shamanism, Korean Buddhism, and Korean Confucianism
Haeinsa
The original religion of the Korean people was Shamanism, 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 and Confucianism 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, which some see as even more strict than what
[19]
had ever been adopted by the Chinese, became the official philosophy. Korean
Confucianism was epitomized by theseonbi 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, Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism have remained an underlying influence of the
[20]
religion of the Korean people as well as a vital aspect of their culture. In fact, all these traditions
[21][22]
coexisted peacefully for hundreds of years. They still exist in the more Christian South
[23] [24][25]
and in the North, despite pressure from its government.
Seokguram Grotto
Bulguksa is also known as the temple of the Buddha Land and home of the Seokguram Grotto. The
temple was constructed in 751 and consists of a great number of halls. There are two pagodas
placed in the temple.
The Seokguram grotto is a hermitage of the Bulguksa temple. It is a granite sanctuary. In the main
chamber a Buddha statue is seated. The temple and the grotto were added to the UNESCO World
Heritage list in 1995.
Tripitaka Koreana and Haeinsa[edit]
Main article: Haeinsa
See also: Tripitaka Koreana
Haeinsa is a large temple in the South Gyeongsang province. It was originally built in 802 and home
[26]
to the Tripitaka Koreana wood blocks, the oldest Buddhist wooden manuscripts in the world. The
carving of these wood blocks was initiated in 1236 and completed in 1251. The wood blocks are
testimony to the pious devotion of king and his people.
The word Tripitaka is Sanskrit and stands for three baskets, referring to the Buddhist laws of
aesthetics. The Tripitaka Koreanaconsists of 81'258 wood blocks and is the largest, oldest, and most
complete collection of Buddhist scripts. Amazingly there is no trace of errata or omission on any of
the wood blocks. The Tripitaka Koreana is widely considered as the most beautiful and
accurate Buddhist canon carved in Hanja.
The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.
Hwaseong[edit]
Main article: Hwaseong Fortress
See also: Korean fortress
United by Culture
Until 1948, Korea was a single country on the world
map but political unrest resulted in a division of the
region into two countries with different political
ideologies. However, culture and traditional values
of the region still bind these two countries with
each other. The Korean language is spoken in both
the countries and a similar family system is
followed in both countries. Globalization has made
certain changes to the family patterns and social
structure, predominantly in South Korea because of
its flexible policies, which is not the case with North
Korean politics. As good and old habits die hard,
both the Korean countries are still deeply rooted in
their culture and traditions. Influenced by the
philosophical brilliance of Confucius, Koreans
believe in family, community and society, unlike
western ideology of individualism.
A Korean Family
Family is the most important part of Korean society
and they lead a family oriented life where the
father is the head of the family. Families following
Confucius and his teachings firmly believe that the
father must take care of the health, shelter, food
and marriage of his family members. Hierarchical
structure is evident in a conventional Korean
family. The eldest son will help his father in all the
family matters, must obey his father and follow his
decisions. The old school says that womenfolk
must not indulge in decision making and only
males must handle the external affairs. However,
this thinking pattern is changing with time as more
and more women are emerging as leaders,
business executives and teachers. Individual
dreams and needs are secondary and family
welfare is the first and foremost goal of every
family member. Confucius and his teachings have a
deep impact on Koreans and that's why they
believe in duty, loyalty, honor and sincerity.
Korean Culture
Religion
Buddhism
Christianity
Holidays
Korean New Years