Archive for 'Culture'
Traditional Korean Flutes Posted by Ginny on Jan 25, 2011
There are different types of traditional Korean flutes that are still enjoyed and played today. Let’s take a look at some of them: The Daegeum (대금) is a large and thick flute that is very hard to play. The Daegeum has a mechanism called a ‘buzzing membrane’ that gives this flute its special sound. The…
Christianity and Koreans Posted by Ginny on Dec 25, 2010
To put it mildly, relations between South and North Korea are very frosty. Recently, the South Korean military decided to light a Christmas tree where the North Koreans could see the tree. At the very top of the tree is a bright cross. The North Koreans are upset about the lighting of the tree and…
Korean Festivals in December Posted by Ginny on Dec 21, 2010
There are some major Korean festivals in the month of December. Let’s take a look at some : Starting from December 17th, the Yeongdong Dried Persimmon Festival will be held in Yeondong County (영동군). Yeongdong Country is known for its persimmons. If you want to know more about how useful and important persimmons are, go…
Traditional Korean Dancing Posted by Ginny on Dec 14, 2010
Traditional Korean dances vary in style and intricacy. For more on Korean dances, try this article https://blogs.transparent.com/korean/korean-dances/ and this article https://blogs.transparent.com/korean/traditional-korean-dances/. In the mean time, here are three more different styles of Korean dance : The Bukcheong sajanoreum (북청사자놀음) dance is a lion dance to ward off evil spirits. It’s thought that lions have the…
Korea’s Treasured Artisans Posted by Ginny on Dec 10, 2010
There are some intangible cultural skills that are treasured among the Korean people. These skills are no longer widespread and only a few talented people have the knowledge to possess these particular skills. Many of these skills were once utilized in Korea’s past, but have become obsolete with industrialization. Here are a few of these…
Korean Pagaodas Posted by Ginny on Dec 3, 2010
A pagoda is a multi tiered tower with many eaves. A few pagodas have been preserved in South Korea. Let’s take a look at some of these Korean pagodas : Wongaksa Pagoda (원각사지십층석탑) is twelve meters high and from the late 1400s. Wongaksa Pagoda is one of the few pagodas in Korea that is made…
Doraji Doraji! Posted by Ginny on Nov 28, 2010
Doragji (도라지) is a traditional Korean song that is as iconic as the Korean national anthem. 도라지도라지도라지 (doraji doraji doraji) 심심산천의도라지 (shim shim sanchun eh doraji) 한두뿌리만캐어도 (handu bburi man kkeodo) 대바구니로반실만되누나 (debaguni ro bashil man denuna) 에헤요에헤요에헤애야 (eheyo eheyo eheyeh ya) 어여라 난다지화자좋다 (uhyuh rananda jihwaja ) 저기저산밑에 도라지가한들한들 (juhgi juh san miteh dorajiga…