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History
A 5,000-year-old history and culture
is the pride of the Korean people |
| 500,000
years ago |
Archeological
findings have indicated
the beginnings of settlement
in the Korean Peninsula. |
| 2333
B.C. |
The
mythical figure Dan-gun
founded Go-Joseon, the first
Korean Kingdom at Pyong-yang
in the northern part of
the peninsula. |
| 57
B.C. - A.D. 668 |
The
Three Kingdoms Period. A
golden age of culture with
distinct contributions from
each Kingdom.
Goguryeo Kingdom(37 B.C.
- A.D. 668)
Baekje Kingdom(18 B.C. -
A.D. 660)
Silla Kingdom(57 B.C. -
A.D. 676) |
| A.D.
676-935 |
Unified
Silla Kingdom(Capital :
Gyeongju). |
| A.D.
918-1392 |
Goryeo
Dynasty (Capital: Gaeseong,
located in North Korea).
Buddhism became the state
religion and greatly influenced
politics and culture.
Overseas trade boomed. The
name "Korea" derives from
the Goryeo Dynasty since
Arabian tradesmen started
calling Goryeo "Corre." |
| 1392
- 1910 |
Joseon
Dynasty(Capital : Seoul).
The peninsula's final dynasty.
Confucianism as the state
ideology exerted a massive
influence over the whole
of society. Han-geul, the
Korean alphabet, was invented
in 1443, during the reign
of King Sejong. |
| 1910
- 1945 |
Japanese
colonial rule. |
| 1945(August
15) |
Japan
surrendered to the Allies
and withdrew from the Korean
Peninsula.
The Korean Peninsula is
divided into 2 areas. The
north controlled by the
Soviet Union and the south
by the U.S. |
| 1948
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The
Korean was divided into
two countries : the Republic
of Korea(capitalist South
Korea), and the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea.
(communist North Korea). |
| 1950
- 1953 |
Korean
War, armistice signed. |
| 1972
to present |
Negotiations
between South and North
Korea for peace and reunification
continue. |
| 1988 |
Hosting
of the 24th Olympiad, which
marked the beginning of
relations with Central and
Eastern Europe. |
| September,
1991 |
South
and North Korea were simultaneously
admitted to the United Nations. |
| June,
2000 |
Historic
summit talks between South
and North Korea in Pyung-yang,
the capital of the north. |
| 2000 |
Reunions
of separated families during
the Korean War in capitals
respetively. |
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Culture
Korean culture has blossomed over
a long history. Though influenced
by other Asian cultures, its roots
lie deep in the creative Korean
psyche, and it has tended to spread
rather than be encroached upon.
Japan especially has adopted many
Korean ideas and customs. The
delicate styling and fine craftsmanship
of celadon pottery well illustrates
the refinement of the culture,
even from as far back as the Three
Kingdoms period. Korea has also
spawned some great inventions;
its early printing systems were
highly refined and Korea's moveable
metal type predated that of Gutenberg,
the famous 'Turtle Ship' was the
world's first ever ironclad battleship,
and the Korean alphabet, devised
by a group of scholars in the
15th century, was so effective
that it remains largely unchanged
today and is lauded by linguists
for its simple clarity and ease
of learning. Reasons behind Korea's
rapid economic development can
be found in this innate creativity.
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Cultural
Attractions |
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Buddhism
has played a powerful role
in Korean art. A large number
of excellent examples of
Korean artwork and architecture
can be found in Buddhist
temples and paintings. During
the Joseon Dynasty, Confucianism
became a leading inspiration
for the noblemen to whom
the arts of calligraphy
and painting were |
essential.
They have left a legacy
of fine brush work from
which contemporary artists
have benefitted.
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Traditional
Art
Korea has a long and distinguished
cultural history. The current
trend in Korean art is the harmonious
combination of traditional and
modern styles, revealing the historical
roots and influences of Korean
art.
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Painting
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Tomb
murals from the Three
Kingdoms Period are
the earliest examples
of Korean painting.
Mythological beasts
such as dragons and
flying horses show
an imaginative and
creative spirit. Throughout
the Unified Silla
and Goryeo Dynasty,
Buddhism prevailed
in every field of
life, thus leaving
a rich collection
of icon paintings.
In the late Goryeo
Dynasty, ink and brush
paintings of the four
"noble plants",
(the cherry blossom,orchid,
chrysanthemum, and
bamboo), which |
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symbolized
traditional virtues, became
popular. The artists of
the Joseon Dynasty produced
an innovative embodiment
the Korean spirit and perspective.
There are humorous animal
pictures, scroll paintings
of dreamlike, mist-clad
mountains, and insightful
sketches of everyday life
done in brush and ink. Paintings
with folk custom and nature
themes flourished in the
latter half of the 18th
century. Sin Yun-bok was
a celebrated master of this
genre.
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Calligraphy
Calligraphy, the art of
brush writing, is a traditional
art form in Korea which
has exerted a strong influence
on social and cultural life
and is still highly respected
today.
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Architecture |
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Four
factors have
shaped traditional
Korean architecture
: religion,
the availability
of materials,
the natural
landscape, and
an aesthetic
preference for
simplicity.
Gently sloping
roof lines and
sturdy, undecorated
pillars characterize
its simplicity,
harmony, and
practical utility.
Korea has many
original wooden
and stone structures,
some dating
back over a
thousand years.
There are also
many skillful
reproductions.
Traditional
architectural
designs are
also incorporated
in many modern
buildings throughout
the country.
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Pottery |
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One
of the most
significant
achievements
in Korean art,
the perfection
of celadon,
was accomplished
during the Goryeo
Dynasty. Korean
artisans developed
a superbly controlled
secret ash glaze
that was unique
and hauntingly
beautiful. The
highest praise
is given to
the color, a
delicate |
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kingfisher green.
The celadons are inlaid
with a pictorial underglaze
called Sanggamcheongja
which occupies a central
position in Goryeo
ceramics. The motifs
and decorations give
even greater reason
for the great popularity
of Goryeo celadons
among art lovers
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| Modern
Art |
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With
its characterisitic blend
of the traditional and modern,
and the balance of influences
from the East and the West.
Korean contemporary art
has surged in popularity.
Most artists try to be accessible
to their audience, and there
are many exhibitions and
galleries in any major city,
the largest collections
of which are in Seoul's
Anguk-dong and Daehangno
areas.
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Museums
Visiting the museums of a country
is a valuable opportunity to see
its historic treasures and cultural
legacies. As in other countries
with long histories, many national,
municipal and university museums,
as well as a number of private
institutions, preserve Korea's
colorful past. Below is a list
of the major museums in Korea.
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Traditional
Performance
Koreans have always had a deep
love for music and dance. Traditional
Korean dance and musical performances
can be a memorable part of visiting
Korea. These performances can
be seen regularly each Saturday
at the National Center for Korean
Traditional Performing Arts.
Some examples of things you might
see are: |
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Court music : Traditional
Korean music can be classified
as court or folk music.
Court music is slow, solemn
and complex. It is performed
regularly at the National
Theater.
Pansori : This is
a narrative folk song that
tells a long, dramatic story.
> Folk
songs : Folk songs
express the feelings of
the working class
Samulnori (farmers' dance)
: Four music instruments
are used in Samulnori(farmer's
dance) : Four music instruments
are used in Samulnori
the Buk (drum), Jing (gong),
Jang-gu (hourglass drum)
and Kkwaenggwari (gong).
Sandaenori (Mask dance)
: Korean mask dances are
folk dramas that satirized
the high society extant
when they were developed,
over 200 years ago. They
performances contain many
Buddhist and Shamanist elements.
Madangnori : Similar
to the Western-syle musical.
Traditional dance
: Traditional Korean dance
consists of three main types:
court, folk and religious.
Among all Korean dances,
the best known are the fan
dance and the drum dance.
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Sujecheon,
the most famous composition
of court music, performed
on wind instruments |
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Sujecheon
is a type of Jeong-ak,
literally "proper
or correct music",
which is comprises
of both instrumental
and vocal pieces,
which were generally
cultivated by the
upper class literati
of the Joseon society.
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Taepyeongmu, The
Court Dance |
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Among
the many court dances,
Taepyeongmu originates
with Han Son-jun (1874-1941),
who founded the Joseon
Dance Institute in
1933. A lone female
dancer is dressed
in the rhythms of
Shamanistic music.
Taepyeongmu has been
designated an Intangible
Cultural Asset in
order to assure its
preservation. |
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Gayageum, a twelve-stringed
zither |
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The
twelve-stringed Gayageum
is similar to the
Chinese cheng and
the Japanese koto
in structure but it
is played differently
and has a different
timber. The Gayageum
dates back to the
sixth century during
the rule of King Gasil
of the Gaya Kingdom.
The thumb, index finger
and middle finger
of the right hand
pluck the strings,
while the index and
middle fingers of
the left hand press
on the strings of
the other side of
the adjustable bridge-frets.
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Geomungo |
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The
Geomungo has 6 strings
and 16 frets called
'Gwae'. In view of
the mechanism that
allows it to produce
sound, it is similar
to guitar, in that
the pitch is decided
by the flat location
of a finger. The left
fingers are placed
on the Gwae to control
pitch and the right
hand plugs the strings
with a stick called
suldae. The sound
of the Geomungo is
softer, not as brilliant
as most string instruments,
but one can convey
one's feelings through
this sensitive instrument.
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LINK |
| For
more information about Korean
culture, please check
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