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Ajaeng: The ajaeng is a horizontal zither with seven strings, which are played with a bow. The bow is a peeled forsythia brance stiffene d with pine resin. The stiff bow produces a rough sound compared to horsehair bows, but the tone is solemn and majestic. During the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392), the ajaeng was reserved for Chinese music, but in the Choson Dynasty (1892-1910), it was used both for indigenous Korean music and Chinese music. Its low-pitched sound blends well with the nasal haegum fiddle so it is always included in wind and string ensembles.
Buddhist: A religion indigenous to the Indus Valley but traveled to Korea mainly through China and Japan. Buddhist deals with reaching 'nirvana' through various phases of reincarnation. Koreans used music for various Buddhist rites and rituals.
Confucian: A Chinese philosophy of thought that emphasizes humility, hard work, and education. It was adopted at the beginning of the Choson Dynasty in 1392. Confucian was important in Korean music development, which used music during various rites.
Chongmyo: The music performed during the Chongmyo royal ancestral rites is thought to drive from court music imported from China and to have been used during the reign of the Koryo Kingdom, which preceded Choson. New music was composed in 14447 by King Sejong and designated for use at royal banquets and parties. It was shortened for use in ancestral rituals in 1462. The work entitled Pot'aep'yong memorialized the civil merits of past monarchs. Chongdaeop praised their military prowess. The music was accompanied by highly ritualized dance and lyrics. It is thanks to this royal ancestrol memorial rites of Chongmyo that many rare musical instruments have survived.
Choson Dynasty: The dynasty began in 1392 and lasted until 1910. The Chosôn Dynasty was the last 'traditional' kingdom before the WWI and the introduction of modern culture began in Korea. When the Choson Dynasty ended many rituals died out with it.
Chumong: Koguryo Kingdom's founder. The Tongmaeng autumn festivals were held to offer thanks to Chumong and the autumn harvest.
Chun Doo Hwan: The third President of Korea, General Chun Doo hwan took control of the government after Park Chung Hee was assassinated on October 26th, 1979. He brutally suppressed a student demonstration at Kwangju, which angered citizens to join in the protest. Chun sent an American commanded division to stop the protest, which increased anti-American and anti-Chun sentiments.
DJ Doc: Another popular Korean group, DJ Doc has been known for its hip hop, gangsta rap style as well as its social commentaries on Korean politics and culture. As the youth became more vocal in their opinions, music groups have become more vocal as well. Although they have been censored for a while for criticizing the government, their effort proves the changing social climate in Korean society.
Gayo Music Industry: The music industry that encompasses all current, popular Korean music that appeals mainly to young adults and teenagers. It began to grow immensely since the introduction of the SeoTaiji and Boys in the early 1990s and is now a huge industry.
Han: The feeling of pride in one's country and the need for independence. Han was reinforced by President Park Chung hee in the 1960s as a reaction to a sense of national impotency from the Japanese occupation and the Korean War.
Human Cultural Treasures: The name given to musicians or artists that practice indigenous Korean art/music. The Office of Cultural Properties in 1985 have been attempting to protect Korean songs/art from becoming extinct by paying these artists/musicians small stipends to keep up their art.
Intangible Cultural Properties: Otherwise known as traditional folk songs or art, the Office of Cultural Properties since 1985 have been protecting indigenous Korean songs from becoming extinct by paying stipends to musicians to keep up their art.
Ka-ak: Refers to the artistic songs of the chong-ak or 'proper' music tradition. Ka-ak was introduced in the Choson Dynasty.
Kagok: The oldest of ka-ak songs that was introduced in the Choson Dynasty. Long lyric songs based on shijo, three-stanza lyric poems. Kagok are sung in two modes: the majestic ujo, consisting of two p'yongjo (scales similar to the wester major scale), and kyemyonjo, similar to the West's minor key. Kagok are performed in various styles. Some are sung by men, others by women or mixed vocal teams. They are always accompanied by a wind and string ensemble, which is seated in a semi-circle behind the vocalist(s). The vocalist sings, then rests while the ensemble plays an interlude, followed by two additional stanzas. These are sometimes followed by a postlude.
Kasa: A form of ka-ak music that was developed at the end of the Koryo Dynasty. Kasa were long verses sung to a definite rhythm.
Koguryo Kingdom: Existed from (37 B.C. - A.D. 668). Created one of the first Korean records of traditional music: the tongmaeng autumn harvest festival.
Koryo Dynasty: The Koryo Dynasty lasted from (918-1392). The Koryô Dynasty achieved the unfication of the Three Kingdoms. King T'aejo laid the foundation of the dynasty that would almost five hundred years.It was in this dynasty that the ajaeng was introduced. However, it was mainly reserved for Chinese music.
Kwangju: The massacre at Kwangju in the 1980s spurred more opposition to President Chun Doo Hwan's militaristic hold on the government. An American-commanded division was sent to stop the protest, which increased anti-American and anti-Chun sentiments.
Mahan Kingdom: The kingdom where the oldest historical reference to a Korean musical instrument, a metal percussion instrument, was recorded around A.D. 285.
Minjung Movement: The movement became established as a underground political and cultural oppotiion to Park CHung Hee's government and Yusin policies, which stripped citizens of their democratic rights and civil liberties. Dissident musicians, writers, and artists became icons of the new subculture.
Much'on: The autumn harvest festival in the Ye Kingdom that honored the heavens through dance. The music was simple and used percussion instruments such as drums and bells. Later, many more elaborate musical instruments were introduced from China or developed in Korea.
Munmyo: The ancestral shrine honoring Confucian worthies, which hosts a prominent ritual that has survived past the Choson Dynasty in 1910.
Office of Cultural Properties: As indigenous Korean music came to the brink of extinction due to the modernization of Korea, the Office of Cultural Properties in 1985, now a part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, began designating many traditional folk songs 'Intangible Cultural Properties' and their performers 'Human Cultural Treasures'. Funds are provided for the preservation of these songs and their practitioners receive a small stiped for their dedication to the music.
P'ansori: A popular type of folk music. It has a narrative epic vocal performed by a single singer, male or female with the accompaniment of a small barrel drum. The vocal narrative consists of three parts: singing (sori), speaking (aniri), and gestures (pallim). Traditionally, p'ansori singers were wandering minstrels of low social status, but their music was enjoyed by people at all levels of society. While the singer's role is central, the drummer makes an essential contribution, offering words of encouragement and witty comments throughout the performance. P'ansori is thought to have originated in the shamanic rites of the Cholla region. By the mid-Choson period, there were 12 classic p'ansori pieces, but only five live on today. This is due to the efforts of Shin Chae-hyo (18812-1884), a Choson aristocrat who compiled and refined them for posterity.
Park Chung Hee: The second president of Korean who replaced Syngman Rhee on May 16th, 1961. Park ruled Korea with an iron fist. He reinforced the nation's sense of 'han', which is a feeling of pride in one's country and independnece, which was a reaction to a sense of national impotency from the Japanese occupation and the Korean War. Park's 'yusin' policies instigated the 'minjung movement', who reacted against his dictatorship principles and censorship of music and art.
Puyo Kingdom: Existed from (400 B.C. - A.D. 400). Created the Yonggo autumn festival which honored the heavens through 'spirit-invoking drums'.
P'yongjong: The p'yongjong was introduced to Korea from China in the early 12th century. Sixteen chromatically tuned bronze bells are attached to a two-tiered wooden frame, eight in each row. The frame used in royal meetings and festivities fits into two elaborately carved wooden lions. Dragon heads adorn the top of the frame. Instruments used in ancestral memorial rites were undecorated. The bells themselves are identical in size; their pitch is determined by the thickness of each bell. The musician sits on the ground behind the bells and strikes them with a wooden mallet.
Roh Tae Woo: The fourth President of Korea, Roh Tae Woo succeeded Chun Doo Hwan and relazed political censorship laws. This created a flourish of new music from the producers in the underground Minjung Movement. For the first time, musicians and artists were able to produce their work openly without fear of government censorship.
Roo'ra: One of the first groups that popularized the gayo music industry, Roo'ra, which stands for Roots of Ragae, is composed of Kim JiHyun, Chae Rina, Lee SangMin, and Go Young Wook. Roo'ra introduced reggae with a funky hip-hop flavor, Korean-style.
SeoTaiji and Boys: The first group to popularize western-style rap, rock, pop, and R&B in Korea. The group consisted of Seo Taiji, Yang Hyun Suk, and Lee Juno. They appeared in 1992 with their hit song, 'Nan Al Ra Yo', which was the first successful Korean attempt to introduce rap music and dance into the newly formed Gayo music industry. After four successful albums, the group decided to break up. However, all three musicians are still producing music.
Shamanic: A religion that deals mainly with superstition and the natural world. Koreans created music to enhance their rituals and rites.
Shijo: Three-stanza lyric poems that form the basis of kagok- long lyric songs.
Syngman Rhee: The first Korean president of the Republic of Korea, which was established in 1948. He received his Ph. D. at Harvard and Princeton and ruled Korea with an iron fist. Many people, including the Americans who had to work with him, disliked his autocratic style of government.
Taegum: This large traverse flute dates to seventh-century Shilla. It was one of three transverse flutes, which together with the komun'go, kayagum, and hyangbip'a, made up Shilla's 'Three Strings and Three Bamboo Flutes' (samhyon samchuk). The taegum was the largest of the three, followed by the chunggum ('middle' flute), and the sogum ('small') flute. The chunggum is no longer used by the taegum and sogum are played in court and folk music. The taegum was originally made of aged yellow bamboo. Today, the best taegum are made of thick, strong bamboo. The taegum is over two feet long and has one mouth hole, six finger holes, and an extra hole covered with a thin membrane, which produces the flute's distinctive buzzing sound. The taegum has a broad range of over two octaves.
Tongmaeng: An autumn festival ceremony of the Koguryo Kingdom (37 B.C.- A.D. 668). One of the first records of Korean traditional music.
Ye Kingdom: The kingdom that created the Much'on autumn harvest festival, which honored the heavens through dance. The music was simple and used percussion instruments such as drums and bells. The kingdom later adopted more complicated musical instruments from China or developed them in Korea.
Yonggo: The 'spirit-invoking' drums that honor the heavens in the Puyo Kingdom's autumn harvest festival (400 B.C. - A.D. 400). One of the first recordings of traditional Korean mu sic.
Yusin: President Park Chung Hee's restoration or re vitalizing reforms that established him as a dictator. In October 17, 1972, Park declared a state of emergency, all democratic rights and civil liberties were suspended and in their place he imposed a new social order, which was the Yusin.
