Traditional music of Korea

Lore & Background

Not much is known about music from the Proto-Three Kingdoms period (before 57 BCE), but it is believed that Korean people practiced shamanistic rituals involving music at agricultural festivals. Tomb murals and ceramics from this period depict string instruments with complex features. Silla's music is represented by the gayageum, brought by Ureuk from Gaya.

Reader's Guide

Traditional Korean music (gugak) holds significance as a continuous cultural expression that adapted through political changes, foreign influences, and periods of hardship. During the Goryeo dynasty, music from Song China influenced court music, while native hyangak and Tang-derived dangak coexisted. The Joseon dynasty saw considerable developments under King Sejong, with musician Park Yeon creating Korean-style notation (Jeonganbo) and establishing an independent music organ. Despite losses from wars and Japanese colonization, traditional forms like pansori, sanjo, and namsadang-nori emerged and persisted. Ancestor worship ceremonies (Munmyo jerye and Jongmyo jerye) were revived and performed annually.

Did You Know?

• The geomungo, a zither still used today, was invented by prime minister Wang San-ak after he received a Chinese guqin as a gift and could not play it.
• A painting of the geomungo is found in a tomb in modern-day Jilin Province, China.
• The only surviving song from Baekje is Jeongeupsa.