History and culture of Korea. South Korean traditions - which ones will surprise you? Research project Korean culture and traditions

Despite recent changes, the traditional Confucian structure of social relations still largely determines the behavior of Koreans.

Respect for elders

Age and social status are of great importance. It is believed that those younger in age or those of lower social status are obliged to follow the wishes of their elders without objection. Therefore, in Korea, people are often interested in a person's age and marital status in order to determine their position in relation to that person. These questions are not asked out of idle curiosity. However, you don't have to answer them if you don't want to.

Names

Some of the most common Korean surnames include the following: Kim (21% of all Koreans), Lee (14%), Park (8%), Choi (or Choi), Jeon, Chan, Han, Lim, etc. A Korean name consists of a surname of mostly one syllable and a given name usually of two syllables. Last name comes first. Women in Korea do not take their husband's surname after marriage, but their children take their father's surname.

Marriages

In Korea, marriage is traditionally considered the most important event in life, and divorce is a shame not only for former spouses, but also for their families. Despite this, the divorce rate has been rising sharply in recent years. The modern wedding ceremony is somewhat different from the traditional one. First, a Western-style ceremony is held in the wedding palace or church. In it, the bride and groom are dressed in a tuxedo and wedding dress, respectively. Then, on the same day (and usually in the same place), a traditional wedding ceremony is held in a separate room, during which the newlyweds are dressed in traditional Korean costumes.

Chere (rite of remembrance of ancestors)

According to traditional Korean beliefs, when a person dies, his soul does not immediately go to another world, but only after four generations. During this time, the deceased is considered a member of the family. On holidays such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) or Chuseok (Harvest Day), as well as on the day of death of the deceased, his descendants perform a rite of remembrance. Koreans believe that they can live happily thanks to the care of their departed ancestors.

Rules of behavior and gestures

Koreans place great importance on greetings and words of gratitude. They are always pronounced with a slight bow. The depth of the bow depends on the relative position of the speakers. Koreans do not like excessive displays of emotion and usually limit direct physical contact to a polite handshake. However, as your relationship becomes closer, greater familiarity may occur.

Foreigners in Korea are often surprised to see girls walking hand in hand. Touching between people of the same sex who are in close friendships is completely acceptable in Korea. Public displays of affection between different sexes, such as kissing and hugging, are not as rare these days as they once were, but continue to be considered obscene.

Traditionally, Koreans sit, eat and sleep on the floor. Therefore, when entering a Korean home, you should always take off your shoes. In Korea, it is considered rude to be bare-legged in the presence of elders, so it is recommended to always wear socks or stockings when visiting a Korean family.

Among the younger generation of Koreans, it is considered quite normal to contribute, but it often happens that one of the group of friends or colleagues pays. In Korea it used to be considered impolite to talk while eating, but these days it is acceptable to talk and laugh at the table. Blowing your nose at the table is considered indecent.

Words of gratitude for delicious food and good service are always received with joy.

In Korea, it is not customary to call someone with your palm facing up or beckon with your finger.. Dogs are usually called with such gestures in Korea. If you want to call someone over, do it with your hand, palm facing down.

Hanbok

Hanbok has been the traditional clothing of Koreans for thousands of years. The beauty and grace of Korean culture is perfectly conveyed in photographs of Korean women wearing hanbok. Before the advent of Western-style clothing in Korea about 100 years ago, hanbok was the everyday clothing of Koreans.

Men wore jeogori (jacket) and paji (pants), while women wore jeogori and chhima (skirt). Nowadays, hanbok is worn only on special occasions and holidays, such as wedding day, Seollal (Lunar New Year) or Chuseok (Harvest Day).

Ondol

Rooms in a traditional home do not have a clearly defined purpose. For example, there are no rooms that are used as, say, a dining room or a bedroom. Depending on the need, the same room can be used both as a dining room (in this case a small folding table is placed there) and as a bedroom (in this case a mattress is laid in the room).

Most Koreans prefer to sit and sleep on the floor on special mats or mattresses. Rooms in a Korean house have a special heating system ondol, built into the floor. Previously, rooms were heated by hot air that circulated through pipes in the clay floor. Today, hydronic heating is used: hot water circulates through pipes built into a cement floor covered with linoleum or other material.

Gimjang

Gimjang is a centuries-old tradition of preparing kimchi for the winter, passed down from generation to generation. Various pickled vegetables (mostly kale), called kimchi in Korea, are prepared for future use in late autumn. It is simply impossible to imagine a Korean table without this dish.

Eastern medicine

In Eastern medicine, it is believed that all diseases are caused by a decrease in vital energy and a weakening of the body’s immune system, i.e. not the dysfunction of any particular organ, but an imbalance of vital forces in the body as a whole. Therefore, Eastern medicine strives to treat diseases by strengthening the immune system and restoring harmony in the body, and not by eliminating pathogenic factors.

The main methods of Eastern medicine include herbal medicine, acupuncture (acupuncture), mugwort moxibustion and cupping.

Korea. Customs you should know about

Customs you should know about before visiting Korea

If you want to move to Korea for work or just stay here as a tourist, then knowing certain traditions will help you get comfortable with the culture of this territory.

Korean culture has existed for 5 thousand years, despite all the efforts of hostile neighbors to destroy it. If you know and respect Korean culture, you will get the most out of your stay there.

1. Kimchi is a whole culture

Kimchi is a Korean dish consisting of pickled vegetables (mostly sauerkraut) spicyly seasoned with red pepper, onion, garlic and ginger. Koreans love it and eat it at every meal, mainly as a dish on its own, but it is also an ingredient in many other dishes.

Kimchi is a symbol of Korean culture. This dish is quite spicy, so not all tourists will like it. If you try it, you will be imbued with sincere respect for the locals.

2. Take off your shoes

When you enter a Korean home, be sure to take off your shoes. If a person does not do this, it is a sign of great disrespect.

Koreans have a special relationship with the floor; they sit on it, and many sleep on the floor. A dirty floor is an unacceptable thing in a Korean home, and they look at people who walk around the house in shoes as backward savages.

Korea loves to drink, and their national alcoholic drink is soju, a clear drink similar to vodka.

Soju is drunk from glasses and, like any other alcohol in Korea, it is served with food. Koreans drink in noisy groups, often clink glasses and say “geonbae!” ("To your health!").

In the evenings you can see men coming out of bars, laughing, singing, arguing. The main thing is not to get into the puddle of vomit that they leave behind.

Koreans have strict drinking etiquette: never pour for yourself, and if you are pouring for someone older than you, you must place your left hand over your heart as a sign of respect.

Like the Japanese, Koreans eat rice at almost every meal. It is so ingrained in their culture that one of the common greetings is “Bap meogeosseoyo?”, which means “Have you eaten rice?”

Koreans, unlike the Japanese, usually eat rice with a spoon and never lift the cup to their mouth while eating.

If you eat with chopsticks, then you should not pick up the TV remote control, much less leave them stuck in the rice, because this is reminiscent of the incense sticks that are given to deceased relatives.

5. Don't smile

Koreans are kind and generous people, but you will never see a regular smile on their faces. Sometimes the streets are just filled with frowning faces, and it feels like people are deliberately trying to put on the sternest expression they can. However, this does not apply to children who are always smiling and laughing.

6. Watch out for elbows

Korea has a very high population density. There are many mountains and not many valleys and plains suitable for development.

Therefore, you will encounter crowds of people and you can be sure that they will be pushing and shoving, for example, to get on a bus or an elevator.

There's no need to even bother apologizing here. And beware of old ladies. They are deadly.

7. Protests

Residents of South Korea specifically have spent a lot of time creating a democratic society in their country, and these are the people who will not miss the opportunity to exercise their right to protest.

Dissent is alive and well here. Koreans from all sides of the political spectrum protest frequently and passionately.

The forms of protest here are completely different: from violent (students often attack law enforcement officers) to absurd (there were cases when people cut off their fingers, threw manure, and the like).

8. Mountain tourism

Since Korea has many mountains, it is not surprising that mountain tourism is a popular form of recreation.

Even near the most crowded cities there are mountains that will help you escape from the city madness for a while.

9. Woof-woof

Yes, some Koreans eat dog meat, despite the government's efforts to ban dog meat dishes to improve their "international image."

Dog meat is eaten most in the summer and mainly by men, who believe it improves stamina.

10. Nationalism

All Koreans are very proud people, and sometimes this pride borders on obvious nationalism.

This is clearly demonstrated at sporting events, where all Koreans will support their teams by waving huge flags, beating drums, and shouting in unison.

This nationalism goes to extremes when it comes to Japan, which has invaded Korea several times. Korea was occupied by it for almost the entire first half of the twentieth century.

And finally, remember two more things:

For Koreans, the Sea of Japan does not exist. The body of water between Korea and Japan is called the East Sea.

The Koreans have no doubt about the ownership of the disputed Liancourt Islands. They undoubtedly belong only to South Korea.

It is better not to argue on these two issues; for Koreans, there cannot be several points of view here.

Muz4in.Net - Oleg "Solid" Bulygin

Culture and history of Korea.

Now the Western media persistently impose stereotypes on us that North Korea is a closed country with a totalitarian regime, that people do not live, but survive, and scare us with various horror films about the life of ordinary people in the DPRK. But in fact, the situation in the country is radically different. The country is successfully growing and developing. The capital Pyongyang is an advanced world center with extensive infrastructure and communications.

If you look at the culture of Korea as a whole from a historical point of view, it is very rich and diverse.In ancient times, world civilizations were formed in river basins with picturesque landscapes and fertile land and are called “cultures” associated with the names of these rivers. The Taedong Basin around Pyongyang is the seat of mankind's oldest civilization, and the "Tedong Culture" is one of the five world civilizations.

The Komunmoru site in the village of Hygu in Sangwon County in the city of Pyongyang, built by primitive people a million years ago, and many other monuments and relics of the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods indicate that the Taedong River basin is a shrine to the ancient history of mankind.

Ancient Korean history consists of the history of such states as Ancient Korea, Puye, Kuryo and Jinguk.Ancient Korea, founded at the beginning of the 20th century BC. e., was the first state in the East, the first slave-owning state in the history of our country. Its official name is “Korea,” and it is called “Ancient Korea” in order to distinguish it from the Korea that existed later during the Li dynasty.

The history of Ancient Korea is divided into the periods of Early Korea (Tangun Korea), Late Korea and Man Korea. The ancestor of Ancient Korea is Tangun, and its capital is Pyongyang. Although there were some changes from time to time, it occupied a wide territory, including Korea and the northeastern regions of China, the areas of the Russian southern Primorye, and in the west it reached the Great Wall of China. The 3-thousand-year existence of Ancient Korea ended in 108 BC. e. after the collapse of the Mana dynasty in the second capital Wangomseong.

Puye was initially one of the ward states of Tangun Korea, but in the middle of the 15th century BC. e. separated from her. Its capital was "Yesong" in what is now the Chinese province of Jilin. Due to frequent slave uprisings and the aggravation of feudal relations, Puy gradually began to decline and, in the end, it collapsed in 219 BC. e., having been defeated in the war with the state of Goguryeo.

Kuryo was also one of the ward states of Tangun Korea, but in the middle of the 15th century BC. e. separated from her. Its territory, centered in the Hongjiang River basin, mainly covered the middle and upper reaches of the Amnok River, the upper reaches of the Taizihe and Honghe Rivers and the Yitonghe River basin. The supreme ruler of the state was the king. In 277 BC. e. A group led by Ko Ju Mon who migrated from Puye founded the Goguryeo state, as a result of which the existence of the Kuryo state ended.

Chinguk was also a ward state of Tangun Korea. After the collapse of Early Korea in the middle of the 15th century BC. e. it achieved independence, and in the 12th century BC. e. was already an ancient state. Its territory covered the entire territory of the middle and southern parts of Korea south of the Reson River. The supreme ruler was King Chin, who hailed from the small state of Mahan. He ruled the entire territory, including the Chinkhan and Penkhan regions. The state of Jinguk fell in 8 AD. e. along with the end of the Mahan State, which collapsed due to the Baekje State.

The history of the Middle Ages includes the histories of the feudal states of Goguryeo, Later Buye, Baekje, Silla, Gaya, Palhae, Later Silla, Goryeo, and the Lee dynasty.

Goguryeo was founded as one of the first feudal states in 277 BC. e. Its name comes from the name of the former state of Kuryo, to which the syllable “ko” (high) was added. The founder of Goguryeo is Ko Ju Mon (King Tongmyeon). In the middle of the 1st century, the state of Goguryeo, having become a powerful independent power with a vast territory stretching 800 km in sides, brilliantly completed a matter of historical significance, completely returning the former territory of Ancient Korea. The state of Goguryeo, while repelling the invasion of external forces, simultaneously played a leading role in implementing the policy of reunification of the three states - Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The state of Goguryeo, proud of its glorious history, ceased to exist in 668 due to internal split and criminal actions of the Silla rulers, who attracted foreign forces - the Tang Empire - into the internal affairs of the country, and in cooperation with it captured Pyongyang, the capital of Goguryeo.

Later Puye was founded at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. e. as the heir to the ancient state of Puye. Its capital was initially located in Nun'an in today's Jilin Province of China, and was later moved southwest to the vicinity of Huaide. In 346, Later Puye (Western Puye) fell in a war with the army of Early Yan. Subsequently, through the efforts of Goguryeo, Northern Puye was annexed, and at the end of the 5th century, Eastern Puye, as a result of which Puye (Later Puye) ceased to exist.

Baekje as one of the feudal states existed from the end of the 1st century BC. e. before 660 AD e. From the legend about the formation of the state of Baekje it follows that Baekje founded in the middle of the 3rd century BC. e. Ong Jo is the son of the founder of Goguryeo, Ko Ju Mon. Baekje was initially a “small state” subordinate to the Mahan state, but later, gradually strengthening its state power, it annexed other small states. By the end of the 1st century BC. e. Baekje, which occupied the territory north to the Reson River and south to the Geum River, was freed from Mahan's rule. In 660, the Baekje state collapsed due to the treacherous actions of Silla, who, together with the Tang aggressors, captured its capital, Sabi Fortress.

Silla was also one of the feudal states of our country. The slave state of Chinguk then consisted of 12 Chinhan principalities. Among them, feudal forces developed in the Principality of Saro, on the basis of which from the beginning to the middle of the 1st century AD. e. The feudal state of Silla arose. It was originally called Saro, Sorabor and Kerim, and later Silla. In 648, the Silla feudal rulers, having concluded a secret agreement with the Tang Empire to transfer to it the entire territory north of the Phae River (Taedong River), together with the Tang army, crushed the tribal states of Goguryeo and Baekje.

The feudal state of Kaya was located in the middle and lower reaches of the Rakton River. It was also called "Karak". It is reported that Kaya's territory extended to the east to the Rakton River, to the southwest to the coast of the South Sea, to the northwest to Mount Chiri, and to the northeast to Mount Kaya. However, in fact, the state of Kaya occupied a larger territory until the 5th century. At the end of a long struggle, Silla eventually annexed Kai in 562.

The feudal state of Palhae, as the successor to Goguryeo, was formed in 698 by the Goguryeo people on the territory of former Goguryeo. Its first king is Tae Zhuo Yong and its capital is Dongmaoshan (present-day Dunhua in Jilin Province of China). In the south, Palhe bordered Silla mainly along the Taedong River, in the east it was washed by the sea, in the west it occupied the territory from the western Liaohe basin to the headwaters of the Nenjiang River, and in the north - the territory from the headwaters of the Jiangjiang River, which was a tributary of the Amur River (Heilongjiang), to the coast Sea of Okhotsk.

Palhae, having connections not only with the Silla tribal state, but also with other neighboring countries including Tang, Japan, Tolgwor and Koran, developed politically, militarily, economically and culturally, so that it became famous as “Haedonsongguk” (a prosperous country in the East ). The aggravation of social-class contradictions and internal strife among the rulers weakened the state of Palhae, and it fell in 926 to the invasion of the Koranic aggressors.

Since the end of the 7th century, on the territory of the Korean Peninsula and the current northeastern regions of China, there existed Palhae, which inherited Goguryeo, and Silla (Later Silla), which occupied the territory south of the Taedong River. During its prosperity, the Silla state determined Gyeongju (this name was given during the Goryeo period) as its capital. In the second half of the 9th century, on a nationwide scale, more than 20 peasant armies rebelled against feudal exploitation. However, their successes passed into the hands of representatives of the new feudal forces, Kun Ye and Kyung Hwon, who accidentally joined the ranks of the rebel peasants. Gyeong Hwon founded Later Baekje, and Kun Ye founded the state of Taebong, and they became kings there. In 935, King Kyung Sun of Later Silla voluntarily surrendered to Goryeo, causing the Silla state to cease to exist.

Koryo was the first unified state in our country, which existed from 918 to 1392. King Wang Gon after founding the state called it "Goryeo" in the sense that it is the heir to Goguryeo. He established a new chronology, “Chongsu,” and designated Kegen (present-day Kaesong) as the capital. In Goryeo, state power strengthened and the economy and culture developed. At the end of the 14th century, the Goryeo government sent an expeditionary army to Liaodong to thwart the aggressive claims of the Ming Dynasty. However, at that time, Yi Song Gye, who had long intended to usurp royal power, treacherously turned back the expeditionary army on the island of Uhwa on the Amnok River near Yizhu. After this event, Yi Seong Gye dethroned the last king of the state of Goryeo and proclaimed the royal Yi dynasty.

The Lee Dynasty was the last feudal state in Korea, which existed from 1392 until the beginning of the 20th century. Its capital was Hanyang (Seoul). In 1419, the Li dynasty, sending a military expedition to the island of Tsushima, put an end to the aggression of Japanese pirates there, and in the north, repelling the invasion of the Jurchen tribe, they established the border of their country at the boundaries of the Tuman and Amnok rivers.

In 1592, the Imzhin Patriotic War began, and in the 17th century there were two wars with the Chinese Qing dynasty. The struggle against aggression by foreign forces intensified in the mid-19th century due to repeated invasions by American and French naval fleets. In 1876, the Lee dynasty concluded the unequal Treaty of Ganghwa Island with the Japanese aggressors. Since then, Korea gradually turned into a Japanese semi-colony.

At the end of the Li dynasty, capitalist relations began to increase, and in addition, the peasant uprising that swept the entire country shook the foundation of the feudal state. All attempts at bourgeois reform, including the Kapsin Year coup (1884) and the Kabo Year reform (1894), failed due to the obstructionist intrigues of the Japanese aggressors. The Japanese imperialists illegally fabricated the "Eulsa Five-Point Treaty" in 1905 and made Korea a colonial "protectorate", and disbanded the Korean feudal army in 1907.

Against the insidious provocations of the Japanese imperialists, the Korean people launched various movements in protest: the anti-Japanese Justice Army movement, the government loan repayment movement, the patriotic cultural movement and others. However, all this did not save the fate of the country and the nation, and, in the end, in August 1910, the Li dynasty ceased to exist due to the Japanese imperialists.

Comrade Kim Il Sung, during the bloody anti-Japanese war that lasted 20 years, revived the Motherland trampled upon by the Japanese occupiers, built on it a new society, the masters of which are the masses. Today, thanks to leader Kim Jong Il, the immortal merits of President Kim Il Sung, the founder of socialist Korea, are inherited from generation to generation, and the 5,000-year history of the Korean nation is glorified throughout the world.

The cultural component of a particular country is a very serious subject to study, especially before traveling. Each nation has its own traditions and customs, its own prohibitions and beliefs. The same gesture in different countries can be interpreted completely differently, and while you can put up with comical situations, no one will tolerate insults from visitors. If you are planning a holiday in , now is the time to get acquainted with its culture.

Fundamental principles of South Korean culture

In 1948, one large state, Korea, was divided into the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. After this, the culture of each country began to develop in different ways, but they have the same origins and roots. In particular, the behavior of society is based on the principles of Confucianism, which were developed in China in 500 BC.

From a young age, Koreans instill in their children love and respect for parents, family, and those in authority. Great importance is attached to such concepts as justice, honesty, humanism, peace and education. In modern South Korean culture, a model of behavior called the Rule of Five Relationships has developed on this basis. In particular, it provides for certain norms in communication between father and son, husband and wife, older and younger generations, ruler and subject, and between friends.

Tourists who come to this country on holiday often fall out of this pattern of behavior. Therefore, sometimes it seems that Koreans are rude and ignorant. But in fact, until you enter into one of these types of relationships, you may simply not be noticed.

It is because of the Rule of Five Relationships that Koreans can sometimes ask somewhat awkward and personal questions. But if a local resident is interested in your marital status or age, do not rush to be rude in response - he is simply trying to determine by what rules he should interact with you.

Selected manifestations of South Korean culture

Understanding the fundamental principles of building relationships between Koreans, it will be interesting to consider more specific manifestations of their behavior patterns. In particular, these are:

Respect for elders. In Korea, it is customary for young people and those of lower rank to follow the wishes and instructions of their elders without any objections.
Attitude towards marriage. Koreans consider marriage to be perhaps the most important event in life. Divorce, on the contrary, is interpreted as a huge and indelible shame.
Names. Among residents of the CIS countries, it is common practice for a wife to take her husband’s surname. In South Korea, they adhere to different traditions - the wife keeps her last name, but their common children inherit the father's family name.
Public quarrels. Angry and offended women are everywhere. This mixture turns out to be especially explosive if such a woman is also elderly. In South Korea, there are quite often these types of grandmothers who can show their dissatisfaction not only verbally, but also physically. No matter how offensive it may be, you cannot react to this, even if you are provoked. It's best to just step aside.
Handshake. People who are equal in status or who are on friendly terms use the familiar form of handshake. But if one of them is of lower rank or younger, then he is obliged to shake the outstretched hand with both hands. Quite often, the greeting is supplemented with a bow. The older and the higher in status a person is, the deeper they bow to him.
The boss is always right and cannot be denied. Surprisingly, this rule applies to almost all areas of life. You can't even refuse an offer to drink. Therefore, if the boss is an alcoholic, it is easier to change jobs than to give them a refusal.

South Korean traditions

The culture and traditions of South Korea are closely intertwined, because one follows the other. However, with the passage of time and globalization moving by leaps and bounds, any open society undergoes one change or another. But there are fundamental beliefs that are revered at all times. In relation to South Korea, the following traditions, customs and:

Chere, or rite of remembrance of ancestors. According to Korean beliefs, after death a person’s soul goes to another world only after a change of 4 generations. And throughout this period he is a full-fledged member of the family, who, according to legend, cares for and protects the entire family from bad weather.
Hanbok, or traditional clothing. It is what Koreans wear on special days such as Lunar New Year, Harvest Day, or wedding ceremonies.
In relation to marriage, Koreans have skillfully created a model that combines both modern trends and traditional rituals. Today, a Korean wedding is divided into two parts: first there is a ceremony according to Western European style, with a white dress, veil and tuxedo for the groom, and after the newlyweds dress in traditional outfits and go to a special room for lunch with their parents.
Sollal, or Lunar New Year. This holiday is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar. It is customary to celebrate it with family, remembering ancestors, preparing special dishes and dressing up in hanbok.
Chuseok, or Harvest Day. Koreans devote the fifteenth day of the eighth month according to the eastern calendar to remembering their ancestors and thanking the gods for food.

Note to tourists

In order not to get into trouble when communicating with a Korean, or to avoid incurring the wrath of law enforcement officials, a tourist in South Korea should remember a few rules:

Watch your gestures. Calling someone with your palm up or beckoning with your finger is considered offensive.
You should take off your shoes when entering a Korean home, but walking on the floor without socks is considered bad manners.
Public displays of affection between a couple, be it kissing or hugging, are considered indecent in Korean society, but displays of friendship are quite acceptable.
Smoking in public places is strictly prohibited, and enforcement of this rule is closely monitored by the police.
You cannot pierce food with chopsticks and leave them directly on the plate, especially when visiting - the hostess may take this as an insult.

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Traditional art

Painting

Ceramics

Architecture

National clothes

Traditional hairstyles

How did you become a gisaeng?

Music of Korea

Literature

Introduction

Ancient Chinese texts refer to Korea as “Rivers and Mountains Embroidered on Silk” and “Eastern Nation of Etiquette.” During the 7th and 8th centuries, the Silk Road connected Korea with Arabia. In 845, Arab traders wrote: “Beyond China lies a country that is rich in gold, it is called Silla. The Muslims who come here are so fascinated by her that they stay here and don’t want to leave.”

Korean society as a whole (we are talking about both South and North Korea) is based on the principles of Confucianism, an ethical system developed in China in 500 BC. One of the main principles of Confucianism is the principle of respect - for parents, for family, for friends and for those in authority. Confucius also attached great importance to the ideas of justice, peace, education, reform and humanism. Many Koreans attribute the country's extraordinary success in recent decades to this attitude towards life. In modern Korean society, Confucianism is most manifested in relationships between people. The rules of the five relationships prescribe certain norms of behavior between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, old and young, and between friends. If you fall out of the system of these relationships, then you do not exist for a Korean. Many people who come to Korea think that the locals are rude: in fact, this is not the case, there is a possibility that they simply do not notice you. If you are introduced to someone, then you fall under the rules of relationships with friends, and the attitude towards you becomes different.

Korean festivals often feature vibrant colors that are a result of Mongolian influence: bright red, yellow and green are often included in traditional Korean motifs. Sometimes these colors are found in traditional Korean clothing - "hanbok".

A feature of Korean culture is calculating a person's age. It is believed that a person turns one year old at the time of birth, after which for each New Year - and not on his birthday - one is added to his age. That is, for example, those born on December 31st will wake up the next day as two years old. Thus, the age of a Korean will always be a year or two more than what can be calculated according to Western tradition.

Traditional art

Korean dance is beautiful and varied. It contains many interesting, complex elements and whimsical steps. Korean dances are divided into a very large number of styles and types. During the medieval Korean Goryeo and Joseon dynasties (second millennium AD), Korean dance developed through the support of the royal court, various academies, and even an official government ministry. Despite their folk origins, a number of dances have achieved continued high status, including the hermit dance, ghost dance, fan dance, monk dance, jester dance and others. It is believed, for example, that the dance with fans has its roots in the rituals of shamans, in which they used tree leaves; later this dance became an element of high art. Another layer of Korean dance culture is folk peasant dance, which has survived to this day and is now performed by folklore groups. The attributes of the dance are the long wavy silk scarf of snow-white color used in the Salphuri dance, as well as drums, hats, swords, etc. In the ghost dance, the character is reunited with the deceased spouse, which only increases the pain of repeated separation, there is only several attributes or they are completely absent. And the big drum dance features a huge drum, which can be larger than the performer himself. The drum attracts the monk by its very appearance; the monk succumbs to temptation and performs an incendiary drum “orgy”.

As in music, there is a division between court and folk dances. Common court dances are jeongjam performed at banquets, and ilmu- during Confucian rituals. Jeonjemu are divided into original and those that came from Central Asia and China. Ilma divided into civilian and military. Many costume plays or dances are performed in different areas of Korea. Traditional dance attire is the genja, a special garment worn during festivals.

Painting

In Korea, the art of painting originated in the distant past. The first images were frescoes in burial stone chambers, dating back to the fourth century under the Goguryeo state. The painting of those times was clearly influenced by Buddhism and retouching techniques were already used. The Academy of Arts was founded at the very beginning of the Goryeo period. Not only educated representatives of the upper class of society studied there, but also talented professional artists.

The genres and themes of the paintings became more and more diverse; they were a kind of addition to the then popular Buddhist scenes, as well as to subjects that began to be painted even in an earlier period. In those days, artists painted animals, portraits, landscapes and four plants: chrysanthemum, plum tree, bamboo and orchid, which in those days personified the four virtues.

The drawings were made with ink and brush, in the same way as calligraphic work is done, on silk and paper, but most of all the emphasis was placed on the linear drawing, its proportions and texture. The earliest paintings found on the Korean Peninsula are prehistoric petroglyphs. With the penetration of Buddhism from India through China, various other techniques appeared in the country. Very quickly they became the main ones, although local techniques were preserved and developed further.

Naturalism, with motifs such as realistic landscapes, flowers and birds, became a popular trend in painting. Most of the paintings are done with ink on mulberry paper or silk.

In the 18th century, local techniques advanced greatly, mainly in the field of calligraphy and seal engraving.

In North Korea, art is influenced by tradition and realism. Jeong Seong's painting "Cheongyeo Peak of Mount Kumgang" is a classic example of a Korean landscape with towering cliffs hidden by fog.

Crafts

Many types of crafts have developed widely in Korea. Most of them are crafts, the products of which are necessary in everyday life: for preparing and storing food. Since the main emphasis was on the practical application of handicrafts, these works did not pretend to be artistic and varied in form. But special artistic products were also made, intended for special purposes, for example, for holding official ceremonies. Most handicrafts were traditionally made from metal, wood, fabrics, glaze, clay, and less commonly from glass, leather or paper. Ancient handicrafts such as red and black pottery share many similarities with the pottery of China along the Yellow River. The Bronze Age relics found, however, are very different and more elaborate.

Many finely crafted items were found during excavations, including gilded crowns, jugs and pots with various designs. During the Goryeo period, the use of bronze was common. Brass, an alloy of copper and one-third zinc, was also a fairly popular material. The dynasty, however, is better known for its celadon products.

During the Joseon period, porcelain items decorated with blue designs were popular. At the same time, woodworking developed, leading to elaborate furniture such as chests of drawers, cabinets and tables.

Many golden crowns and other filigree valuables have been discovered in tombs from the Three Kingdoms period. These gold and silver items indicate wealth and power - indicators of the level of civilization of that era. Objects such as the gilded bronze incense of the Buyeo state speak of the excellence of metalwork already in the time of the Three Kingdoms.

Ceramics

painting korean dance art

Ceramic production techniques were brought to Korea from China more than 1,000 years ago. In Korea, it was further developed, resulting in the creation of local pottery traditions, which Koreans are rightfully proud of. Clay pointed-bottomed vessels from the Neolithic era are decorated with a decor of parallel lines and dots. The products of early Silla masters were distinguished by their originality and color range from gray to black, and sometimes brown. During the Goryeo period, jade green celadon wares became popular. In the 12th century, new inlay techniques were developed, allowing the creation of more sophisticated decorations in a variety of colors. Neither China nor Japan produced the inlaid celadon unique to Goryeo ware.

The refined elegance and unique bluish-green color of celadon from the Koryo era (918 - 1392) brought it worldwide fame and popularity among antique lovers. White porcelain from the Joseon era (1392 - 1910) also enjoys well-deserved fame. During the Korean-Japanese War 1592 - 98. The technique of producing ceramic products came from Korea to Japan, which greatly contributed to the development of this type of artistic craft there. In Korea, clay products appeared in the Neolithic era.

Architecture

The buildings are usually built on a stone foundation and topped with a curved roof with tiles, supported on brackets and supported by pillars. The walls are made of earth (adobe walls), or sometimes consist entirely of movable wooden doors. The distance between two pillars is about 3.7 m, the buildings are designed so that there is always space between the “inside” and “outside” parts of the house. Habitats are traditionally chosen using geomancy. Although geomancy has been a vital part of Korean culture and shamanism since prehistoric times, geomancy was later re-introduced to Korea from China during the Three States period.

The house should be built against a hill and face south to receive as much sunlight as possible. This arrangement of houses is also popular in modern Korea. Geomancy also influenced the shape of buildings, their location and choice of materials.

Traditional Korean houses are organized into an inner wing and an outer wing. The specific layout depends on the region and family wealth. Traditional Korean architecture was characterized by two main styles: palace and temple, which developed under the strong influence of Chinese canons, and folk - the construction of houses for ordinary people, which had many local varieties.

Ancient architects who built palaces and temples borrowed the system of beams and supports from the Chinese. The residential buildings of the common people were characterized by thatched roofs and floors with an ondol heating system. Rich people built large houses with gracefully curved tile roofs that ended in slightly raised eaves. Great importance was attached to the natural landscape in architecture. Thus, numerous Buddhist monasteries scattered throughout the country were usually built in the mountains, fitting perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

In principle, temple and secular gardens in Korea are the same and are generally similar to Chinese and Japanese gardens. This happened because Taoism had a fair influence on the layout of gardens in East Asia. Taoism emphasizes nature and its mystery, paying more attention to its constituent details. Unlike traditional Chinese and Japanese gardens, Korean gardens have been able to avoid some artificiality.

The lotus in the pond is one of the most important elements in the Korean garden. If there is a natural pond or stream in the garden, then a gazebo must be placed next to it, which allows you to conveniently observe the water. Mounded flower beds are also one of the common elements in Korean gardens.

The Poseokjeong Garden near Gyeongju was established during the Silla period and noticeably emphasizes the importance of water. The garden is distinguished by a special stream in the shape of an abalone. During the Silla Kingdom, the king's guests sat near a water stream, and bowls of wine floated down it and floated to each guest. Like a landscape park, a Korean garden is natural and simple. The natural landscape of the garden does not experience widespread human efforts to shape it.

Korean gardens can be broadly divided into 8 categories: palaces, private residences, villages, pavilions, Buddhist temples, sowons, royal burial grounds, and villages.

Although each garden has its own unique features, they all typically include the following elements: shaped trees, hills resembling mountains, rivers and streams of various sizes, small round ponds, large ponds with islands, bamboo, rock garden, waterfalls , where possible, as well as granite square or round pools, pear and apple and other fruit trees. Harmony does not depend on one feature or absolute form that dominates the overall appearance.

National clothes

Hanbok-- national traditional costume of the people of Korea. Hanbok is often made from bright, single-colored fabrics. Although the word "hanbok" literally means "Korean clothing", in the 21st century the word is used exclusively to refer to Joseon Dynasty hanbok, clothing for formal and semi-formal functions, festivals and celebrations. Modern hanbok differs from Joseon; in the 20th century, its form underwent major changes for the sake of convenience. Throughout history, noble Koreans often adopted foreign clothing, and common people wore variations of the hanbok. Traditional women's hanbok consists of jeogori, blouse, shirt or jacket, and chhima, long skirt. Such an ensemble is often called “chima jeogori”; they are used instead of school uniforms in Japan in Korean schools. Men's hanbok consists of jeogori and loose pants paji. Korean clothing varied depending on a person's rank. The royal family and ruling class wore stunning costumes. Jewelry was also used to separate from the mob, which emphasized the superiority of the wearer.

Ordinary people often limited themselves to simple clothes made of undyed cloth. This type of casual wear underwent very few changes throughout the Joseon period. Everyday dress was almost identical for all residents, but there were always differences in formal and ceremonial clothing.

In winter, Koreans wore quilted cotton clothing. Fur was also used. Since ordinary people usually wore undyed fabric, Koreans were often referred to as “the people dressed in white.”

Traditional hairstyles

Korean traditional hairstyles are a separate topic! They consist of a large number of false braids, special hairpins and hairpins made of precious metals. Today, of course, no one wears such hairstyles, even if they wear a hanbok. However, this version of the suit is not worn either. The costumes below are the ceremonial costumes of the Korean aristocracy. Therefore, a lady in such attire can only be seen in a photo studio or on the set of some historical film.

The traditional hairstyle of a married Korean woman is her hair combed back, braided, raised up and placed on her head in the form of a crown. These hairstyles were usually decorated with "pinyo" - traditional Korean decorative hairpins.

Of course, even before marriage, Korean women tried to keep their hair neat. Unmarried girls tried to comb their hair smoothly and always made sure that not a single strand stood out from the general mass; then they braided their hair, but, unlike married ladies, did not make a crown out of it. Therefore, for a long time, combing has become a kind of ritual with which a woman’s day begins.

Kisaeng

Kisemn -- Korean entertainment artist. The first syllable of the word means “artist, singer”, the second -- "life". These were courtesans trained in music, dancing, singing, poetry, and conversation -- everything that was needed to entertain men from the upper classes at banquets and parties. Gisaengs played an important role in Korean society. During wars, they performed not only their direct duties, but also provided medical assistance to the wounded and cared for the sick. Kisaengs have left a significant mark on Korean literature, both as heroines of works and as their authors.

How did you become a gisaeng?

Women became gisaengs in different ways. Some of them inherited their status from their mothers, others were sold to training centers by their parents, who could not support a large family. Most of these families were of rank chongmin, however, sometimes broke free people sold their daughters. Sometimes even the aristocracy committed such acts.

MusicKorea is traditional Korean music that includes folk, vocal and ritual music styles belonging to the Korean nation. Korean music, like Korean art, painting and sculpture, has existed since prehistoric times.

To this day, there are two distinct musical cultures in Korea: traditional music - gugak and Western music - yanak. Traditional Korean gugak music shares cultural roots with the traditional music of China and Japan. However, despite some superficial similarities, Korean gugak nevertheless differs significantly from the music of other East Asian countries. Korean music, for example, traditionally has a triple rhythm (three beats per beat), while Chinese and Japanese music have a double rhythm.

Gugak is divided into two main categories: jonak, or music for the upper classes, and minsogak, or folk music. Dli jonak is characterized by a measured, solemn and complex melody, while minsogak, which includes genres such as folk songs, peasant music, pansori song-drama and shamanic music, is characterized by fast and energetic.

Traditional Korean musical instruments can be divided into 3 large groups: strings, winds and percussion.

· Gayageum (12-string zither) and komungo (6-string) are part of the stringed folding instruments. The haegeum (two-stringed vertical violin) and the ajen (7-string zither) are part of the string tangs. Court string music also uses seven- and 25-string zithers.

· Daegeum (long transverse flute), phiri (cylindrical oboe and grass flute are folk wind instruments). Wind tangs include the Chinese oboe, upright flute, and hojok or taepyeongso. Saenghwan (harmonica), pan flute, hun (ocarina), flute with mouthpiece, tanso (fine-toothed vertical flute) and flute are wind court musical instruments.

· Folk percussion instruments include the chin (large hanging gong), kkwengwari (hand gong), puk (barrel-shaped drum), changu (hourglass-shaped drum). The pak (ratchet) and changu are the percussion instruments of the thang. Court percussion instruments include the pyeonjeong (bronze bell), pyeongyeon (stone chime), chuk (square wooden box with a hammer), and o (tiger-shaped scraper).

Mythology

Belief in a world inhabited by spirits is the oldest religious tradition in Korea. According to Korean beliefs, there is a huge pantheon of gods, spirits and ghosts, ranging from “god kings” who rule the sky to mountain spirits (Korean sanshin). This pantheon also includes spirits living in trees, caves, the ground, human dwellings and other places. These spirits are believed to have the power to influence people's lives.

Korean shamans are similar to their counterparts from Siberia, Mongolia and Manchuria. The center of Korean shamanism is Jeju Island.

Gumiho- a creature from Korean mythology, which is a female werewolf who can transform into a fox with nine tails. Legends about such a creature were widespread in many regions of East Asia.

Korean culture has a centuries-old history. It has changed under the influence of many countries, but has retained its unique features that cannot be confused with others. If we look at the history of Korea, we will see that its territory has long been under the influence of China, which undoubtedly left its mark on its culture. We can notice many similar things in the culture of Japan, which was an ally of China. Perhaps such cooperation built the foundation for the development of such a large and prosperous culture? In just a couple of hundred years, it achieved development that other countries had been achieving for many centuries.

Literature

1. http://restinworld.ru/stories/north_korea/39293/1.html.

2. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%EE%F0%E5%E9%F1%EA%E8%E9_%F2%E0%ED%E5%F6.

3. http://www.asiology.ru/DPRK/general-data/50-culture-of-Korea-2.

4. http://www.mir-master.com/zhivopis-korei.html.

5. http://keramika.peterlife.ru/enckeramiki/84156.html.

6. http://koredo.ru/tradicionnye-pricheski-koreyanok.

7. http://www.kazedu.kz/referat/92894.

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