May it Please Your Highness:
Music of the Asian Courts
Lesson Hub 3
정악 Jeong-Ak: Music of the Korean Court
Author: Dr. CedarBough Saeji
We're on our birthday trip to Asia!
We will visit many of the countries that are part of Asia.
Person with Toy Airplane on World Map, by Andrea Piacquadio, CC0, via Pexels.
Next stop, Korea!
Kazakhstan
Turkey
Iran
India
Thailand
Indonesia
Vietnam
China
Japan
Korea
Asia, by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Library of Congress.
What do you think music from Korea sounds like?
Who listens to court music in Korea?
An Ensemble Plays Jongmyo Jerye-ak at Jongmyo Shrine (2015), by CedarBough Saeji.
Jeong-Ak - Music of the Korean Court
Drummer (2010), by CedarBough Saeji.
Path 1
17th Century Korea
15–20 minutes
Path 1
17th Century Korea
15–20 minutes
Let's find Korea on a map:
Map of East Asia, by the US Central
Intelligence Agency,
Library of Congress.
"Gyeongbok Gung," means Geyongbok Palace.
Gyeongbok Palace
This was the palace gate during the Joseon Dynasty.
Do you think the guard will let us in?
Left: Palace Gates (2024).
Below: Palace Gate Soldier (2010).
Photos by CedarBough Saeji.
Gyeongbok Palace Is in Seoul
"Seoul" has two syllables.
The palace is in a city called Seoul!
Can you see where Gyeongbok palace is?
Korean palaces face south.
Map of Seoul. Maps Data: Google, © 2023, TMap Mobility.
There is a mountain behind the palace
There is a river in front of the palace.
If you were to build a palace in your town, where would you put it?
Joseon Dynasty 1392-1910
"Joseon Sidae," is the Korean term for the Joseon Dynasty.
The Joseon Dynasty lasted over 500 years.
The guiding philosophy was Confucianism.
Jongmyo Jerye, by CedarBough Saeji.
Listening Sample
Example of Aak
Manners were very important!
What are some manners in your house?
What about manners in your school?
How do you show manners to your teacher, parents, and friends?
The King's Summer Pavilion at Gyeongbok Palace (2011), by CedarBough Saeji.
Manners Toward the King
Bowing was one important sign of respect:
- Cross your hands and rest them below your belly button.
- Women put the right hand on the left hand.
- Men put the left hand on the right hand.
- Bend 90 degrees from the waist.
- Stay in the bow at least 3 seconds.
- Keep your eyes down.
Bowing, unknown artist.
Hanwha Damage Insurance.
Manners Toward the King
Learning Checkpoint
- Find Korea on a labelled map of Asia (click down for map).
- What are two important things about the placement of a special building?
- Demonstrate a traditional Korean bow.
Do you remember where Korea is?
End of Path 1: Where will you go next?
Path 2
Jeong-ak Instruments
25–30 minutes
The Lee Palace Orchestra, Court Musicians, Korean Pacific Press, U.N. Folkways Records.
Joseon Dynasty 1392-1910
The Joseon Dynasty lasted over 500 years.
Korea was one country then.
Left: Palace Gate Soldiers (2011), CedarBough Saeji.
Below: Map of East Asia, by the US Central Intelligence Agency. Library of Congress.
"Joseon Sidae," is the Korean term for the Joseon Dynasty.
Are these clothes for royalty or common people? What do you think?
Time for Music!
The royal court had special music called Jeong-ak, which means, "proper music," or "elegant music." It was different from the music of the common people.
"Jeong-ak" Pronunciation
Jeong-ak included singing and playing instruments. We will explore some instruments.
King and Queen, by CedarBough Saeji.
Joseon Dynasty Court Music: 4 to choose from!
Roal Court Walking, by CedarBough Saeji.
Day of Rites and Ceremonies, by Noh Mun Duek. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Daechwita
Describe the tempo of this piece:
Listening Sample 1
Example of daechwita, performed by the Chi-Ta Ensemble.
What are the first instrument sounds you hear?
This was played when soldiers were marching or the king was going on an outing.
Daechwita means "loudly blowing and hitting."
slow
fast
medium
Sujecheon
Listening Sample 2
Example of Sujecheon by the Imperial Orchestra
Music played at court banquets or indoor celebrations.
Is the second pitch or than the first?
higher
lower
Do you hear a steady beat?
Describe where the banquet is held.
Jangchun bullo jigok
This is played to accompany dances in the royal court.
Listening Sample 3
Example of Jangchun bullo jigok, unknown musician.
What types of instruments do you hear playing the melody?
Changchun bullo jigok (October 2015), by Na, Seungyeol. National Gugak Center.
Jongmyo Jerye-ak
Listening Sample 4
Example of Jongmyo Jerye-ak
Describe the tempo:
There are spirit tablets in the shrine. Each tablet has important teachings from past royalty carved into the tablet.
The spirit tablets of King Jeongjo and Queen Hyoui displayed at Jongmyo Shrine, photo by Seo Heon-gang Image Research. National Palace Museum of Korea.
slow
medium
fast
What Are Instruments Made From?
This drum is made from wood, leather and metal.
The drumsticks are made from wood covered with cloth.
Think about all the instruments you know...
What is used to make those instruments?
What are some other instruments made from?
Three Instruments for Jongmyo Jerye-Ak
Pyeon-gyeong is made from 16 pieces of rock !
Chuk is a wooden sound box.
Match the name to the instrument.
Chuk and Pyeon-gyeong photos courtesy of National Gugak Center.
Eo looks like a tiger!
The musician runs
bamboo across the wooden tiger’s back – like petting a cat!
Eo photo courtesy of National Palace Museum of Korea.
Are the high keys of the pyeon-gyeong thicker or thinner?
How many different sounds does he play on the eo?
Listening to Each Sound
What does the chuk mallet look like?
A Whole New World of Percussions, National Theater of Korea.
Watch the ceremony and look for the instruments:
Pretend you are playing the chuk when you hear it. (1:49).
Hold your 'pretend mallets' when you hear the pyeon-gyeong. (2:01)
Sweep across the pretend eo when it sounds at the end. (from 13:11)
Jongmyo Jeryeak (outdoor performance), National Gugak Center.
Learning Checkpoint
- What does jeong-ak mean?
- What are two materials used to make instruments?
-
Name one purpose of Korean court music.
-
Describe the tempo of jeong-ak.
End of Path 2: Where will you go next?
Path 3
15–20 minutes
The Ilmu Dance
Jongmyo Royal Shrine Dancing, by Noh Mun Duek. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Joseon Dynasty 1392-1910
Left: Palace Gate Soldiers (2011), CedarBough Saeji.
Below: Map of East Asia, by the US Central Intelligence Agency. Library of Congress.
The Joseon Dynasty lasted over 500 years.
Korea was one country then.
"Joseon Sidae," is the Korean term for the Joseon Dynasty.
A Trip to Jongmyo Shrine
Jongmyo Jerye is a ritual with music and Ilmu dance.
The ritual is held once each year by the descendants of the Yi family (the royal family).
Jongmyo Jerye, by CedarBough Saeji.
Jongmyo Shrine Inner Gate, by MMalkavian. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Deviant Art.
Let’s Move! Time to Learn Ilmu
Ilmu dance is part of the Jongmyo Jerye ceremony.
What do your feet do in this dance?
What do your arms do?
Do you ever touch anyone near you?
How are the motions linked to the music?
Let's copy their movements!
Palilmu (64 employees of Crown Haitai), courtesy of Crown Haitai.
Ilmu Dance on Stage
Watch the dancers and choose three moves you like best.
Jongmyo Jeryeak (stage performance),
National Gugak Center.
Put your Ilmu steps together with the music.
Share your moves with the group!
Example of Jongmyo Jerye-ak
Happy children jumping and dancing. Kraphix. VectorStock Royalty Free Images.
Learning Checkpoint
- How are Ilmu dance steps different from hip hop?
- What is the purpose of the Ilmu dance?
End of Path 3 and Lesson 3: Where will you go next?
Audio courtesy of
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Sooin Choi (pronunciation files)
Videos courtesy of
Crown Haitai
Korean National Gugak Center
National Theater of Korea
Yang, Haeon
Images courtesy of
Google Maps
Hanwha Damage Insurance
Library of Congress
National Gugak Center
National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
National Palace Museum of Korea
CedarBough Saeji
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
© 2024 Smithsonian Institution. Personal, educational, and non-commercial uses allowed; commercial rights reserved. See Smithsonian terms of use for more information.
This project received Federal support from the Youth Access Grant.
For full bibliography and media credits, see Lesson 3 landing page.
Lesson 3 Media Credits