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3 Important Spirits of Korea
1) 흥 [hɯŋ, Heung] (Click the image on the left)
This is a spirit representing Korean people. According to Korean dictionary, 흥 [hɯŋ, Heung] is defined as below:
흥: 재미나 즐거움을 일어나게 하는 감정; An emotion or sensation which causes the joy or fun
However, it seems a little under explained. Ju Hyun Lee and Myung Hee Lee at Dongseo University defined that Heung is a status of ecstasy with joy and fun along with the definition above. Also, they say that Heung is contagious. This Heung is underlying in every type of Korean traditional performing arts such as folk songs, mask dance, pan-so-ri. Heung is more based on the person who has that emotion rather than the object. Heung is possibly caused by the long culture and history of agriculture which developed the relation-based society in Korea for a long time. This Heung dominates any other emotion or spirit in Korean people. Even when Korean people are sad, they often dance and sing. This is one of ways that Korean people vent out the sadness.
Video on the left is a traditional festival in a agricultural village.
![[인간문화재 고 이매방 명무] 살풀이.mp4_000203469.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc218e_c2076baffe0b4e11b47f3c8a65ec0a32~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_656,h_480,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5B%EC%9D%B8%EA%B0%84%EB%AC%B8%ED%99%94%EC%9E%AC%20%EA%B3%A0%20%EC%9D%B4%EB%A7%A4%EB%B0%A9%20%EB%AA%85%EB%AC%B4%5D%20%EC%82%B4%ED%92%80%EC%9D%B4_mp4_000203469.png)
2) 한 [hɑn, han] (Click the image on the left)
This is the other spirit which represents the emotion of Korean people. According to the dictionary, 한 [hɑn, han] is defined below:
한: 몹시 원망스럽고 억울하거나 안타깝고 슬퍼 응어리진 마음; A heart with sadness, resentment, and/or chagrin.
However, the definition from the dictionary is under nuanced and under explained. According to Insik Kim, a professor of Chung Ang University, Han includes feeling of loss. Han is rather a state after grieving the loss such as loss of lover, country, and so on. Han is a spirit of combined emotions of grieving and digesting all sorrow, oppression, or longing and missing someone. Though this Han had been there, since the beginning of the twentieth century going through the oppression from Japanese reign, liberation, and split of Korea, Han became a widely shared spirit of Korean people. Sometimes, this shared spirit of Han works as a spiritual bondage of Korean people.
Video on the left shows an example of Han through the dance called, Sal-pu-ri.
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3) 정 [tɕʌŋ, Jeong or Cheong] (Click the image on the left)
This is another spirit which is a spirit of sharing. 정 [tɕʌŋ, Jeong or Cheong] is defined below.
정: 사랑이나 친근감을 느끼는 마음; A heart of friendliness or love
Korean people share food, drink, gifts, joy and even pain. Old Korean proverb says “If you share the joy, the joy becomes twice. If you share the hurt, hurt becomes half.” This is an undergoing spirit of Korean people. This is from the care to the others. Though Korea did not accept Christianity until the beginning of the twentieth century, it is quite similar to the Bible verse “…but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself…” from Leviticus. However, this Jeong, especially, is rapidly disappearing due to the industrialization, urbanization, and individualism
4 Important Musical Ornamentations of Korean Traditional Music
![[모두의 예술] 판소리 소리의 종류! 떠는 음과 꺾는 음의 차이!, MBC 210712 방송.mp4_000013246.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc218e_cdfd9517cabc41ce99c819c5dcb2e839~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5B%EB%AA%A8%EB%91%90%EC%9D%98%20%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%5D%20%ED%8C%90%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC%20%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC%EC%9D%98%20%EC%A2%85%EB%A5%98!%20%EB%96%A0%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EA%B3%BC%20%EA%BA%BE%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EC%9D%98%20%EC%B0%A8%EC%9D%B4!%2C%20MBC%20210712%20%EB%B0%A9%EC%86%A1_mp4_000013246.png)
평음/평목 [Pyeong-eum/Pyeong-Mok] (Straight Tone)
In Korean traditional music, eum (voice, tone, pitch) and mok (meaning neck or throat) are interchangable words. 평음 is a straight long tone. This straight tone is straighter than straight tone in the Western vocal music.
Click the image on the left to see the example of the sound.
![[모두의 예술] 판소리 소리의 종류! 떠는 음과 꺾는 음의 차이!, MBC 210712 방송.mp4_000028494.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc218e_204f707689104522ae40ce9a5b1dbaed~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5B%EB%AA%A8%EB%91%90%EC%9D%98%20%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%5D%20%ED%8C%90%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC%20%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC%EC%9D%98%20%EC%A2%85%EB%A5%98!%20%EB%96%A0%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EA%B3%BC%20%EA%BA%BE%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EC%9D%98%20%EC%B0%A8%EC%9D%B4!%2C%20MBC%20210712%20%EB%B0%A9%EC%86%A1_mp4_000028494.png)
떠는음/떠는목 [Tteo-neun-eum/Tteo-neun-mok] (Vibrated tone/shaken tone)
It means tones with vibration or shaken tone. The vibration range is usually from under the center of the pitch to the center of the pitch. It usually starts slow and becomes faster and faster.
Clikc the image on the left to see an example.
![[모두의 예술] 판소리 소리의 종류! 떠는 음과 꺾는 음의 차이!, MBC 210712 방송.mp4_000061260.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc218e_22f1b6c760534f6a899b1d0db0731743~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5B%EB%AA%A8%EB%91%90%EC%9D%98%20%EC%98%88%EC%88%A0%5D%20%ED%8C%90%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC%20%EC%86%8C%EB%A6%AC%EC%9D%98%20%EC%A2%85%EB%A5%98!%20%EB%96%A0%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EA%B3%BC%20%EA%BA%BE%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EC%9D%98%20%EC%B0%A8%EC%9D%B4!%2C%20MBC%20210712%20%EB%B0%A9%EC%86%A1_mp4_000061260.png)
꺽는음/꺽는목 [kkeok-neun-eum/kkeok-neun-mok] (Bending Tone)
Kkeokneun sori (꺾는 소리) is one of the most distinctive and expressive types of sigimsae in Korean traditional singing. It involves making a quick bend upward or downward from a main pitch and then returning, creating a subtle yet emotionally charged inflection. This technique adds a dynamic, ornamental layer to the melody, allowing the singer to express a wide range of emotions—such as joy, longing, or sorrow—with just a single note. Unlike simple pitch bending in Western music, kkeokneun sori is closely tied to rhythm and phrasing, often placed at key melodic points to shape the flow of the entire line.
![[쉽게 배우는 음악 이론] 15. 시김새.mp4_000194066.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/dc218e_648f160658df455ab2a6e68f5eca4fdf~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_551,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5B%EC%89%BD%EA%B2%8C%20%EB%B0%B0%EC%9A%B0%EB%8A%94%20%EC%9D%8C%EC%95%85%20%EC%9D%B4%EB%A1%A0%5D%2015_%20%EC%8B%9C%EA%B9%80%EC%83%88_mp4_000194066.png)
흐르는음 [heu-reu-neun-eum] (Falling Tone)
흐르는음 [heu-reu-neun-eum] (Falling Tone) is a vocal technique in which the singer smoothly slides from a higher note down to a lower one. This gentle downward motion creates a flowing and expressive sound, often filled with emotion. It is commonly used to convey a sense of release, longing, or closure at the end of a musical phrase. In pansori, this technique plays an important role in softening the musical line and leaving a lingering emotional effect.
Click the image on the left to see an example.
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