Korean Tradition and Culture: Lessons Learnt

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Traditional Korean Music
Kimchi and Korean Cuisine
Characteristics of the Korean Diet
Kanok and Ondol
Korean Clothing (Hanbok)
Folk Paintings and Spirit of Spontaneity
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

The day-to-day activities of people from a particular region are based on their history and culture. The daily activities define the people’s everyday culture, including the country’s collective unconscious and cultural models. Therefore, an adequate understanding of Korea requires consideration of their traditional food (Hansik), the traditional clothes (hanbok), and the traditional housing (hanok). The culture of Korea has also experienced daily changes, and its consideration is significant for the efficient understanding of Korea. It is also essential to compare the Korean way of life with other cultures to develop a better understanding of Korea.

Traditional Korean Music

Korean folk music is characterized by different aspects of instruments and traditions of their music. The Korean culture embraces musical instruments that are either strings, wind, or percussion. Percussion instruments include barrel drums and double-headed hourglass-shaped drums. Traditional folk music is in two categories: for the common people and the Jeong-ak for the upper-class section of society. The songs for the high-class group were for memorial and ceremonial events in the Chinese royal court. Hyang-ak is a piece of local music generally played in the royal court by the honorable class without folk music.

Music of the lower class constituted of songs such as Sinawi, Pansori, Minyo, Sanjo, Japga, and Pung-mul, characterized by the lack of structure in composure and involved improvisation (Chun-sik et al., 2011). Sinawi was a musical collaboration that included instruments such as flutes and drums in current society. Sanjo included dispersed melodies with instrumental solos and drumming on jangju with permission for the audience to join the music (Chun-sik et al., 2011). Many were simple folk songs for the commoners and relied on voice instead of instruments reflecting the community’s emotions.

Like the current music classification, the composition of traditional Korean music was based on the audience in which the upper class had a different category of songs in their events. In contrast, the lower class had their type of composition. The type of songs for the lower class and commoners had scattered melodies. It depended on voice rather than instruments, an indication of disorganization during the commoners’ functions. On the other hand, the songs performed during events involving dynasties and the royal court were sophisticated and majorly played for the praise and memory of the reigning leader. The disappearance of the songs performed during the Joseon dynasty implies the likelihood of an authoritarian rule since the people could not retain the songs after the dynasties’ fall.

There are various aspects of comparison between Korean traditional music and Chinese and Japanese music. The music instruments among the three countries are of the same type and, in most cases, have the same names. For instance, archaic tools such as the elementary phonolite are in the shape of a carpenter’s angle that including qing for China and tukgyong for Korea are of the same type. The similarities in the musical culture are due to the old influence of China after the Chinese invasion of Korea.

Kimchi and Korean Cuisine

Kimchi and cuisine are other cultural components of any ethnic community that could distinguish it from other communities. Korean Kimchi and cuisine have several characteristics that are distinctive and worth creating an understanding of. For instance, Koreans love fermented vegetables called kimchi. However, this variety is commonly a side dish in Korean cuisine. Korean also use Kimchi as the main ingredient in their popular plates. The side dish also exists in several varieties; seasonal kimchi, which is made for temporary storage, and winter kimchi composed of cabbages and durable storage. The main ingredients for kimchi include the Baechu kimchi, commonly called napa cabbage kimchi, with widespread garlic, red chili pepper, green opinions, and sauce shrimp or fish.

A unique type of kimchi is the chive kimchi (Buchu kimchi) which is made of chives with a high fermentation rate to create a delightful side dish compared to other types (Chun-sik et al., 2011). Mustard leaf Kimchi referred to as Gat Kimchi by the Koreans, is a variety that boosts appetite while also containing folic acid and vitamins suitable for cancer prevention and immunity enhancement.

It is interesting to learn that part of the ingredients for the Korean side dishes originated from Central America and was introduced to Korea by the Japanese in 1592-1598, who had gained knowledge from the Portuguese traders. Most Korean people embrace vegetables to be a compulsory part of their meals since the Kimchi is a side dish for their meals, and the main ingredient is vegetables such as cabbages. The Koreans have specific varieties of dishes they prefer during particular seasons. For instance, watery kimchi (Dongchimi) is popularly prepared and preferred during the winter season. The red chili pepper from the Portuguese is high embraced and an ingredient in all the Kimchi dishes.

Korean cuisine has various aspects that are different from Western cuisine. The Koreans emphasize breakfast since they believe in early rising to start their day and their hardworking day requires breakfast banquet. The western people focused on their dinner, which they prepare a meal and spent two to three hours eating. The preparation of kimchi through fermentation is relatively comparable to the Western culture, which also values a cucumber preserved in vinegar (pickle) and is useful when eating main dishes.

People of Bayern, Germany, use sauerkraut which is cabbage preserved in salt and vinegar. China also has food preservation practices similar to Korean kimchi, where they pickle cabbage or cucumber in salt or vinegar to make paochai (Chun-sik et al., 2011). The kimchi is therefore comparable to side dishes from other cultures, although the preservatives may differ. The main similarity is that the people from the regions above embrace preservation to prepare side dishes.

Characteristics of the Korean Diet

The Korean diet is mainly composed of rice as a staple food, although there are several new aspects of the diet that one may not be knowledgeable about. One unique feature that one identifies with Korean cuisine is their preference for vegetables; hence, all meals are vegetable-centric (Chun-sik et al., 2011). People also prepare and use various fermented foods for their diet, some of which are stored for prolonged periods and become helpful during climatically hazardous seasons like the winter. In addition, Koreans value newborn babies and embrace an individual who attains an old age in their lifetime. The people hold special events to celebrate the two age sets with unique cuisines for such occasions. For instance, they use white-colored rice cake to celebrate the first birthday and use colored layered care (Chun-sik et al., 2011). The layers probably indicate the lifetime achievement and experience of the individual, and organizing special events signifies respect for old age.

Another unique feature of the Korean dishes is rice making desserts in rice cakes that come in different shapes and over 200 forms of rice cake. Various cakes that exist have symbolic meanings, such as purity and holiness for white cakes (Chun-sik et al., 2011).

The desserts are also used on specific occasions and functions. For instance, events like a baby’s 100th-day birthday celebration cuisine would involve a white-colored rice cake, while the party feasts for a baby’s first birthday or wedding parties, and even 60-year-old birthday use colored layered rice cakes. Koreans’ main source of protein is beans and they obtain fats from vegetable oils like sesame and pine oil instead of animal oils. One can also learn that fermentation helps in reducing cholesterol levels, improving immunity, and also improves cancer prevention. Fermentation is also an appropriate way of keeping perishable foods secure for long-term consumption.

Besides that, the Korean diet is different from the Western diet from various perspectives, such as multiple nutrients in their diet. The Korean diet majorly constitutes carbohydrates with a small protein (less than 17%) and low-fat content (13%) (Chun-sik et al., 2011). The Koreans emphasized breakfast since they believe in early rising to start their day and their hardworking day requires a breakfast banquet. The hard work they engage in during the day requires their characteristic high proportion of carbohydrates in their diet. The western people focused on their dinner, which they prepared a banquet and spent two to three hours eating. On the other hand, the Western population prefers a diet with more fat content (30-40%), including sugars absent in the Korean diet. While the main protein source for Koreans is beans, the main protein source for the Western people is meat.

Kanok and Ondol

The construction of houses and buildings among the Korean people is based on a unique tradition, with each shape and design having a specific reason. It is a new knowledge to learn that the Hanok is a structure with a design that displays Korean wisdom. The technique enabled the people to modify them according to the climatic conditions, a strategy of living harmoniously with nature (Chun-sik et al., 2011). The shape of the Hanok is suited for the Korean climate by allowing air circulation through convection that naturally creates a cooling effect (cool wooden Maru floor) and heating effect (heated base called Ondol) for the winter season.

An important lesson from the Korean designs is that each feature was created for prestige or beauty and had a healthy or environmental-related concept essential to the residences. Asian medicine believes that one would stay healthy by keeping the head cool and the feet warm. It is also necessary to note that the Ondol is comparable to the boiler version, which also produces hot air that brings a warming impact to a house.

Modern life can emulate the natural methods of adapting to different combating weather changes without necessarily using mechanical devices to regulate the environmental conditions. The use of maroo floor would limit the use of artificial electric fans to cool houses. Korea to modernize its ancient traditional Ondol to meet the demands of modern society.

The construction designs of the Korean people have some similarities and differences with that of the Chinese tradition. China has a relatively similar house design that allows for heating of the house during cold weather. The Chinese use a partial gudeul called “kang” that only heats the front of half section of a house. The Chinese design ideology is identical to the Korean Ondol. On the other hand, the traditional Chinese design lacks maru, a significant feature of Korean houses to cool the homes.

Other parts of the world do not have the maru and the Ondol (Chun-sik et al., 2011). Korean architecture embraces small units, while Chinese designs involve large-sized buildings with more curved pillars and wood. The Korean use more naturally attractive wood with fewer modifications like curving, while Chinese people prefer more curving and even processing lumber.

Korean Clothing (Hanbok)

Traditional Korean Clothing has special characteristics that are different between female and male individuals. Several new lessons are worth noting from the study on the clothing tradition among Koreans. The lower part of the men’s hanbok called the Baji is loose to allow one to sit on the floor. The Koreans use symbolic colors on their clothing, unlike other cultures that give less attention to color. It is significant to discover that yellow color represents the universe, blue implies health, white signifies purity, red symbolizes wisdom, and black is for passion. Koreans also had colors that expressed joy, happiness, and celebration, and this was using clothes with vivid colors.

The Korean women wore a hair ribbon called daenggi symbolic of age and social status (Chun-sik et al., 2011). Another new lesson from the Koreans is the suggestive white clothes they wore in funerals for 3 years from the day one’s parents or king passed away. It is a new lesson to learn that Korean clothing has evolved since historical times, and the current design has various disparities from the traditional ancient hanbok.

It is logical to have a clothing design, fashion, and color with a traditional meaning that would send a message. For instance, the traditional way of sitting on the floor necessitated the loose pants’ design to permit such a sitting position. It would have been impossible to design the clothes otherwise with a similar traditional sitting position. The jeogori (upper garment) has undergone modification to become shorter and tighter, with narrow sleeves and a bow tie that has replaced the waistband with long belts.

The skirt (Chima) has also faced several modifications from the ancient design in which the female wore higher above the waist up to the chest. There is, therefore, the need for concern over the modification aspect of the hanbok, both for females and males, which would potentially result in the gradual loss of the Korean heritage that is distinctive from other people’s designs.

The clothing tradition and design of the Korean people have several differences from the Western clothing culture and innovation. The Koreans have loose pants called the Baji, while the lower pants of the Western people are tight in design. The western clothes design exists in three dimensions to give a perfect fit to an individual, and hence one fails to fit in a cloth upon gaining weight or losing weight. On the other hand, the hanbok exists in 2 dimensions and is immensely adjustable, and can also accommodate weight loss or gain due to sufficient room.

Folk Paintings and Spirit of Spontaneity

Korean traditional art that constitutes paintings and the spirit of spontaneity has unique characteristics, just like other artwork worth acquiring new knowledge. The people involved in doing the folk paintings (minhwa) were dependent on social status. For instance, unprofessional artists did the painting work for commoners while professional artists painted artworks about people’s lives. Animal paintings were symbolic and could include animals, landscapes, and plants (Chun-sik et al., 2011).

For instance, the portrait of a tiger’s face had a humorous meaning of fun, reflecting the people’s optimism. It is also appropriate to discover that the sun, cloud, crane, pine, deer, turtle, mountain, water, store, and plant collectively called Sipjang saengdo represented the Koreans’ wish for good health and durability. Another aspect that gives an important lesson is the Koreans’ spirit of spontaneity which describes the people’s preference for life within a standardized social frame to adhere to strict orders. The Koreans believe in naturalism. Hence, they neglect details in exhibiting their artistic concepts accompanied by improvisation in Music, dance, painting, and porcelain works. These are divisions through which the Koreans convey their spontaneous spirit.

Spontaneity among the Koreans manifests itself in various forms of art such as music and other artworks during different periods. Koreans naturally dislike adhering to strict guidelines and hate having livelihoods that have standardized social fame. However, Koreans prefer to practice thinking and behaving with extensive freedom, a temperament that is likely a result of Shamanism (Choi, 2007). Koreans have always embraced Shamanism, whose main element is a trance that initiates performance at any ceremony. Trance facilitates eliminating a barrier between an individual and others and hence forgetting the self during the performance.

A performer then lacks order, therefore, dances and sings violently to reach the ecstatic level. Koreans exhibit spontaneity in performing arts such as music and dance, which is more distinct in folk music than in the upper class’s music categories. Fine arts are tangible, unlike music and dance, and hence easier to approach and explain the spontaneity in such artworks. For instance, paintings and porcelain works and photos exhibit unique spontaneity.

China also had figurative art, which was white porcelain, during the Joseon Dynasty. The Chinese had different kinds of porcelain including moon-shaped porcelain (Dalhangari) that represented the beauty of Joseon porcelain. Chinese and Japanese porcelain had substantial ornaments, unlike simple Korean porcelain. Compared to the traditional Korean gardens, which were small, the Chinese gardens are large with high walled boundaries between the park and other parts of the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this report involved an in-depth analysis of Korean culture. Overall, the above evaluation demonstrates that Korea remains among the countries with the richest culture in the world. The marked distinctiveness of the Korean values, norms, traditions, and overall lifestyles are evident in the traditional food (Hansik), the traditional clothes (hanbok), and the traditional housing (hanok).

As highlighted in this journal paper, Korea has a special diet and cuisine, housing designs, clothing modes, and music, with each aspect of the culture having its particular implication. A comparison of these aspects across different cultures helps to gain a nuanced understanding of the Korean way of life and derive some lessons from other cultures such as the Western nations. At the same time, Korea can also learn several things from other cultures, such as the Japanese and several features of the Western culture, to modernize and ensure the sustainability of the most significant aspects of their ancient tradition.

Reference

Chun-sik Ch’oe, Hahm, I. H., Kim, M. H., Kim, Y. H., & Lee, K. S. (2011). Understanding contemporary Korean culture. Jimoondang.

Chun-sik Ch’oe (2007). Understanding Korean traditional arts through the spirit of spontaneity.

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