Ojukheon - a house of great family - Spots in Korea 3

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

Ojukheon (烏竹軒).

This is a house where maybe the most famous two figures were born: Yi-i and his mother, Sin Saimdang. The mother and son are now the figures in a bill of Korea, son on 5,000 won and mother on 50,000 won. It is unprecedented event that mother and her son became the figure on one country's banknotes.

N.B.

(the figure may look different since the painter redraw her)

loco cit. Sin Saimdang (1504-1551) was a Korean artist and calligraphist, and the mother of the Confucian scholar Yulgok. She is often held up as a model of Confucian ideals. Her respectful nickname was "Wise Mother". With her help, Yulgok became a respectable scholar. At that time it was customary for girls to learn housekeeping rather than writing, but her grandfather was of the opinion that "women must learn too," and therefore taught her to write. She had deep filial respect for her parents, and there are many stories of her being a selfless and kind sister to her siblings. When she grew up, she was an excellent wife to her husband. Her husband was very good natured, but he lacked the perseverance and will to study.

She is the first woman (editor's note: 'historical' female figure) to appear on a South Korean banknote, the 50,000 won note issued in June, 2009. (from Wikipedia)


(the figure may look different since the painter redraw him)

loco cit. Yi I (1536-1584) was one of the two most prominent Korean Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, the other being his older contemporary, Yi Hwang (Toegye). Yi I is often referred to by his pen name Yulgok ("Chestnut valley"). His mother was Sin Saimdang, an accomplished artist and calligraphist.
He is also well-known for his foresight about the national security of Joseon Dynasty. He proposed to draft and raise 100,000 men against possible Japanese attack. Rejected by central government, his worry was found to be well-founded soon after his death, when Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Japanese forces invaded Korea in 1592. The "Yulgok Project", a recent modernization project for the South Korean military, was named after him. (from Wikipedia)


This is the main enterance of Ojukheon.

It costs 1,000 for children and 2,000 for adults. The house's name came from its surrounding environment, black bamboo forest.

Around the Ojukhoen, there are still lots of black bambooes.

Since Yulgok Yi-i was so great scholar at that time, the King ordered to preserve his stuff safely. This is the building built by King's order which keeps his books and other precious stuff.

I believe Sin saimdang must look like this not the one on the banknote since this is her portrait painted at that moment.

The very right room is where Yi-i was born, named Monglongsil(夢龍室) becasue his mother, Sin Saimdang, had a dream of Dragon when she concieved Yi-i.

This tree is 600-year-old. The flowers of this tree last 100 days so it is called "100-day-red (百日紅)" a crape myrtle (Zinnia elegans Jacq).

There are also several museums and exhibition rooms as well.

National Museum of Korea (intro) - Spots in Seoul 16

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

This is the National Museum of Korea (http://www.museum.go.kr). Along with the exhibition halls, there are reastaurunts, childern's museum, parks, library, theater, stores, botanical garden of plants of traditional dyes, cafeterias and of course parking lot.

Nonetheless, you hardly find reastaurant around the museum, so it will be smart to pack food or get some money for lunch or dinner.

If you go there with more than 10 people, it is possible to reserve a interpretuers (docent) for free; on the other hand you can rent a PDA (or MP3) guide. O, and the museums close every Monday and Jan. 1st..

This is the overall view of THE NATIONAL MUSEUM of Korea.

If you get closer, you will see a pond with a small pavillion. At those parks, there are several heritages made of stones. They offer a guide at 4:00 PM on every Sat.

There is also another park at the back of the museum.

They made a place for eating packed foods too.



Here is the main hall of the museum.

If you go in, you will see the circular hall.
You may rent a PMP guide at here, I think it costs around 3,000 (~3USD).
Of course, they offer few guides at the very particular time:10:30, 11:30, 2:20, 3:30.

The museum is 3-layered building. In the first floor, you may see the general heritages of Korea. In the second floor, they have a room for donated stuff and a room of fine art. In the 3rd floor, there is a room of other culture's remains along with crafts room.

This is the general room design of the National Museum of Korea.

Carma flash and tripods are not allowed and age under 6 must be accompanied by a guardian.

VIdeos from Folk Town - Spots in Korea II-i

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

I videotaped few performances in Korean Folk Town in Gyeonggi Province,

Please enjoy them.:D

It was quite interesting to see :D Though they had a few mistakes during a performance :P

It was wonderful as well, I always think how come they can spin their head that much...(@.@)

Korean Folk Village - Spots in Seoul 15

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

During the Chuseok (Thanksgivind Day),
I went to Namsan Hanok Maeul (http://hanokmaeul.seoul.go.kr/).
There is no enterance fee and they offer different performances as the weather changes.
Also, they have some places to experience Korean culture too.
I uploaded some of the pictures of Namsan Hanok Maeul in my other post(http://dolcecorea.blogspot.com/2008/09/traditional-house-of-korea.html), you may go and see more photos of houses.

This is a traditional kitchen of Korea. The kitchen was located a little bit lower than the ground and house since it was the main source where the heat comes from. Which means, while you cook (it doesn't have to be only cooking...) the heat of the fire goes under the houses and heats up the floor. This is the brilliant heating system of Korea which only can be found in Korean cultural field. Of course, the kitchen is not the only input place of heat, there are more for each rooms in case of big houses (obviously not the small and normal people's house).This special heating system is called Ondol, meaning Warm Stone.

Since it was Hangawui(Thanksgiving Day), they offered several places where the visitors can experience Korean culture. Though I believe playing tops is not the particular game that you enjoy in Chuseok, they offered it anyway. Although no one would tackles simply because the game is not appropriate for the season, since the place demostrates Korean culture I thought it would have been better if they offered what Koreans have done during Chusoek not Lunar New Year's Day.

Koreans didn't have much chairs in there house. They usually sat on floors (this might played an important role of invention of Ondol - just my guess.)

This is a table for the ancestors of the household. There are strict rules for setting the table - but some small things such as the meau can be vary depending on the favour of the ancestors or the province or religion.

This was quite unique experience, making Ddeok (rice cake)! It is not always offered, you have to visit there during the traditional holiday break.

He was making rice cookies. When it booms, everyone get surprised - especially foreigners...;;; it is quite difficult to perdict when it booms...:D

This is a platform for vases. You save not only traditional sources but most of food which you have to keep for a long time at that sort of place. The one with cone shape is also a place for Kimchi. You dig and place the vase, in this way the land naturally controls the temperature and moisture of vase, which makes Kimchi more delicious.

Ah, this is a foot-mill. There were water/cow/horse-mill too but this one works by the human power. You kinda pump it. Be careful not to pound your hand with grains.

One distictive place in Namsan Hanok Maeul is Time Capsule Park. The Seoul mayor made a time capsule to celebrate the 600th birthday of Seoul which contains 600 things that shows the day of Seoul at that time. On that table, several cities mayors' signatures with congratulation addresses are inscribed. It is pity that I am not be able to see the reopening of the time capsule...:P After 400 more years, it will be revealed (29th of Nov. 2394).

Spots of Korea II - Korean Floktown in Gyeonggi Province

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

I went to Korean Folk Town in Gyeonggi Province last Octubre.

Here are soem photos of it.

It is not the main enterance but the REAL enterance to the village.

The stone that worn white strings is a wish-stone. There are pieces of paper and pens that the visitors may write their wishes and tie on to the string around the stone.

Usually in Korea, the people wished their lucks to the town-god. There was a big old tree in front of the gate of town which was decorated with colourful stripes as you see above.

There are several museums and few ridings - I didn't go to the riding place. This picture is the one that I took at the Folk Musuem. The stuff you see above is pillows, fans, vest and muff that were used in summer.

The rigid fan (éventail; ) with a wide wing decorated with Yin&Yang is called Taegeukseon (太極扇). The folding fan (éventail; Spanish fan) that is called Habjukseon (合竹扇)

The thing you can see at the left edge of photo is Jukbuin (竹夫人) that is made of bamboo to cool down your body temperature; you hold it and sleep. You may can find how to use that in the photo below; look at the man in the frame of the photo.

Here are some traditional costumes.

The left one is for students, middle one is for officials and the very right one is for ... I don't know :) I guess it's for the lower officials to see the hat.

Let's move on to the other topic.

The Folk Town has almost all of traditional houses and custom of Korea.

The photo below is the traditional gate of Island Jeju called Jeongnang.

It shows whether the owner of the house is in the house or on a far trip or just in a quick visiting neighbors; also it can indicate that the household is female by posing the wood.

i. if there is one wood put, then it means the owner is in a quick business.

ii. if there are two, then it means the owner is in a little far trip.

iii. if there are three, then it means the owner left the house for a quite long period of time.

iv. if there are no, it means 'welcome'
I guess someone might wonder how can they protect their own properties with that untrustable gate from the cleaver thieves. Well, it is simple; there was no thief in Jeju.

It is the traditional toilet of Jeju called Tongsi. There are few black Jeuju pigs which clean your excreta, they taste very good - don't think it's dirty... a pig is one of the most clean animals.

One more interesting household stuff is 'Chomhang.' A vase that collects the rain. Jeju is an island but it is lack of water becasue of its geological feature, whin stone. The rain goes under the island and wells up around the seashores; therefore, it was quite difficult for them to cultivate the land which cannot hold the water for an enough time - though people lived happily.

Generally speaking, the houses in the north of Korea shaped 'Square' to block the winds from Siberia, the houses in the middle of Korea had 'Gun' shape structures - 'ㄱ' or 'ㄴ' shape in Korean, and the southern houses was built in '1' shape which is also called 'one-shaped building' in Korean. The southern province had a wide and open living room - floor - to make a way of wind. Besides these diffrences, the common factor of Korean house location is that they are built in a land with a mountain in the north (back) and a stream or river in front, which can block the cold and chilly wind of winter and get water (or a quick transportation (boating)).

Well, let's talk about something more about custom.

This is a scene of traditional wedding ceremony. There are wooden wild goose which symbolizes the eternal wedding. The groom places in the east (Yang) and the bride places in the west (Yin), there are two helpers for a bride since she cannot treat herself freely because of the heavy custom. The wedding is held in a birde's house. First, a groom calls his to-be-wife. Then, they exchange bow - the phto is the scene that the groom gives his bow to his birde. There are more steps to go on for them...wedding is a quite complicated ceremony! :D In addition, they are not real couple.

After the brief (or long) wedding, the bride goes to groom's house, riding a 'gama (palanquin).

The thing that the man in the very front holds is a portable lamp.

There were some things to play as well.

This is 'Tuho' - thrawing arrows. I actually cannot remeber whether he succeded or not..:D

Besides, the people's houses, there were some public buildings as well such as a governmental building, clinic and forge.

This is the governmental office building. Though I am not sure whether you are able to see, there are 'Wanted' posters on the wall of it - most of them were rebellious men (amazingly there was not female....or maybe I couldn't find out).

Inside the governmental office, there was a jail too. I think it is because the officier had the right of administration and judicature.

The board in the photo is called 'Kal' which you wear if you made a heavy crime. You put your head and close the end with the little sticks.

Well, let's go to a brighter place now...:D

The Folk Town also has a temple and pavillions. Though I couldn't go to the temple due to the lack of time, I went to the pavillion. Its pond was constructed as the ancestors did. Square boundary and circle island which allude to land and sky.

While you are walking around the town, you can easily meet some people who work in a traditional way.

He is making a met with straws. Straws were the popular material of Korean people for making their household stuff and even shoses (the noble didn't wear it but the normal people who couldn't buy a leather shoes worn them).


They also sell what they've made. Since it is hand-made I found some little nicks in painting and symetry compared with the modern products such as laptop, refrigerator, etc.

The man is craking the bamboo into more narrow thickness to make a bamboo-made products.

The people are usually certified by the government as a master.

The women were making silk from the silkwarms. The silk felt soooooooo smooth and silky!

There was a man who were making a vase. It was pretty interesting to watch him work.

To see more house of Korea : http://dolcecorea.blogspot.com/2008/09/traditional-house-of-korea.html

or you may visit : www.koreanfolk.co.kr/ Spanish, English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean are available.

My High School

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

Well, I am glad to introduce my highschool - Sorabol High School
Some of you may remeber that I've mentioned my school on the former blog post.
That day was the annual school festival day as well.. (In this year, we didn't invite any of foreginers - other school students or parents - since the anxiety of epidemic, Swine Flu, was spread nationalwide) and I took some photos...:D



Well, I didn't notice that the cabinet was open..:P

My school, very fortunately has air conditionar on the ceiling. Some of your nation would have that kind of device as a 'basic' one but in Korea, it is not so 'foundamental' device for schools - maybe the fans are..:D

Well, my school, very quite uniquely has cement? stone? floor... which measn we don't wear slippers or inner shoes which can be required ones at other schools; for example, my middle and elementary school had wooden floor which required students and teachers not to wear outdoor shoes - sneakers. It's simply because it can be difficult to maintain the highly safe hygeine condition of school unless they keep the floor clear through making a policy of wearing inner shoes.



It's playground...:) I really don't have any idea why those students were gathered under a tree. O, the grass is not real. They're all artificial... since Korea has winter and schools don't have much money to maintain the ground condition the alternative, aritifical grass, worked well. It's good anyway.


It is my homeroom. In Korea, students don't move to take a lesson but stay at their class and wait for the subject teacher to come in. Also, all class has the charger, homeroom teacher, who keeps track of all the students in his/ her class.

A platform(?) is set in the middle, and under the platform there is computer which is so slow..;;;

O, my school also fortunately has the Pavv LCD TVs instead of Projection TVs or projectors...(One of math teachers always complains that he wanted projectors since it is easier and he can shots the screen on the blackboard which provides clear view to all in the class while TVs cannot guarantee the same quality of view since it depends on the angle between viewer and TV monitor; nonetheless, school says that projectos couldn't be allowed since it needs room to be darken).


It's the auditorium of my school. Befoe the start of performance of a school ban.
The circle is the symbol of my school,


It symbolized the enterance of school and the poles mean parents, students, alumni, teachers of school.

Seoul Musuem of History - Spots in Seoul 14

Have a nice day ~ ^^

I have visited Seoul Museum of History.

This museum exhibits things that are related to Seoul's History, life in Seoul, people in Seoul, things in Seoul. Simply, all things of Seoul is in there!

This is a tram. It was fixed and now is being exhibited to us in front of the museum. Korea was the country that had the tram for the first time among eastern Asian countries. Imagine the people who would have taken that one...

The first tram line connected Seoul's important positions, though it was not that long compared to the modern transportation, it seems pretty very enow for that time.

This was at the museum. The seal you can see under is the Seal of King of Joseon. Though now Rep. of Korea use "dragon-shaped" seal, Joseon used "turtle-shaped" seal then. The reason is not that simple. China was the "Emperor's country" however Joseon was "King's country." The two different seats demanded two different courtesy; therefore, Joseon used the turtle which is not the Empire's animal, dragon. You may can ask why it should have been a turlte... well, I am not sure but I would say that people valued dragon more than turtle.

O, of course, the dragon in the east is not the dragon in the west. :D

This is a painting of a festival (ceremony) that was held in the palace. There were the professional painters who were hired by the governments.
One thing you have to notice is that where King sits was always empty but only a chair or carpet was drawn. Why? Well, it is simply that not any painters could draw the face of Dragon(King).

This is miniature Seoul! You can see everywhere in Seoul. They made so accurately so that even you can see your streets and houses. (O, you may not find a small markets :D) Anyway, this is their remarkable and the latest attraction. You may use computers to find out the place where you want and listen to the announcement that explains about that place.

Korean Poetry I - Azaleas

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

-------------------------------- 김소월

나 보기가 역겨워
가실 때에는
말없이 고이 보내 드리오리다.
영변에 약산 (Hill of Yeongbyeon : a factor gives a sense of one's hometown)
진달래꽃
아름 따다 가실 길에 뿌리오리다. ( 散花 : a buddist ceremony)
가시는 걸음 걸음
놓인 그 꽃을
사뿐히 즈려 밟고 가시옵소서. (a sense of self-sacrifice)
나 보기가 역겨워
가실 때에는
죽어도 아니 눈물 흘리오리다. ( = I will tear a lot till I die; ironic)

<진달래꽃, 매문사, 1924>

Azaleas

So-weol Kim

When you leave
weary of me
I'll bid you silent farewell.
An armful of azaleas
culled from the hill
I'll strew over your path
Step after step,
on the flowers
Tread lightly, as you walk.
When you leave,
weary of me,
I'll not shed a drop of tear.

This peom is a farewell song of a woman in grief.

It was written in 1925 when the Japanese Imperialists subjugated Korea illegally.

Kim is thought to be very important in modern Korean literature history: he expressed the national feelings in folk rhythm (3 syllables).

The voice of woman is quite often used in Kim's poetry; also, it is a sort of traditional feature in Korean litetature that male poet uses a woman's voice or point of view in expressing his emotion. This tradition can be found in Yonghun-Han's poetry, too.

(from High School Literature II - Didimdol publication)

Death of a Man.

Have a nice day, happily ever after -.-

Last week, another former president of Corea de Sur (South Korea) passed away.

[picture of Seoul City Hall Park censer stand]

Different from the death of Mr. Roh (former president of S.Korea passed away on 23th. May. 09'; the 16th president of S.Korea), it was calm. Mr. Kim (a.k.a DJ) was 85 years old (86 in Korean age). The funeral was progressed as national funeral but shorter length. It became short since it must be a temporal holiday on the last day of National Funeral, but the economic state of Korea was not so good enough to afford it. Also, we just had other funerals in 2009 as well.

[picture of National Assembly of Republic of Korea (Corea de Sur)]

Anyway, a great man passed away. I send him my humble honour.

[a screen shot]

cf. the man at the right bottom edge is a dactylologist

Although I don't know about funearl that much since I haven't attended at that kind of ceremony that often, I will tell you some basic cultural tips.

1. Koreans wear black suit for funeral; however, the traditional costume for funeral is not black at all but the opposite.

2. You bow twice, with left hand over right hand.

3. The person who is the oldest man of the family who usually take charge of funeral wear an armband with balck strips.

4. You don't see the dead person's body at all unless you are one of his/her family members.

5. Chrysanthemum is being used for funeral; therefore, you should not gift them to others.

6. When you put money into condolence goods collector it must be odd number (It is same in the wedding too).

World Heritage Series 5

Have a nice day, happily ever after ^^

Full name: 백운화상초록불조직지심체요절白雲和尙抄錄佛祖直指心體要節 [bek un hwa san cho lok bul jo jik ji sim che yo jeol]




Jikji - Before Johannes Gutenberg.
It is nominated as a UNESCO's World Heirtage (Memory of World) in 2001.

One thing we can find a pity fact is that the invention of iron-printing technology did not flourish the lit. and culture. and education level of Goryeo.

[from Wikipeida]

Jikji is the abbreviated title of a Korean Buddhist document, whose full title can be translated "The Monk Baegun's Anthology of the Great Priests' Teachings on Identification of the Buddha’s Spirit by the Practice of Seon." Printed during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1377, it is the world's oldest extant movable metal print book. UNESCO confirmed Jikji as the world oldest metalloid type in September 2001 and includes it in the Memory of the World program.

Jikji was published in Heungdeok Temple in 1377, 78 years prior to Johannes Gutenberg's "42-Line Bible" printed during the years 1452-1455. The greater part of the Jikji is now lost, and today only the last volume survives, kept at the Manuscrits Orientaux division of the National Library of France.

Jikji ist der Name eines Buchs in chinesischer Schriftsprache, das buddhistische Themen behandelt. Das Besondere ist, dass das Buch 1377 mit beweglichen Metalllettern gedruckt wurde, fast acht Jahrzehnte vor der Erfindung Johannes Gutenbergs. Von einer ursprünglich umfangreicheren Ausgabe sind heute noch 38 Seiten erhalten. Diese werden in der Orientabteilung der Bibliothèque nationale de France aufbewahrt. Das Jikji ist so das älteste erhaltene Druckwerk, das mit beweglichen Metalllettern gedruckt wurde.

Das Jikji gab der buddhistische Geistliche Baegun (白雲; auch Baegunhwasang, 白雲和尙; eigentlich Gyeong Han, 景閑; 1289 oder 1299 geboren, 1374 gestorben) heraus.

Eine koreanisch-deutsche Ausstellung zeigte das Jikji 2003 in Göttingen gemeinsam mit der Göttinger 42-zeiligen Gutenberg-Bibel, die beide 2001 ins Weltdokumentenerbe „Memory of the World“ aufgenommen wurden. Eine Replik wurde 2005 auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse ausgestellt.

يضم كتاب جيك جيسيمتشييوجول (بالكورية 백운화상초록불조직지심체요절) أو اختصارا جيكجي باختصار المبادئ البوذية الكورية ويعد أقدم كتاب من الكتب الموجودة حاليا التي تم إنتاجها بالطباعة المعدنية حيث تم إنتاجه عام 1377 قبل "إنجيل ال 42 سطر" الذي أنتجه الألماني يوهان غوتنبرغ (عام 1455) بحوالي 70 عاما. والمكتوب على هذا الكتاب أن تلميذ الراهب الكوري بياك عون الذي ألف هذا الكتاب قام بطباعة الكتاب بالحروف المعدنية في معبد هونغ دوك بمدينة تشونغ جو الكورية في شهر يوليو عام 1377. ويتكون هذا الكتاب من مجلدين الأول والثاني وتم توارث المجلد الثاني فقط لنا ويحفظ هذا المجلد حاليا في المكتبة الوطنية الفرنسية وتم وضعه في شهر سبتمبر عام 2001 في قائمة تراث السجلات العالمية لمنظمة اليونسكو.

Jikji est l'abréviation du titre d'un livre traitant du bouddhisme coréen.
Le titre complet est « Baegun hwasang chorok buljo jikji simche yojeol » (en coréen: 백운화상초록불조직지심체요절, en français: « Anthologie des enseignements zen des grands prêtres bouddhistes .
Imprimé durant la dynastie Koryŏ, il s'agit du plus vieux livre imprimé à l'aide de caractères mobiles en métal. L'UNESCO l'a inscrit dans le programme de Mémoire du Monde.
Jikji a été publié dans le temple de Heungdeok en 1377 (confirmé par des fouilles faites 1985 sur le site), 78 ans avant la "Bible à 42 lignes" de Gutenberg imprimée durant les années 1452-55.
La plus grande partie du Jikji est actuellement perdue, seul le dernier volume existe à ce jour. Il est conservé au département des Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque nationale de France.

白雲和尚抄録仏祖直指心体要節(はくうんわしょうしょうろくぶっそちょくししんたいようせつ)、通称直指心体要節とは白雲和尚の景閑が禅の要諦を悟るに必要な内容を選んで1372年に著した仏教の書籍で、上・下巻で構成されている。これは元朝から取り入れた仏祖直指心体要節の内容を大幅に加えて上・下巻の2巻で編んだのである。中心の主題である直指心体は「人が心を正しく持ったとき、その心性が即ち仏様の心だ。」ということを悟るようになることである。
全世界に残っている金属活字で印刷された本の中で最も古いもので、2001年9月4日に『承政院日記』と共に世界の記憶に登録された。現存しているのは下巻だけで、17世紀末、コリン・デ・プランシ駐韓フランス公使がフランスに持って行って、現在フランス国立図書館に所蔵されている。

Чикчи́ — сокращённое название буддистского документа, чьё полное название переводится как «Антология учения великих монахов об обретении духа Будды с помощью практики Сон Пэгуна Хвасана». Была напечатана в Корее времён династии Корё в 1377 году, став первой книгой, напечатанной типографским способом. Сейчас книга хранится в Парижской Национальной библиотеке. В 2001 году книга вошла в Регистр Память мира ЮНЕСКО.