![KOREA farm music_농악 by Koreabrand-03 on Flickr.Pungmul (Korean pronunciation: [pʰuːŋmul]) is a Korean folk music tradition that includes drumming, dancing, and singing. Most performances are outside, with tens of players, all in constant motion. Pungmul is rooted in the dure (collective labor) farming culture. It was originally played as part of farm work, on rural holidays, at other village community-building events, and in shamanistic rituals. Today it has expanded in meaning and is also used in political protest and as a performing art form.
Older scholars often describe this tradition as nongak (Korean pronunciation: [noŋak]), a term meaning “farmers’ music” whose usage arose during the period of Japanese occupation (1910–45). The Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea uses this term in designating the folk tradition as an Important Intangible Cultural Property. Opposition from performers and scholars toward its usage grew in the 1980s claiming that Japanese authorities attempted to limit the activity to farmers in order to suppress its use and meaning among the colonized. It is also known by many synonymous names throughout the peninsula.
Drumming is the central element of pungmul. Each group is led by a kkwaenggwari (small handheld gong) player, and includes at least one person playing janggu (hourglass drum), buk (barrel drum), and jing (gong). Wind instruments (t’aepyongso, also known as hojeok, senap, or nalari, and nabal) sometimes play along with the drummers.
Following the drummers are dancers, who often play the sogo (a tiny drum that makes almost no sound) and tend to have more elaborate—even acrobatic—choreography. Finally, japsaek (actors) dressed as caricatures of traditional village roles wander around to engage spectators, blurring the boundary between performers and audience. Minyo (folksongs) and chants are sometimes included in pungmul, and audience members enthusiastically sing and dance along. Most minyo are set to drum beats in one of a few jangdan (rhythmic patterns) that are common to pungmul, sanjo, p’ansori, and other traditional Korean musical genres.
Pungmul performers wear a variety of colorful costumes. A flowery version of the Buddhist kkokkal is the most common head-dress. Advanced performers sometimes wear sangmo, which are hats with long ribbon attached to them that players can spin and flip in intricate patterns by moving their heads.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/d0cb5bc60076346b784b4941dfef5a08/tumblr_moiwrmkPZb1qak7mao1_1280.jpg)
Justice is severely executed among the Coresians, and particularly upon criminals. he that rebels against the King, is destroy’d with all his Race, his Houses and thrown down, and no Man does ever rebuild them, all his Goods forfeited and sometimes given to some private person. When the King has once made a Decree, if any man is so presumptuous as to make any objection to it, nothing can protect him from severe Punishment, as we have often seen it executed.
Among other particulars I remember, that the King being inform’d that his Brother’s Wife made great Curiosities at Needlework: he desir’d of her, that she would embroider him a Vest; but that Princess bearing him a mortal Hatred in her Heart, she stich’d in betwixt the Lining and the Out-side some Charms and Characters of such nature, that the King could enjoy no pleasure, nor take any res while he had that Garment on. After he had long study’d to find what might be the cause of it, at last he guess’d at it. He had the best rip’d, and found out the cause of his trouble and uneasiness. There was not much time spent in trying that wretched Woman. The King condemmn’d her to be shut up in a Room, the Floor whereof was of Brass, and order’d a great Fire to be lighted under it, the Heat whereof tormented her till she dy’d.
Hendrick Hamel, 1668
