What did ancient Koreans consider home?

Traditional Hanok

Hanok with Garden space

Traditional Hanoks amidst the vast modern landscape and towering buildings in present day Korea

This class has covered Korean history in great detail, so I thought it would be great to dwell deeper into the everyday lives of  the korean people and get a sense of their living standards.With that being said,  I would like to bring to you the traditional Hanoks. Interestingly, the construction of Hanoks was influenced by Geomancy and Shamanism, both of which were a significant part of korean society. Apparently, sites of residences were chosen based on traditional geomancy, which influenced the shape of the building, the direction it faced and the material it was built out of.  Since wood and clay were the predominant materials used in ancient times, not many Hanoks have survived till present time.  The wealthier aristocrats used the outer wing of the Hanok to build spacious gardens, sometimes with large-sized ponds or lakes. Since shamanism was a big part of korean culture, the layout of gardens was given special attention by the people that decorated it.  In fact, traditional Korean gardens were largely void of artificialities, and made up of naturally-grown entities.
That traditional Hanoks still dwell in the modern landscape of korea today is a reminder to the current generation of Koreans that Shamanism and Geomancy are two very important aspects of Korean history. Whenever Koreans re-visit ancient Hanok sites,  they develop a clearer understanding of the origins of Shamanism and Geomancy,  both of which are still pervasive in modern Korea. 


For more in-depth coverage, visit  http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/CU_EN_8_1_3.jsp

The legend of Jang Bogo

Top:A short 10 min clip from Emperor of the Sea with English Subtitles
Bottom: A portrait of Jang Bogo

Modern Korean Drama depicting the great Jang Bogo

I have always been fascinated by Jang Bogo and stories have made him out to be some sort of bold, daring and vicious pirate tha lives a nomadic life. However, having conducted an in-depth analysis of Jang Bogo and his humble background, I discovered that Jang Bogo was actually a man of integrity, strong principles and, above all, a great leader. To have 10,000 men(private armies) under your direct charge and to be able to garner respect from every single one of them, as Jang Bogo did, speaks volumes of a man's leadership abilities. Because Jang Bogo was influential and powerful during the reign of King Minae, King Sinmun approached the great Jang Bogo to assist him in overthrowing King Minae. Apparently, Jang Bogo replied " To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. Though I am without ability, I shall follow your orders". King Minae was then defeated and Jang Bogo was accorded the role of Prime Minister under King Sinmun's rule.
What is interesting to note is that, military wise, Jang Bogo was strong enough to overthrow King Minae and become King himself. However, he did not. I think this shows that Jang Bogo wasn't a power monger that resort to unscrupulous means to get what he wants. On a separate note and with regards to the larger picture, Jang Bogo's actions and existence altered the course of Korean history and contributed significantly to the rise to prominence of King Sinmun. I think it is only fair that Jang Bogo is remembered in modern day korea through drama serials and traditional paintings. Without him, King Sinmun would never have been able to climb to the summit of Unified Silla. Without him, many more sea merchants may have fallen prey to bandits in the yellow sea, where Jang Bogo established himself as a fearless defender of the ocean.


Source for in-depth reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jang_Bogo

Fine Art from Unified Silla period

Top: A personalized video footage of Gameunsa site in Korea
Bottom: Gameunsa Temple

As mentioned in class, King Sinmun's reign during the unified Silla period represented the pinnacle of royal ruling. The temple above was constructed by King Sinmun to commemorate his deceased father. It is evident,from the construction of this temple, that buddhism plays an integral role in family as well as state affairs. There is a belief in a unique realm where the dead dwells and eventually get reborn, and this is particular prevalent in ancient China. The chinese believe that though the physical body has passed on, one's spirit still lingers until he or she is given a proper farewell. As such, the Gameunsa Temple closely mirrors the Ancient Chinese ritual of "sending off" the dead. King Sinmun, in a more lavish style, decided to build a temple to ensure that his dad's departure to the spiritual realm is smooth sailing.


All that being said, it is notable that buddhism bodes well with the aristocracy and the commoners. By spending huge amount of resources to develop the temple, King Sinmun is basically setting a strong example. Commoners are more incline to believe in buddhism and follow specific rites, because "even the king is doing it too". I think this scenario reflects the world of celebrity and hollywood pretty accurately. For instance, if a group of celebrities wear type X sunglasses, teenagers and fans alike will start donning type X sunglasses. Hope you enjoyed my candid insights and be sure to catch the next blog post about Pre-modern Korea!


Link for more in-depth reading: http://koreatravelpost.blogspot.com/2011/05/three-storied-stone-pagoda-of-gameunsa.html

What did Pre-Modern Koreans consider to be fashion?

Cheojori

Paji

Dop'o

Based on my guess and understanding, the Cheojori and Paji are what Jeans and Polo T-Shirts are to men today. The newer version of the Paji had wider legs to facilitate squatting in the fields and performing agricultural work. The newer Paji is practical since the Choson society was centered around Agricultural activities. From my awareness of pre-modern chinese civilization, the Paji and Cheojori closely resembles what the commoners and peasants in China wore. Looking at the design of the Paji and Cheojori, it is evident that Chinese society and its culture had a huge influence on its Korean counterpart.
The Dopo is a scholar overcoat that was introduced  in the middle of the Chosun Dynasty from 1392 onwards. Besides being worn by scholars, the Dopo was also worn by commoners during special occasions or family rites. Interestingly, the Dopo closely resembles the Japanese Kimono dress. I would assume that the Dop'o was somewhat influence by the Japanese culture, though not totally. Kimono was worn by women in Japanese culture, however, the Dop'o is worn by men as well and  is worn over other layers of clothing.
Do Check out the link here: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/clothes/clothes.cfm if you guys want to find out more about traditional Korean Clothings