This article is about the traditional culture of Korea. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. For the modern culture, see contemporary culture of North Korea and contemporary culture of South Korea. This article is about the contemporary culture of North Korea The contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional Culture of Korea, but since the 1948 Division of Korea, it has developed separately

Korea, one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world^[1], has 5,000 years of history. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements ^[2] The current political separation of North and South Korea has resulted in divergence in modern Korean cultures; nevertheless, the traditional culture of Korea is historically shared by both states. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː ^[3]

Contents 1 Traditional arts 1.1 Music 1.2 Dance 1.3 Painting 1.4 Crafts 1.5 Ceramics 2 Lifestyle 2.1 Homes 2.2 Gardens 2.3 Dress 2.4 Cuisine 2.5 Tea 2.6 Festivals of the lunar calendar 2.7 Games 3 World Heritage sites 3.1 Jongmyo Shrine 3.2 Changdeokgung 3.3 Bulguksa 3.4 Tripitaka Koreana and Haeinsa 3.5 Hwaseong 3.6 Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa sites 3.7 Gyeongju Area 3.8 Complex of Goguryeo Tombs 4 See also 5 References

Traditional arts

Main article: Korean art

Music

Main article: Music of Korea

Apart from the instruments used, traditional Korean music is characterized by improvisation and the lack of breaks between movements. Korean art is Art originating or practiced in Korea or by Korean artists from ancient times to today Traditional Korean music includes both the folk and court music styles of the Korean people. Traditional Korean music includes both the folk and court music styles of the Korean people. A pansori performance can last for over eight hours during which a single singer performs continuously. Pansori (also spelled p'ansori) is a genre of Korean music. It is a vocal and percussional music performed by one sorikkun (소리꾼 a singer

Rather than contrasting different speeds as it is common in Western music, most traditional Korean music begins with the slowest movement and then accelerates as the performance continues.

Korean court music, called jeongak, is closely related to the literate upper-class, and has a strong intellectual emphasis. Korean court music refers to the music developed in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1905 Jeongak is played at a very slow pace, with single beats taking as long as three seconds. The beat matches the speed of breathing rather than the heartbeat as in most Western music, and feels static and meditative.

The tone of Jeongak is soft and tranquil because the traditional instruments are made of non-metallic materials. String instruments have strings made of silk rather than wire. Almost all wind instruments are made of bamboo.

Pungmul is Korea's folk music and is full of expressions and emotions. Pungmul, or nongak, is a Korean folk music tradition that includes drumming, dancing, and Singing. This kind of traditional music is closely related to the lives of common people. As with the Jeongak, improvisation is common in Minsogak.

Traditional Korean musical instruments can be divided into wind, string, and percussion types. Traditional Korean musical instruments comprise a wide range of string wind and percussion instruments Wind instruments include the piri (cylindrical oboe), taepyeongso (metal-bell shawm), daegeumsaenghwang (mouth organ) and the hun (ocarina). The piri is a Korean Double reed instrument used in both the folk and classical (court Music of Korea. "Hautbois" redirects here for the strawberry variety see Hautbois strawberry. The taepyeongso (lit "big peace wind instrument" also called hojok, hojeok, nallari, or The shawm was a Medieval and Renaissance Musical instrument of the Woodwind family made in Europe from the late 13th century until The daegeum (also spelled taegum, daegum or taegŭm) is a large bamboo transverse flute used in traditional The saenghwang is a Korean wind instrument It is a free reed mouth organ derived from (and quite similar to the Chinese sheng, though its tuning is different The ocarina ( is an ancient Flute -like Wind instrument. While several variations exist an ocarina is typified by an oval-shaped enclosed space with four to twelve Traditional string instruments include zithers such as the gayageum (가야금), geomungo (가문고), and ajaeng, and the haegeum (해금), a two-stringed fiddle. The zither is a musical String instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, the southern regions of Germany, alpine The gayageum or kayagum is a traditional Korean Zither -like String instrument, with 12 strings, although more The geomungo (also spelled komungo or kŏmun'go) or hyeongeum (also spelled ( hyongum or The ajaeng is a Korean String instrument. It is a long Zither with seven Silk strings played by means of a long thin stick made of Forsythia The haegeum is a traditional Korean String instrument, resembling a Fiddle.

There is a great number of traditional percussion instruments, including the kkwaenggwari (hand-held gong), the jing (hanging gong), buk (barrel drum), janggu (장구) (hourglass drum), bak (clapper), pyeonjong (bell chimes or stone chimes), as well as the eo (tiger-shaped scraper) and the chuk (wooden box). The kkwaenggwari is a small flat Gong used primarily in folk music of Korea. This article is about the Internet Protocol Television channel Buk is a town in central Poland, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship (since 1999 previously in Poznań Voivodeship (1975-1998 Barrel drums are a class of Membranophone, or Drum, characterized by a Barrel -shape with a bulge in the middle The janggu (or janggo; also spelled changgo) or sometimes called seyogo (slim waist drum is Hourglass drums are a class of Membranophone, or Drum, characterized by an Hourglass shape The pyeonjong is an ancient Korean musical instrument consisting of a set of 16 Bronze bells played melodically The chuk (hangul 축; hanja 柷) is a Traditional Korean musical instrument used in Confucian ( Munmyo) and Royal Ancestral

Dance

Main article: Korean dance

As with music, there is a distinction between court dances and folk dances. Korean dance is a type of Dance, historically derived in Korea. Common court dances are jeongjaemu performed at banquets, and ilmu, performed at Confucian rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (hyangak jeongjae) and forms imported from China (dangak jeongjae). Ilmu are divided into civil dance (munmu) and military dance (mumu).

Religious dances include all the performances at shamanistic rites (gut). A rite is an established ceremonious usually Religious act or Process art. Secular dances include both group dances and individual performances.

Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary productions.

Painting

Main article: Korean painting

The earliest paintings found on the Korean peninsula are petroglyphs of prehistoric times. Korean painting includes paintings made in Korea or by overseas Koreans on all surfaces Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Petroglyph Games is a video game developer based in Las Vegas Nevada. With the arrival of Buddhism from China, different techniques were introduced. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National These techniques quickly established themselves as the mainstream techniques, but indigenous techniques still survived.

There is a tendency towards naturalism with subjects such as realistic landscapes, flowers and birds being particularly popular. Ink is the most common material used, and it is painted on mulberry paper or silk. Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons

In the 18th century indigenous techniques were advanced, particularly in calligraphy and seal engraving.

Arts are both influenced by tradition and realism in North Korea. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, For example, Han’s near-photographic "Break Time at the Ironworks" shows muscular men dripping with sweat and drinking water from tin cups at a sweltering foundry. Son’s "Peak Chonnyo of Mount Kumgang" is a classical Korean landscape of towering cliffs shrouded by mists (source : "The New York Times", [2]). Sisters Duk Soon Fwhang and Chung Soon Fwang O'Dwyer who fled to the United States in the late 1950s avoid overtly political statements, and render seemingly benign subjects of nature--flowers, birds, fields, insects, mountains--as tempestuous and emotionally charged zones of conflict.

Crafts

There is a unique set of handicrafts produced in Korea. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Most of the handicrafts are created for a particular everyday use, often giving priority to the practical use rather than aesthetics. Aesthetics or esthetics ( also spelled æsthetics) is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values sometimes called Traditionally, metal, wood, fabric, laquerware and earthenware were the main materials used, but later glass, leather or paper have sporadically been used. Lacquerware is objects which are decoratively covered with Lacquer which is sometimes inlaid or carved Earthenware is a common Ceramic material which is used extensively for Pottery tableware and decorative objects

Ancient handicrafts, such as red and black pottery, share similarities with pottery of Chinese cultures along the Yellow River. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Yellow River or Huang He / Hwang Ho ( Hatan Gol Queen river) is the second-longest river in China (after the Yangtze River) and the The relics found of the Bronze Age, however, are distinctive and more elaborate. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for

Many sophisticated and elaborate handicrafts have been excavated, including gilt crowns, patterned pottery, pots or ornaments. During the Goryeo period the use of bronze was advanced. Brass, that is copper with one third zinc, has been a particularly popular material. Brass is any Alloy of Copper and Zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 The dynasty, however, is renowned for its use of celadon ware. Celadon is a term for Ceramics denoting both a type glaze, and a ware of a specific color also called celadon.

During the Joseon period popular handicrafts were made of porcelain and decorated with blue painting. Woodcraft was also advanced during that period. This led to more sophisticated pieces of furniture, including wardrobes, chests, tables or drawers.

Ceramics

Main article: Korean pottery and porcelain

The use of earthenware on the Korean peninsula goes back to the Neolithic Age. Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest Earthenware from around 8000 BC Earthenware is a common Ceramic material which is used extensively for Pottery tableware and decorative objects The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The history of Korean Ceramics is long and includes both Korean pottery a later development after the traditional use of coils and hammered clay to create early votive and sculptural artifacts. Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest Earthenware from around 8000 BC Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest Earthenware from around 8000 BC During the Three Kingdoms period, pottery was advanced in Silla. Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The pottery was fired using a deoxidizing flame, which caused the distinctive blue grey celadon colour. Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware See also Green This article is about notable Tints and shades of the Color Green. The surface was embossed with various geometrical patterns.

In the Goryeo period jade green celadon ware became more popular. In the 12th century sophisticated methods of inlaying were invented, allowing more elaborate decorations in different colours.

White porcelain became popular in the 15th century. Porcelain is a Ceramic material made by heating raw materials generally including Clay in the form of Kaolin, in a Kiln to temperatures It soon overtook celadon ware. White porcelain was commonly painted or decorated with copper.

With the Japanese invasions of Korea in the 16th century, many potters were kidnapped to Japan where they profoundly influenced Japanese ceramics. Two Japanese invasions of Korea and subsequent battles on the Korean peninsula took place during the years 1592-1598 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. [3] [4] [5] Many leading Japanese pottery families today can trace their art and ancestry to these Korean potters whom the Japanese kidnapped by the thousands, such as during the Japanese Assault on Korea of 1592.

In the mid Joseon period (late 17th century) blue-and-white porcelain became popular. Designs were painted in cobalt blue on white porcelain. With the growth of Japan's hegemony on the peninsula towards the end of the 19th century the tradition of porcelain largely declined in favour of Japanese imports. However, the fact that Japan's relocating whole cities of Korean potters by force to boost pottery culture in Japan annuls the misconception that the Japanese pottery culture flourished at the time.

Lifestyle

Homes

Main article: Korean architecture

Sites of residence are traditionally selected using geomancy. Korean architecture refers to the Built environment of Korea from c It is believed that any topographical configuration generates invisible forces of good or ill (gi). The negative and positive energies (yin and yang) must be brought into balance. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin and yang ( is used to describe how seemingly opposing forces are bound together intertwined and interdependent in the

A house should be built against a hill and face south to receive as much sunlight as possible. This orientation is still preferred in modern Korea. Geomancy also influences the shape of the building, the direction it faces and the material it is built of.

Traditional Korean houses can be structured into an inner wing (anchae) and an outer wing (sarangchae). The individual layout largely depends on the region and the wealth of the family. Whereas aristocrats used the outer wing for receptions, poorer people kept cattle in the sarangchae. The wealthier a family, the larger the house. However, it was forbidden to any family except for the king to have a residence of more than 99 kan. A kan is the distance between two pillars used in traditional houses.

The inner wing normally consisted of a living room, a kitchen and a wooden-floored central hall. More rooms may be attached to this. Poorer farmers would not have any outer wing. Floor heating (ondol) has been used in Korea for centuries. The main building materials are wood, clay, tile, stone and thatch. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as Ceramic, stone, metal or even Glass. In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere Because wood and clay were the most common materials used in the past not many old buildings have survived into present times. Japan's kidnapping of an entire city known for its castle building skills built Japan's most famous castles and palaces, an act for which the Japanese government formally accepted and apologized for.

Gardens

Main article: Korean gardens

The principles of temple gardens and private gardens are the same. Korean gardens have a history that go back a thousand years but are little known in the west They generally resemble gardens in China, than in turn, the Japanese adopted a similar garden layout from Korea. The Chinese (Scholar's Garden is a place for solitary or social contemplation of nature This is so, because gardening in East Asia is heavily influenced by Taoism. Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Taoism emphasizes nature and mystery, paying great attention to the details of the layout. In contrast to Japanese and Chinese gardens, traditional Korean gardens avoid artificialities, trying to make a garden more natural than nature. Korean gardens have a history that go back a thousand years but are little known in the west Such distinct beauty sets Korean gardens aside from Chinese and Japanese gardens which fill a garden with man made elements.

The lotus pond is an important feature in the Korean garden. Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily If there is a natural stream, often a pavilion is built next to it, allowing the pleasure of watching the water. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Terraced flower beds are a common feature in traditional Korean gardens. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.

The Poseokjeong site near Gyeongju was built in the Silla period. Gyeongju is an administrative division of South Korea and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It highlights the importance of water in traditional Korean gardens. The garden of Poseokjeong features an abalone-shaped watercourse. During the last days of the Silla kingdom, the king's guest would sit along the watercourse and chat while wine cups were floated during banquets. Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

Dress

Main article: Hanbok

The traditional dress known as hanbok (한복) (known as joseonot in the DPRK) has been worn since ancient times. Hanbok ( South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot ( North Korea) is the traditional Korean dress Yut (sometimes romanized as nyout or yoot) is a traditional Board game played in Korea, especially during Korean New Year. Hanbok ( South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot ( North Korea) is the traditional Korean dress Hanbok ( South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot ( North Korea) is the traditional Korean dress North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The hanbok consists of a shirt (jeogori) and pants (baji). The traditional hat is called gwanmo and special meaning is attached to this piece of clothing.

According to social status, Koreans used to dress differently, making clothing an important mark of social rank. Impressive, but sometimes cumbersome, costumes were worn by the ruling class and the royal family. Jewelry was also used to distance themselves from the ordinary people. Traditional jewelry for women was a pendant shaped in the shape of certain elements of nature made of precious gems stones, to which a tassel of silk was connected.

Common people were often restricted to un-dyed plain clothes. This everyday dress underwent relatively few changes during the Joseon period. The basic everyday dress was shared by everyone, but distinctions were drawn in official and ceremonial clothes.

During the winter people wore cotton-wadded dresses. Fur was also common. Because ordinary people normally wore pure white undyed materials, the people were sometimes referred to as the white-clad people.

Hanbok are classified according to their purposes: everyday dress, ceremonial dress and special dress. Ceremonial dresses are worn on formal occasions, including a child's first birthday (doljanchi), a wedding or a funeral. Dol or doljanchi is a Korean traditional way of celebrating the birthday of a one-year-old baby Special dresses are made for purposes such as shamans, officials.

Today the hanbok is still worn during formal occasions. The everyday use of the dress, however, has been lost. However, elderly still dress in hanbok as well as active estates of the remnant of aristocratic families from the Chosun Dynasty.

Cuisine

Main article: Korean cuisine

Rice is the staple food of Korea. Korean cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political change Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many A staple food is a Food that forms the basis of a Traditional diet. Having been an almost exclusively agricultural country until recently, the essential recipes in Korea are shaped by this experience. The main crops in Korea are rice, barley and beans, but many supplementary crops are used. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal Fish and other seafood are also important because Korea is a peninsula. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Seafood is any Sea Animal or Seaweed that is served as Food, or is suitable for eating particularly saltwater animals such

Fermented recipes were also developed in early times. Fermentation in Food processing typically refers to the conversion of Sugar to Alcohol using Yeast under Anaerobic conditions These include pickled fish and pickled vegetables. Pickling, also known as brining or corning, is the process of preserving Food by Anaerobic fermentation in Brine (a solution This kind of food provides essential proteins and vitamins during the winter. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism.

A number of menus have been developed. These can be divided into ceremonial foods and ritual foods. Ceremonial foods are used when a child reaches 100 days, at the first birthday, at a wedding ceremony, and the sixtieth birthday. Ritual foods are used at funerals, at ancestral rites, shaman's offerings and as temple food.

Temple food is distinguished as it does not use the common five strong-flavoured ingredients of Korean cuisine (garlic, spring onion, wild rocambole, leek and ginger), nor meat. Korean cuisine as a national Cuisine known today has evolved through centuries of social and political change Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. "Green onions" redirects here For other uses see Green onion. The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var porrum (L also sometimes known as Allium porrum, is a vegetable which belongs along with the Onion and Ginger is commonly used as a cooking spice throughout the world

For ceremonies and rituals rice cakes are vital. The colouring of the food and the ingredients of the recipes are matched with a balance of yin and yang. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin and yang ( is used to describe how seemingly opposing forces are bound together intertwined and interdependent in the

Today, surasang (traditional court cuisine) is available to the whole population. Korean royal court cuisine ( Joseon Wangjo Gungjung yori) is the cuisine traditionally consumed at the court of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea In the past vegetable dishes were essential, but meat consumption has increased. Traditional dishes include ssambap, bulgogi, sinseollo, kimchi, bibimbap and gujeolpan. Bulgogi (pulɡoɡi in Korean Barbecued Beef, is one of the most popular ways of cooking beef in Korea. Sinseollo or yeolguja tang is an elaborate dish consisting of Meatballs small and round Jeonyueo (전유어 mushrooms Kimchi, also spelled gimchi or kimchee, is a traditional Korean fermented dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings most commonly referring to Bibimbap is a popular Korean dish. The word literally means "stirred/mixed Rice " or "stirred/mixed meal Gujeolpan refers to either an elaborate Korean dish consisting of nine different foods assorted on a Wooden plate with nine divided sections

Tea

Main article: Korean tea

Tea in Korea dates back over 2000 years. Korean tea refers to various types of Tisane that can be served hot or cold Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It was part of a number of worship recipes, hoping that the good scents would reach the heavenly gods. Tea was introduced in Korea, when Buddhism was introduced from China, and later gave rise to the Korean Tea Ceremony, of which Korea has over 3000. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For the information regarding various types of Korean tea see Korean tea The Korean tea ceremony or darye is a traditional

Originally tea was used for ceremonial purposes or as part of traditional herbal medicine. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the Green tea, as it is used in China and Japan, is not the only kind of tea drunk in Korea. Green tea is a type of Tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal Oxidation during processing China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. A great number of teas made of fruits, leaves, seeds or roots are enjoyed. Five tastes of tea are distinguished in Korea: the sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent tastes.

Festivals of the lunar calendar

Main article: Korean calendar

The traditional Korean calendar was based on the lunisolar calendar. The traditional Korean calendar is a Lunisolar calendar which like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries was based on the Chinese calendar The traditional Korean calendar is a Lunisolar calendar which like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries was based on the Chinese calendar A lunisolar calendar is a Calendar in many Cultures whose date indicates both the Moon phase and the time of the solar Year. ^[4] Dates are calculated from Korea's meridian, and observances and festivals are rooted in Korean culture. The Korean lunar calendar is divided into 24 turning points (jeolgi), each lasting about 15 days. The traditional Korean calendar is a Lunisolar calendar which like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries was based on the Chinese calendar The lunar calendar was the timetable for the agrarian society in the past, but is vanishing in the modern Korean lifestyle.

The Gregorian Calendar was officially adopted in 1895, but traditional holidays and age-reckoning are still based on the old calendar. The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today East Asian age reckoning ( Mongolian: Khii nas is a concept that originated in China and is used in East Asian countries ^{[5] [6]} + Older generations still celebrate their birthdays according to the lunar calendar.

The biggest festival in Korea today is Seollal (the traditional Korean New Year. Korean New Year, known as Seollal ( or Gujeong ( is the first day of the lunar Korean calendar. Other important festivals include Daeboreum (the first full moon), Dano (spring festival) and Chuseok (harvest festival). Daeboreum (literally "Great Full Moon" is a Korean holiday that celebrates the first full moon of the new year of the lunar Korean calendar. Dano, also called Surit-nal, is a Korean holiday that falls on the 5th day of the fifth month of the lunar Korean calendar. Chuseok, originally known as Hangawi (한가위 (from archaic Korean for "great middle" is a major Harvest festival and a three-day holiday

There are also a number of regional festivals, celebrated according to the lunar calendar. See also Public holidays in North Korea and Public holidays in South Korea. This is a list of Public holidays in North Korea as of 2007 See also Korean calendar for a list of traditional holidays In South Korea each public holiday belongs to one or more of three possible categories National Celebration Day( 국경일, 國慶日 National Flag Raising Day(국기게양일 國旗揭揚日

Games

There are a number of board games played in Korea. Baduk is the Korean name for what is known as Go in English. This game is particularly popular with middle-aged and elderly men. It has a similar status as has chess in Western cultures. Chess is a recreational and competitive Game played between two players. There is a Korean version of chess called Janggi, based on an old version of Chinese chess. Janggi is the Korean name for a strategic Board game widespread in Korea Yut is a popular family board game enjoyed throughout the country, especially during holidays. Yut (sometimes romanized as nyout or yoot) is a traditional Board game played in Korea, especially during Korean New Year.

No longer commonly played, except on special occasions, Chajeon Nori is a traditional game involving two teams of villagers in a giant jousting match. Chajeon Nori, occasionally translated as Juggernaut Battle, is a traditional Korean game usually played by men originating in the Andong region

Many folk games are associated with shamanistic rites and have been handed down from one generation to the next. Three rites are important with regards to folk games: Yeonggo, Dongmaeng and Mucheon. Yeonggo is a drumming performance to invoke spirits. Dongmaeng is a harvest ceremony, while Mucheon is dances to the heaven. These performances were refined during the period of the Three Kingdoms and games were added.

Ssireum is a form of traditional wrestling. Ssireum (also called Sirum, Korean: 씨름 is a Korean Wrestling style and is the traditional national sport of Korea Other traditional games include pitching arrows into a pot (tuho) and a game of stick-tossing (jeopo). There are also stone fights (seokjeon), swing riding (geunetagi), masked dance drama, and a ball game (gyeokku).

Starcraft is a very popular game in Korea. StarCraft is a Military science fiction Real-time strategy Video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. There are tournaments which grants large amounts of cash as a prize and many Internet Cafes (PC Bangs) where many people, especially young adults play Starcraft. Many other Blizzard games, such as World of Warcraft are generally popular. World of Warcraft (commonly acronymed as WoW) is a Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG

World Heritage sites

There are a number of designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in Korea. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.

Jongmyo Shrine

Main article: Jongmyo

The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1995 and is located in Seoul. Jongmyo is a Confucian shrine dedicated to the memorial services for the deceased kings and queens of the Korean Joseon Dynasty. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of the ancestors of the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty. It is heavily influenced by Confucian tradition. Korean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism developed in Korea. An elaborate performance of ancient court music (with accompanying dance) known as Jongmyo jeryeak is performed there each year. Korean court music refers to the music developed in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1905

When it was built in 1394 is was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia, if not the longest. There are 19 memorial tablets of kings and 30 of their queens, placed in 19 chambers. The shrine was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion in 1592, but rebuilt by 1608. Two Japanese invasions of Korea and subsequent battles on the Korean peninsula took place during the years 1592-1598

Changdeokgung

Main article: Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung is also known as the palace of illustrious virtue. Changdeokgung ( Changdeok Palace) is a palace set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Changdeokgung ( Changdeok Palace) is a palace set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was built in 1405, burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion in 1592 and reconstructed in 1609. For more than 300 years Changdeokgung was the site of the royal seat. It is located in Seoul

The surroundings and the palace itself are well matched. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Some of the trees behind the palace are now over 300 years old, besides a preserved tree which is over 1000 years old. Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Bulguksa

Main article: Bulguksa

Bulguksa is also known as the temple of the Buddha Land and home of the Seokguram Grotto. Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province in South Korea. The temple was constructed in 751 and consists of a great number of halls. There are two pagodas placed in the temple.

The Seokguram grotto is a hermitage of the Bulguksa temple. It is a granite sanctuary. In the main chamber a Buddha statue is seated. The temple and the grotto were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Tripitaka Koreana and Haeinsa

Main article: Haeinsa

Haeinsa is a large temple in the South Gyeongsang province. Haeinsa (Temple of Reflection on a Smooth Sea is one of the foremost Chogye Buddhist temples in South Korea. Haeinsa (Temple of Reflection on a Smooth Sea is one of the foremost Chogye Buddhist temples in South Korea. Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang is a province in the southeast of South Korea. It was originally built in 802 and home to the Tripitaka Koreana wood blocks, the oldest Buddhist wooden manuscripts in the world. The Tripitaka Koreana (lit Goryeo Tripitaka) or Palman Daejanggyeong ("Eighty-Thousand Tripitaka " ^[7] The carving of these wood blocks was initiated in 1236 and completed in 1251. The wood blocks are testimony to the pious devotion of king and his people.

The word Tripitaka is Sanskrit and stands for three baskets, referring to the Buddhist laws of aesthetics. The Tripiṭaka ( Sanskrit; Devanagari: त्रिपिटक lit Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Tripitaka Koreana consists of 81'258 wood blocks and is the largest, oldest, and completist collection of Buddhist scripts. Amazingly there is no trace of errata or omission on any of the wood blocks. The Tripitaka Koreana is widely considered as the most beautiful and accurate Buddhist canon carved in Chinese characters. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated

The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Hwaseong

Main article: Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong is the fortification of the city Suwon south of Seoul in South Korea. Hwaseong ("Brilliant Fortress" is located in Suwon, South Korea, 30 kilometers from Seoul. Suwon ( Suwon-si) is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Its construction was completed in 1796 and it features all the latest features of Korean fortification known at the time. The fortress also contains a magnificent palace used for the King's visit to his father's tomb near the city.

The fortress covers both flat land and hilly terrain, something rarely seen in East Asia. The walls are 5. 52 kilometres long and there are 41 extant facilities along the perimeter. These include four cardinal gates, a floodgate, four secret gates and a beacon tower. Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in reservoir, River, Stream, or Levee systems

Hwaseong was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa sites

Main article: Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites

The sites of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage in 2000. The Gochang Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites are the location of hundreds of stone Dolmen which were used as grave markers and for ritual purposes during the first millennium United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex These sites are home to prehistoric graveyards which contain hundreds of different megaliths. These megaliths are gravestones which were created in the 1st century B. A headstone, tombstone or gravestone is a marker normally carved from stone, placed over or next to the site of a Burial C. out of large blocks of rock. In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere Megaliths can be found around the globe, but nowhere in such a concentration as in the sites of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa.

Gyeongju Area

Main article: Gyeongju Historic Areas

The historic area around Gyeongju was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage in 2000. The Gyeongju Historic Areas of South Korea were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000 CE Gyeongju is an administrative division of South Korea and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Gyongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom. Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. The tombs of the Silla rulers can still be found in the centre of the city. These tombs took the shape of rock chambers buried in an earthen hill, sometimes likened with the pyramids. A pyramid is a Building where the upper surfaces are triangular and converge on one point The area around Gyeongju, in particular on the Namsan mountain, is scattered with hundreds of remains from the Silla period. Namsan (남산 "South Mountain" is a 494-meter peak in the heart of Gyeongju National Park, just south of Gyeongju, South Korea. Poseokjeong is one of the most famous of these sites, but there is a great number of Korean Buddhist art, sculptures, reliefs, pagodas and remains of temples and palaces mostly built in the 7th and 10th century. The Poseokjeong site near Namsan in South Korea was built in the Silla period Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea A temple (from the Latin word Templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities such as prayer and sacrifice or analogous rites A palace is a grand residence especially the home of a Head of state or some other high-ranking Public figure.

Complex of Goguryeo Tombs

Main article: Complex of Goguryeo Tombs

The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs lies in Pyongyang, Pyong'an South Province, and Nampo City, South Hwanghae Province, North Korea. The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs lies in North Korea. In July 2004 it became the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the country The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs lies in North Korea. In July 2004 it became the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the country Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, In July 2004 it became the first UNESCO World Heritage site north of the 38th parallel. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

The site consists of 63 individual tombs from the later Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula It was founded around northern Korea and Manchuria around 32 BC, and the capital was moved to Pyongyang in 427. Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast This kingdom dominated the region between the 5th and 7th century AD.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• National treasures of South Korea
• UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Traditional Korean thought
• East Asian age reckoning
• Marriage in South Korea

References

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