Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented
in Korean,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Halo, amiable viewers
and welcome
to today’s episode of
Enlightening Entertainment
here on
Supreme Master Television.
In a two-part series, we’ll
enjoy the folk cultures
of North Korea
and South Korea.
Villages throughout
the Korean peninsula
get together at special times
of the year to wish for
peace and happiness
upon their communities.
Today,
we’ll get to know about
Hamgyeong Province
in North Korea,
where Dondolnari
folk songs and dance
are performed.
Let’s find out why it’s
so meaningful and special
to the local people.
Dondolnari originated
from Bukcheong,
North Korea and
has been widely conducted
in the county, especially
at Mount Morae
in Sokhumyeon, where
women pick wild chives.
After they finish picking,
the housewives
along with villagers
engage in an amusing play
involving
the whole community.
The play not only
relaxes mind and body
but also conveys wishes
for a good harvest
and peace for the village.
This is the origin
of Dondolnari.
Dondolnari, Dondolnari,
Dondolnari
Rirarirari Dondolnari
Rirarirari Dondolnari
Dondolnari, Dondolnari,
Dondolnari
Dondolnari over
Mount Blue, Morae County.
Dondolnari over
Mount Blue, Morae County.
The word Dondolnari
roughly translates as
“the day dawns.”
To learn more about
this spirited local folk art,
our Supreme Master
Television correspondent
met with
Mr. Dong Young Beom,
director of
the Bukcheong Folk Arts
Preservation Society,
as well as
the group’s members.
With regard to Dondolnari,
the folk song was used
as a means to gather
and unite people such as
housewives and men,
who would
sing Dondolnari
in Bukcheong before
the Lion Play began.
So, housewives
gathered together to play
at Namdaecheon Stream,
and later on,
men joined them
to play Dondolnari
and the Lion Play.
The main purpose
of this play
is to seek a good harvest
and harmony and peace
of the village.
How early did you learn
Dondolnari?
I learned it when
I was about 13 years old
in the North.
Who taught you?
I just watched the adults
do it and followed them.
Do all the villagers
dance together?
Yes. The village people
dance altogether.
Only women dance,
don’t they?
No, all villagers,
regardless of their age,
play together
while beating drums
and janggu (drums).
On which occasion did you
perform Dondolnari
in Bukcheong?
Which occasion?
We normally played it
on Mid-Autumn Day
and Dano (fifth day
of the fifth lunar month).
And on the first full moon
day as well.
Usually Dondolnari play
was followed by
the Lion Play.
Would you tell us
what Dondolnari means?
Dondolnari means
“the day dawns.”
No matter what happens,
“the day dawns.”
Whatever happens,
the day comes
when the sun rises.
I don’t know
who composed this,
but the phrase
was repeated endlessly.
In the Bukcheong dialect,
Dondolnari
figuratively means
“coming back in place.”
However, people
in Hamgyeong Province
interpret it thus:
“It turns and
returns to its place.”
The syllable “don”
in Dondolnari
means East or dawn,
and “dol” means rotate.
“Nari” means
the sun or the day.
So metaphorically,
it means that the sun rotates
and everything
returns to its place.
What rotates and repeats
are not only the words
of the song, but also
the movements of the dance
likewise make a circle.
All right! All right!
Hurrah, all right!
It’s fun to play
before you’re 20.
It’s fun to play
at the young age of 18.
All right! All right!
Hurrah, all right!
A new spring has arrived
upon this beautiful land.
Lovely apricot flowers
bloom charmingly.
All right! All right!
Hurrah, all right!
It’s fun to play
before you’re 20.
It’s fun to play
at the young age of 18.
All right! All right!
Hurrah, all right!
A new spring has arrived
upon this beautiful land.
Lovely apricot flowers
bloom charmingly.
The display and
movements of the dance
usually form a circle.
Of course, some of them
form the “taegeuk,”
the yin-yang symbol,
or they form a circle that
starts from a small one
but becomes bigger
in the future.
Dondolnari dance,
also called the “dallae”
(wild chive) dance,
expresses aptly
the lively movements
of the song’s melody
rather than
the meaning of it.
There is no standard
pattern or choreography;
rather, it is a free dance
in which dancers can
move freely as they please.
Dondolnari, Dondolnari,
Dondolnari,
Rirarirari Dondolnari,
Rirarirari Dondolnari,
Hey hey, my man!
Walk quickly! Let’s go to
Namdaecheon riverside.
No reluctance! That’s good!
It’s fun and exciting.
First light rises
over this chilly hill.
No reluctance! That’s good!
The new day is dawning!
No reluctance! That’s good!
The new day is dawning!
Another characteristic of
the Dondolnari performance
is the use of
a unique instrument,
a gourd bowl, to keep time.
This is called
the bagaji beat, which is
unique and found only
in Hamgyeong Province,
North Korea.
Water is poured
into a water jar or
water pitcher, and then
a bagaji is put face-down
on the water
before we dance
to gourd bowl rhythm.
That’s why
it’s called bagaji rhythm.
It’s Hamgyeong Province’s
unique bagaji rhythm.
Wait a moment!
What is inside here?
They look like spoons
and chopsticks.
Yes, they are
stainless steel chopsticks,
but originally we used
to use brass chopsticks.
They were all made of brass.
Next, we put it face down.
Bagaji in North Korea is
actually bigger than this.
If a water jar is big like this
and if the water is full,
then the sound of the beat
is good.
Cling, clang!
These chopsticks are
playing around inside.
The main beat
of Dondolnari is the
jungmori-jangdan rhythm.
People in Bukcheong call it
“deong-da-dak-gung-tta”
rhythm.
“Deong-da-dak-gung-tta”
“Deong-da-dak-gung-tta”
Here also, the
“deong-da-dak-gung-tta”
rhythm continues,
but it varies depending on
how fast it beats.
So this rhythm
has been passed on only
in the Bukcheong region.
My home is good,
my home is sweet.
Our Bukcheong hometown
is good.
My parents
have raised me well
And found me a mate
to marry me off.
I woke up next morning
And found a marriage letter
had arrived.
Though I vow
never to get married
I ended up getting in
the wedding sedan chair.
I’m now
under a silken quilt
and I can think of
no better plan.
It’s no use covering with
an unquilted blanket.
One day of affection
is neither bad nor good.
Thread follows
wherever the needle goes.
How can I not follow
wherever you may go?
Bukcheong folk songs
have a variety of topics
within their lyrics,
and the expression
is simple and optimistic.
The topics reflect
the people’s diligent labor,
love between people,
and local customs,
as well as social issues.
The songs’ rhythm
is cheerful and lyrical.
The folk songs
of Hamgyeong Province
are less cheerful than those
of Gyeongsang Province,
but a lot more cheerful
and rhythmical than those
of Gangwon Province.
That is, the characteristic
of the folk songs here
is buoyant and cheerful,
and they never give up
on the hope
and determination
for the future.
Now let’s watch
our last performance.
It begins with the words
“Shining Chosun,”
reminiscent
of the glorious old name
of Korea.
Shining Chosun!
Shining Chosun!
It’s a beautiful land,
hurrah!
Dingdong dingdong!
(sound of flying grains)
Pick out the straw
and dry leaves.
Chalsak chalsak!
The watermill
produces straw.
Let’s build a house
with wood
and cook a meal
with grains of the field!
Shining Chosun!
Shining Chosun!
It’s a beautiful land,
hurrah!
In a snow-covered
thatched cottage,
there lives a boy.
By a far-away-brook,
there lives a girl.
Let’s dig the soil
with a hoe!
Let’s dance spiritedly
while smiling.
Shining Chosun!
Shining Chosun!
It’s a beautiful land,
hurrah!
We have explored
the local folk songs
and dance as have been
performed for ages
in Bukcheong,
Hamgyeong Province,
North Korea.
Dondolnari can be
figuratively interpreted
in many ways.
However, most importantly,
it gives people hope that
if they cherish their dreams
and try their best to
fulfill them, a bright day
will surely dawn –
just like the meaning
of the word
“Dondolnari” itself.
Thank you for your
wonderful company today.
Tomorrow,
we’ll continue our program
by exploring
the representative folk art
of South Korea,
called “Nongak.”
So please join us again
tomorrow.
Now, coming up next is
Words of Wisdom, right
after Noteworthy News.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
May your heart
be happy and smiling.
Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented
in Korean,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Halo loving viewers.
Welcome to
Enlightening Entertainment.
Yesterday,
we explored together
the folk arts of North Korea.
Today,
continuing our program,
“Village Wishes for
Peace and Happiness,”
we’ll introduce
one of South Korea’s
representative kinds of
folk play called Nongak,
which is performed
on the first full moon day
of the lunar calendar.
Nongak, which is also
called “Pungmul”
(farmer’s music ensemble),
“Dure”(communal
labor arrangements) or
“Gut”(shamanic ceremony),
is a form of
communal consciousness.
It is also an exciting game
performed by farmers to
wish for a good harvest
and peace in the village,
as well as to get rid of
negative energy by playing
various instruments.
Nongak has been
one of the essential parts
of our culture, and I see it
as a play and a game,
unlike a performance
but rather like a festival,
which villagers
in the village community
enjoy together.
Nongak can be performed
anytime during the year.
At the beginning
of the year, it is
performed in the hopes
that everything will be
all right over the year.
In spring, it is played to
wish for a great harvest.
During the farming season,
Nongak cheers on
the hard work of farmers.
At harvest time,
it’s performed in gratitude
for the good harvest.
However,
the most crucial time
to play Nongak is
the first month of the year.
In the first month
of the lunar calendar,
all villagers rejoice
in one concerted spirit,
repelling the negativity and
bringing into the village
luck and abundance
for the year.
Now, shall we learn about
the components
of Nongak?
Nongak is composed of
an instrumental part
and a dancing part
where each participant is
assigned a particular role.
The music player
is called jaebi or chibae
and characters
are called jabsaek –
literally translated as
“various colors,” indicating
the characters roles.
The instruments used
in Nongak mainly consist of
percussion instruments
such as kkwaenggwari
(small gong), janggu
(hourglass shaped drum),
buk (drum) and jing (gong),
which blend well
and go together,
leading the flow of rhythm.
People say
that kkwaenggwari
sounds like thunder.
We attach a red cloth
to the stick and fix a string
to the instrument
and hold it
with an index finger
extended out,
and that’s one of
the distinct features.
And kkwaenggwari leads
the other instruments
and its sound is sharp.
Next, let me introduce
the janggu.
The janggu
makes various sounds
because it’s the one
and only instrument
in Nongak
that requires the player
to use two sticks
in both hands.
Gungpyun
(one side of the drum)
makes a low-pitched sound
while Yeolpyun
(the opposite side) makes
a high-pitched sound.
I’m going to play it now.
When the buk
is played solo, it’s played
more elaborately,
whereas when it’s played
in Nongak, it doesn’t play
a fine melody but rather
plays only the big beats.
There’s an instrument that
plays even bigger beats,
and that’s the jing.
The jing that is used
in Nongak is a bit larger
than a normal one,
because it needs to
make a bigger resonance.
And like the buk,
the jing keeps the big beat,
but it plays
even bigger beats.
Say if other instruments
are hit ten times, then
the jing is struck only once.
Let me play it for you.
Apart from these, there is
the sogo, or small drum,
that dances
to the exciting rhythm
and evokes merriment.
There is also the nabal, or
bugle, that signals the start
or an important phase
of the performance.
And Taepyungso,
or conical oboe,
is the only instrument
that plays the melody
in Nongak.
In Nongak,
there are people who don’t
play any instrument but
who dance and play a role.
These people
are called jabsaek.
The head of jabsaek
dances in the front
with a masculine figure
and energetic movements
to lead the Nongak troupe.
There is also a hwadong,
or flower boy,
who wears a red costume
and a straw hat;
and a changbu, or jester,
who dons a blue overcoat.
Apart from
these characters,
there are also: a chorijung,
or Buddhist monk
donning a dharma robe;
a yangban, or aristocrat;
halmi, or
elderly grandmother;
and kakshi, or bride.
These people
dance excitedly
both in the back and front
and mingle with
the spectators
to stir up the atmosphere.
The jabsaek characters vary
depending on the region,
and their costumes,
speech, and actions
are also diverse.
There are people
called jabsaek who
don’t play instruments
but entertain with jokes
and play a part
in bridging people, which
the instrument can’t do.
If all these blend well
into one, then we can say
Nongak is performed
like Nongak should.
Nongak is still loved
by many contemporary
South Korean people.
It’s played in various forms
in school, work places
and clubs.
Why do many people
play Nongak?
I love to mingle with
many people
while playing Nongak
and love to tune in
to the melody
with my own instrument,
and playing Nongak
is a kind of workout
and it’s good for health.
And for the elderly, it’s a
good chance to socialize
with the young people.
So everything about it
is good.
It’s a good exercise and
it helps to release stress.
I love it.
And I have pride in
inheriting our tradition.
Now, we’re going to travel
to Philbong Village,
in Imsil,
North Jeolla Province
to watch Nongak
being performed on
the First Full Moon Day
of the year.
The Philbong Troupe’s
Nongak was designated
as an important
intangible cultural asset
of South Korea in 1988.
Well known for
its 300-year-old tradition,
Philbong Nongak is
one of South Korea’s
five representative
Nongak troupes and has
an active ongoing lineage.
On the First Full Moon Day
when the first full moon
of the year rises,
the whole village
of Philbong
becomes a huge stage
and music is played
from early morning
to late night.
On the First Full Moon Day,
Nongak is performed
in the biggest scale.
When this splendid
festival begins,
many people nationwide
visit the village
and celebrate
the festival together.
After the melody signaling
the start of the full moon
shamanic ceremony
resonates in the air,
the Sangsoe, or leader
of the Nongak troupe,
gives words of blessing.
The people
who have come here
probably will live long
(That’s right!)
and play Gut
(shamanic ceremony)
next year as well. (Yes!)
Now, let’s play the exciting
First Full Moon Gut
together! (Alright!)
The Nongak troupe
first heads to where
there is a dangsan holy tree,
which has protected
the village
for hundreds of years.
Then, with a nonggi flag
and younggi flag leading
the Nongak performance
in front, farmers set off
on an odyssey in the
First Full Moon Ceremony,
together with
the sound of music that
longs for a year of peace
for the village.
Spectators already
dance about together
with the Nongak troupe.
After an exciting,
cheerful melody, they leave
for the village well.
The Nongak troupe
then starts up the music
in front of the well,
praying that villagers
will be healthy
drinking the water and
that the clean water will
never dry up for the year.
Next, leaving the well,
the troupe visits
every single house
in the village.
This is called “madangbari,”
or stepping on the yard,
which is to drive out
the negative force
and pray for blessings
and share good wishes.
After calling on
every house,
the Nongak troupe sets off
for the village square
where the villagers had
set up daljip beforehand.
Daljip is piled up in
the middle of the square.
It’s made of
pine tree branches,
firewood, straw sheaf,
bamboo, etc.,
which villagers bring
from their houses
and put on together.
Building up daljip dozens
of meters high,
they pray that their wishes
will reach the moon.
As the full moon rises,
daljip is lit to burn.
Encircling the daljip
and playing
the great ensemble
of Nongak performance,
the enthusiasm
and atmosphere
of the farmer’s
ensemble ceremony
reaches its peak.
If daljip burns evenly,
people believe
the year will be blessed
with a good harvest.
They also believe
that if they make a wish
looking up to the full moon
at the same time
that daljip is burning well,
the wish will come true.
That’s why
people pray about peace
and make their own wishes
in front of
the flaming daljip while
looking at the full moon.
Today I had a role
of flag holder,
walking in front
holding a flag.
You can enjoy the style
and enthusiasm
of Philbong Nongak
and have fun
along with other folks
and mingle together.
It’s really fun.
I’m here to participate
in the Philbong
Nongak ceremony.
I have been wanting
to see it because
it’s the very famous
First Full Moon Ceremony
in South Korea.
It’s exciting
and well organized.
The Nongak troupe
participating in the
First Full Moon Festival
in Philbong
as well as the thousands
of audience members
get excited and happy
through the enthusiastic
Nongak performance and
rejoice in learning about
the preciousness
of neighborliness
and the lessons of
sharing and cooperation.
The Nongak tradition
has been carried on
up till now
and has settled in as a
pleasant cultural heritage.
We have just explored
the folk arts
of both North Korea
and South Korea
through our two-part series.
May the traditions of the
North’s beautiful dances
and the South’s exciting
percussion playing
continue as bringers of
peaceful and happy times.
Now, coming up next is
Words of Wisdom, right
after Noteworthy News.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
May your life
be as brightly shining
as the first full moon that
blesses the coming year.