Culture of the Republic of Korea. Historical Development and Current State of Traditional Korean Culture
In the past, in the traditional Korean society, 3~4 generations lived together in one family. In those days, people preferred to live in a large family and have many children.
However, as Korea experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization in the 1960s and 70s, as well as restrictions on the birth rate of children, the culture in the country began to change, and since the 1980s, the average Korean family has two children or less.
As for the ages of people, this is calculated in South Korea, unlike us. It is very likely that people in this country can be two or more years old, because age is counted from the time the mother begins to expect a child. No less strange was the designation of relationships and friendship.
Another note: South Korea should share everything: if you bring an apple for lunch, either distribute all your friends in the neighborhood, or don't eat it at all, because it can be very impolite and unfriendly. There are also a few things that can happen when you travel to South Korea, but don't get upset - it's all these cultural differences. There are many cases in South Korea where restaurants or cafes speak full English but the menu is only Korean.
In Korean society, Confucian traditions have been preserved to this day, according to which preference is given to the eldest son. To combat gender discrimination, the government passed a law making son and daughter equal heirs in the division of property.
Young married couples now mostly live apart from their parents. Therefore, families now usually consist only of parents and children.
Or, in case of a "problem", ask people to sit down to help you order one or the other dish. By the way, very often there are some dishes from the common pelvis here, so either eat as fast as you can or secretly watch the "soup colleagues". Also, when going to the women's restroom, don't be surprised if it's full of smoke because it's very rare for women to post in South Korea, which is considered very controversial. They are just interested in them and age is often asked here because Koreans know how to address you.
By the way, children from South Korea often ask you what your name is, because teachers in schools tell them that they speak English every time, with the consent of a foreigner. Sometimes there are situations in South Korea where it is better not to tell the truth, as it will avoid long looks of persuasion and contortion. For example, if a Korean asks for a name about how old they are, it's better to update it a little more than to ask the person to stand up, even if they don't look like a fifteen year old. Then your friend will be satisfied and you will not be disappointed.
Names
Most Koreans have surnames, the most common of which are: Kim (approximately 21% of all Koreans), Lee (14%), Park (8%), Choi (or Choi), Jeon, Chan, Im, etc. Korean name consists of a surname, as a rule, it is always one syllable, and a given name, usually two syllables following the name (but it happens that the name also consists of one syllable). Women who marry do not take the husband's surname, but the children will take the father's surname.
The question "Are you alive?" In South Korea, it's very common to mean "How are you?", so it's better to answer him "Yes, and will you fall?" There is no need to go into the details of the discussion of food, because the purpose of asking this question was not nutrition. Also, if you ask if you've seen the latest Korean football, it's better to say "yes" and then somehow get away from other problems, because football is very popular in this country and it just needs to be interested.
Well, of course, if you are a woman, and you ask, or smoke, always say "of course not." Otherwise, there is a wave of dissatisfaction or even some kind of copy. But these are just a few remarks that don't necessarily have to happen to you. Well, but if you know about it, you won't get your head over it, and the knowledge can be useful.
Marriage
Koreans consider marriage the most milestone in a person’s life, and they are extremely negative about divorce, as a manifestation of disrespect not only for each other, but also for parents, although, despite this, the number of divorces for recent times is growing at a rapid pace.
A wedding today is somewhat different from what it used to be. First, a regular Western-style ceremony is held in a church or city hall, the bride in a white wedding dress and the groom in a tuxedo, and then the traditional ceremony follows, already in another room, where the bride and groom, dressed in Korean national costumes and following the tradition, bow parents.
And another annoyance when visiting foreign country- what are you waiting for in Lithuania? Grandparents will definitely enjoy a wide range of Korean teas because they are both healthy and delicious. Great gift for a brother or sister, there might be a fun shirt that makes the head spin here. It is easy to find both high quality and very exclusive for a really decent price.
Moms can come up with a collection of interesting spices or metal sticks. Well, when shopping for gifts for friends, you need to use your imagination and look for something interesting, like canned beetles, red ginseng candies, or chocolate or kimchi cookies. It was hard to believe that everything was over, because it seemed that now, four weeks ago, the program itself began to have fun, and for all 56 people our group finally became one big family.
A Korean wedding is, first of all, a union of families, and not just a decision of two people to create a new unit of society. It just so happened that in this country, young people rarely choose a mate for themselves, in most cases the father makes the decision for them. In some families, the newlyweds do not even know each other until the moment of marriage. From time immemorial, the dominance of patriarchy has been noted in Korean families, and the head of the family has been and remains an indisputable authority for the household. And rich men can now afford to have several wives and, accordingly, several families.
Although it would be nice to leave this country and friends until everything else was good and we were still interesting to each other - we parted with tears in our eyes and the most beautiful memories that will surely come here again. Yet we know relatively little about this country, which is why we often associate Koreans with the Japanese, thus forming stereotypes such as Koreans who are extremely talkative, courteous, calm, and humble.
At first it seems that Koreans are those Asian people who only smile, bend over and agree with everything. In fact, Koreans are very ugly people. One teacher said: "The Korean soul is not Russian, it burns." Temperament pours over the edges, and all this “calmness” is just culture and tradition, says Egle Petrauskaite, who denies the wrong faith.
Wedding ceremonies in Korea, despite the progressive views of modern youth, still have many forms and a huge number of rules and recommendations. A few weeks before the celebration, matchmakers from the man's side come to visit the woman's parents with gifts and offerings, by that time all her acquaintances and friends also gather in the bride's house.
Egle, currently a translator of English language in a computer software company and teaching Korean at Vytautas Magnus University, says he was in the country seven years ago. A South Korean who lived for several years says she didn't experience culture shock because she knew what to expect, but admitted it wasn't easy to get used to certain cultural or communication cues.
I think Lithuanians have often heard that in Eastern countries more important is not the person, but the group. This is also the case in South Korea, where the group operates a community center. In Korea, the family and its relationships are very important. Great respect is shown to older family members, which is especially reflected in the Korean language, which has several levels of politeness, says Lithuanian.
This ritual is similar to the dress rehearsal for the upcoming marriage. It is called "chenchi" in Korean. The traditions of the mini-wedding "chenchi" in Korea have undergone significant changes over the past ten years, and now they bear little resemblance to the old action, however, newfangled European trends have not taken root among this people. Approximately in the middle of the last century, it was decided that "chenchi" would henceforth be held only during daylight hours, on the last day of the week. On rare occasions, rather exceptional ones, on Saturday mornings. The number for the wedding is chosen carefully, guided by ancient knowledge of esotericism and the lunar calendar
According to Egle, as in all East Asia, children usually leave their parents unemployed: Due to historical circumstances, the South Korean pension system, especially for current retirees, is perhaps even thinner than Lithuania, so taking care of parents is even more important. This respect for parents has been preserved since ancient times, when the Korean people of high society were forced to cry for a long time over the graves of their dead parents.
I was sometimes annoyed by the behavior of older Koreans on the subway - looking at old-fashioned grandparents, grandmothers or old tees, you need to move out of the way because it will go all the way. Don't expect an apology, the spokesman smiles and adds that this is due to large population and established traditions.
Chere (rite of remembrance of ancestors).
According to Korean belief, the soul of a person does not leave immediately after his death, but remains with his descendants for another four generations. All this time, the deceased person is still considered a member of the family, and the Koreans perform a special ceremony in honor of him Chere on Seollal ( New Year according to the Eastern calendar), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), as well as on the day of the anniversary of death. Koreans also believe that their life here in this world can be happy and prosperous if their ancestors bless them.
Koreans rarely call each other by their first names and avoid calling "you". Communication with peers or younger people is possible on their behalf, Egle said, but older people should be approached by relatives such as a brother, sister, aunt or member of the same person. You can be lively and young, or if you agree with the interlocutor, use simple naughty language.
Here's another Korean thing - they just ask you how old you are when they meet. Some foreigners who did not even guess about it even understood - what is the difference between darkness and how old I am? But Koreans need to know how old you are, especially if you speak your mother tongue to know how to approach you, what courtesy you are talking about. - says the girl.
During the period of Japanese colonial rule, the tradition of holding Jongmyo later began to fade, and in 1946 it was interrupted. But in 1969 the ceremony was held again, and since 1971 it has been regularly held once a year on the first Sunday of May. Today this event is very popular among both Koreans and guests of the country. So, several thousand people came to watch the ceremony, which was held quite recently - on May 3, 2009.
Lithuania says that despite cultural differences, it has found similarities between its homeland and South Korea. In higher educational institutions Lithuania and Korea are receiving a lot. Both countries have problems. Both Lithuanians and Koreans are struggling to keep their homes. Lithuanians and Koreans often like to do everything at the last minute.
Egle calls South Korea one of the world's most progressive societies in the world and says that Koreans want to innovate easily and willingly. According to her, the country's market is very suitable for testing new products, because Koreans are great example consumer society - they love new technology, invention, so try to buy everything that is dated. If you try to write a signature to a supplier or manufacturer if you do not meet their needs or give your opinion on what you can improve.
Traditionally, the ritual was performed by the wang, the crown prince and his brothers, as well as other members of the royal family (but only men). They were also helped by some courtiers who had a high status. Today, the ritual is performed by descendants of the royal ancestral Li clan of Jeonju.
Language of the body
When you call a person to you, put your palm down and wave it, moving all your fingers. Never call anyone with your palm up, and even more so with one finger - this is how Koreans call dogs.
The first thing that falls on the Seoul subway is Koreans, all in one - in their smartphones. Who watches TV shows, who surfs the Internet, who reads or plays games. Lithuanians will be able to learn more about this contrasting country without even leaving their hometown. Days of Korea are organized in Lithuania, which will allow you to get acquainted with the culture, traditions and art of South Korea. Visitors to the event will perform a calligraphy show and traditional Korean music - pansori.
Spouses Ignia and Paul recently returned from their long-planned trip - visited three countries in three months: South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The drive for this adventure was inspired by the desire to combine work and pleasure. Why did you choose East Asia?
You can not step over the elder if he lies and rests, especially in the head area.
You can’t lie down if the elder is eating at this time.
Sitting at the table, you can not take a spoon before the elder.
You need to give something to the elder and take it from him with both hands. In general, this gesture is universal for all occasions when you give or receive something from an older person or position. For example, a store clerk always takes money and gives change with only two hands. According to the rules of etiquette, this gesture should be accompanied by a slight bow.
We chose this region to see completely different cultures than ours. Also, Igna has been interested in South Korean and Japanese food, history and culture for a number of years - he wanted to eventually experience it, not virtually, but live. How long did your preparation for the trip take? However, it may be necessary to carefully plan a three-month trip?
We bought plane tickets, found accommodation, planned trips, informed friends and relatives. It took quite a while, especially since Igna likes to be in control. However, we left room for improvisation. The most important thing was to know that we would have a place to live, we would be able to navigate in big cities. The most difficult thing is to limit ourselves, to decide what we most want to visit. We knew that due to lack of time we would not be able to make it to all corners, so we were hesitant to give up some of our holidays, such as a trip to Kuyush Island in Japan or Jeddah, South Korea.
It is a common custom to prohibit smoking in the presence of the "senior", even if the "younger" himself is in years. If the "younger" drinks alcohol at the same table with the "older", bringing the glass to his mouth, he usually turns away and covers it with his hands.
It is considered rude to pour oneself. So you deprive the owner of the table of the opportunity to show hospitality. When you are poured, a glass should be held in your right hand, and with your left hand hold your right. It's the same when you pour: the bottle is in your right hand, left hand holds the right.
First stop is South Korea. We all know what a neighboring state in the north is like, but what is life on the Southern Peninsula like? Is there tension in North Korea? While we were in South Korea, the world media was just beginning to report on the growing tension. We even got disturbing messages from parents and friends. The locals lived the way they lived - they worked, ate, traveled, had fun. They are already accustomed to such a geopolitical climate, with constant threats to sweep the country off the ground.
On the weekend when there was the biggest push in funds mass media, we went to Jond - a cozy, but rather touristy southwestern Korean city. The streets were full of happy young people and families. Everyone had a lot of fun, so we were surprised by the disturbing reports from Lithuania. True, there was one manifestation of tension that we felt. While in South Korea, we planned to book a tour of the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, but Kim Jong Yun began to limit the use of threats.
In Korea, it is considered offensive to blow your nose in public.
At the same time, it is not at all shameful to slurp at the table. So you show the owner that everything is very tasty.
It is unacceptable to stick chopsticks into food at the table. This is a gesture related to death.
If you are talking to someone, keep your hands in sight. Hiding them behind your back or in your pockets is indecent.
In Korea, it is not customary to call a person with an upturned hand or beckon with a finger. In Korea, dogs are usually called with such gestures. To call a person, this must be done with the hand with the palm facing down.
There is also a purely Korean gesture showing good location to you. This is a friendly gesture. Fold a heart with your hands (above your head, for example).
It is impossible not to mention spreading fingers in front of the lens, bringing fists to the cheeks and other aegyo.
Women often cover their faces while laughing. It is considered indecent for them to show their teeth. Now this gesture, however, is somewhat outdated.
Being in Korea you have to get used to bowing. In Asia, you can't live without it.
No touch! Koreans consider it disgraceful to be touched by anyone other than close friends. Don't hug anyone, don't pat on the back, don't put your hand on your shoulder. It is absolutely unacceptable to touch elders and people of the opposite sex.
Koreans often laugh to hide their embarrassment. Laughter can also mean fear, anger or surprise. Korean women cover their mouths when they laugh. Men don't do it.
Close same-sex Korean friends can walk hand in hand or with a hand on their shoulder. Foreigners should not do the same.
You can not sit with your legs crossed or stretch them in front of you. Feet should be on the floor. In no case should they be placed on a table or chair.
You can only give and receive items right hand(left grasp the right wrist) or with both hands.
Cover your mouth with your hand when you yawn or use a toothpick.
Familiar people stand close to each other and walk side by side. It is very rude to make a person walk behind you.
Sit and stand straight without slouching.
When a person throws his head back and sucks in air through his teeth, it means "no" or "it's very difficult."
Ondol
Traditional Korean rooms are very versatile. They have no special purpose; the same room, for example, can be both a bedroom and a dining room, etc. Almost all Koreans sit and eat on the floor, and therefore simply bring a mattress into the room or dinner table of necessity.
The floor, as a rule, is stone or concrete, and it is specially pumped under it. hot air to heat the room. Clay or cement can serve as the top layer, protecting people from harmful gases. This method of heating is called "ondol" (literally from Korean: "hot stone").
Currently circulating under the floor hot water, and the floor itself is usually covered with linoleum.
Korean cuisine
Korean cuisine is famous for its wide variety of dishes and food products used in them. AT old times Korea was an agricultural country that mainly cultivated rice, which served as the staple food of the population. Currently, in Korean cuisine, along with herbs and vegetables, different kinds meat and fish. Korean foods such as kimchi (sauerkraut), jeotgal (salted shellfish, fish or shrimp) and twenjang (soybean paste) are famous for their specific flavor and high nutritional value.
The most distinguishing feature Korean table is that all dishes are served at the same time. Traditionally, the number of snacks has varied from 3 for the lower classes to 12 for members of the royal family. Table setting changes depending on what is served on the table: noodles or a meat dish. The formal rules of table setting show the attention paid by Koreans to food and the process of eating. Compared to neighboring China and Japan, the spoon is more commonly used in Korea, especially when soups are served.
kimjang
Kimjang is the time of preparing kimchi for the winter, a special way, the secrets of which are passed down from generation to generation. Since vegetables hardly grow in Korea in winter, Kimjang is held in late autumn, supplying Koreans with their main food, kimchi, for the whole winter, as Koreans simply cannot imagine a table without it.
National clothes (hanbok)
Hanbok has been a traditional Korean garment for thousands of years. All its beauty and grace can be seen in the photographs of women dressed in hanbok.
Hanbok was a daily wear in Korea before the arrival of Western style to the country about a hundred years ago. Men wore "chogori" (jackets) along with "paji" (pants), while women wore "chogori" with "chima" (skirt). These days, hanbok is worn for holidays such as Seollal (Oriental New Year), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) or weddings.
hanbok characterized by simplicity of lines, and the absence of pockets. The women's hanbok consists of a loose skirt that wraps around the body and a bolero-like jacket. This is called chima-chogori. A skirt is called in Korean - chima, and a jacket - chogori. The male hanbok consists of a short jacket and loose-fitting trousers, called paji in Korean, which must fit snugly around the ankles. Both ensembles can be complemented by long outerwear, similar in cut to chogori, and called turumaga. On their feet, representatives of both sexes from ancient times wore poson - thick, quilted socks, as well as komusin - wide shoes with curved toes, which are easily removed and put on when entering and leaving the house. The latter circumstance is important, considering that until now in Korea it is not customary to be indoors in shoes, even home shoes.
The traditional hanbok, still worn today, is modeled after the Confucian-oriented clothing that was common during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Representatives of the yangban (hereditary aristocratic class, relying more on education and social status than for wealth) wore hanbok bright colors, sewn from plain silk, and hand-made silk in cold weather, and in hot weather - from light, permeable materials. People of humble birth were forbidden by law (as well as people owning capital) to bleach hemp and cotton in order to wear white and sometimes pale pink clothes. Therefore, they could only wear light green, gray or jet black hanbok.
traditional korean house
The traditional Korean house is called "hanok". When building such a house, a place is selected in which a person can coexist with nature. That's why natural conditions traditional Korean home include from internal structure to used building materials. Another unique feature of traditional houses is their special layout, which allows the house to be cooled in summer and heated in winter. Hot summers and cold winters led to the invention of the ondol gudeul floor heating system and the taecheon ventilated terrace. Thanks to such inventions, Koreans could endure the cold of winter and sweltering, humid summers. Such simple heating and air conditioning systems are so efficient that they are used in many homes even today.
Culture of Korea
Although the current division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South Korea has led to significant differences in the modern culture of both countries, the traditions and customs of the Korean people and the culture of Korea as a whole are the same for both countries. Let's take a closer look at the main components of Korean culture.
Dance
Long since, since the reign of the Goryeo Dynasty, in Korea great importance had a dance. There are many traditional dances such as the sword dance, the fan dance, the dance of the monk, the jester, the peasant, etc. They were performed both at the court of the emperor, and in the villages, the villagers staged performances. Now dance is not such an important part of the life of modern Korea, but there are many schools, in many universities in Korea, folk dance is taught as an academic subject.
Pakchommu - dance of fluttering butterfly wings
- Painting
Painting is an integral part of Korean culture. It has the influence of culture, but in itself it is specific and original. Of particular interest is the standing painting, which was formed during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty. They painted on silk, paper, special fabrics with vegetable, mineral paints or ink. If art painting reflected an unusual vision of the world through the eyes of an artist, then folk painting showed life and problems Everyday life. We can say that painting existed and developed in two directions, and left behind immortal creations.
Cat and butterfly. XVIII century. Artist: Kim Dong Ho
Korean garden
Few people know, but the traditional Korean garden has been around for over two thousand years. It looks like a landscape park, a person takes little part in its formation. All gardens include elements such as streams, round ponds, shaped trees, waterfalls, a rock garden, hills resembling mountains. Harmony dominates here, regardless of a particular detail. Harmony creates all the variety of shapes and sizes that are present here. Traditional Korean gardens are planted in France (Nantes), Mexico City (Chapultepec Zoo), Turkey (Ankara), Germany (Berlin), etc.
hanbok
Hanbok is a national traditional costume consisting of chogori (blouse) and chima (skirt) for women and paji for men. These are clothes for official receptions, holidays and festivals. But there are also hanboks that can be worn as casual wear. They are sewn from cheaper fabrics and are easy to care for.
Kitchen
It is known that modern culture Korea borrows more and more cultural elements every year European countries, but something remains unchanged, namely, the national cuisine. The basis, as in most Asian countries, is rice. But, nevertheless, traditional Korean cuisine has a number of distinctive, even specific features. For example, many dishes abound with spices, especially red pepper, and all because Korea is a warm and southern country, and pepper allows you to keep food fresher longer, and over time, the concepts of “tasty” and “spicy” have become synonymous. Along with pepper, seasonings such as soy sauce and soy paste are used. But koryo-saram, to give the dishes a special taste, I use coriander in large quantities.
Kimchi - spicy pickled vegetables
Holidays in Korea
Like in many countries, Korea has its own national holidays, which are usually celebrated with a special, Korean scale.
Seollal - Korean New Year
Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated on the first day lunar calendar. The weekend lasts three days, and at this time it is customary to dress up in hanbok, go to your parents or hometown, go to the seashore to meet the first rays of the sun there. Also on these days, dead ancestors are commemorated by preparing special dishes and performing a ritual called chare. In Sollal, children congratulate their parents by bowing to the floor, and the person becomes a year older.
Liberation Day
This holiday is celebrated annually in North and South Korea on August 15th. On this day, Japan liberated Korea from colonial rule. On this day, an official ceremony is held, in which many dignitaries countries. Flags of the country are hung everywhere, and according to tradition, several prisoners are pardoned on this day.
Chuseok - a festival of harvest and remembrance of ancestors
The holiday falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month Eastern calendar. Days off - the day before and the day after the holiday. A few days before the holiday, Koreans buy food and gifts, buy train and plane tickets to go to their hometown. On a holiday in the morning, they set the table and commemorate their ancestors, or they carry food to the cemetery. Sheaves of cereals are tied to the poles, thanks to the gods for the harvest, they treat the brownie. Girls and women perform the national dance kankansulle, and children and their fathers fly kites into the sky.
Korean wedding
A modern Korean wedding is neither a traditional Korean wedding nor a European one. New traditions and customs among the Korean people were formed only about fifty years ago, but they are firmly entrenched and are widely used by all Koreans.
The wedding traditions and customs of the Korean people have changed in many ways over last years. Since the sixties, it has been customary to hold a wedding ceremony in the so-called "ritual" halls. But most often weddings are held in restaurants or in hotel conference rooms. Guests arriving at the ceremony must bring a gift to the newlyweds, usually money. Also, the bride and groom have a kind of waiting room in which guests can take pictures with them. Traditional hanboks were replaced by "traditional" European outfits - Wedding Dress and a suit. A wedding is an open event. Often there is a videographer in addition to the photographer. Instead of the usual Mendelssohn march, Wagner's wedding march, which is extremely rarely used in other countries, is played. The groom enters the hall first, then the father leads the bride to the altar. The most important role in wedding ceremony played by the person conducting the ritual. Usually this is a close relative or friend of the groom. The whole ceremony lasts about half an hour, after which the young couple and guests go to a gala banquet. After it starts, the young people put on traditional outfits and go to a specially designated room where they have dinner with their parents. Usually, immediately after the wedding, the couple goes on a trip.
Tol chanchi - first birthday
The first birthday of a child is a special date. Often, preparation for this holiday begins even before the birth of the baby. On this day, a large number of guests are invited, and the ceremony itself is often arranged outside the home. Guests bring gifts to the baby, congratulate him, after which the traditional ritual begins, which determines the fate of the child. Various objects are placed on the table in front of a child dressed in hanbok, each of which has a special meaning. From what the baby picks up, his fate depends. For example, if it is a handful of cereals, then he will never starve. Threads promise a long life, and a book - a rich mind. After that, a traditional banquet begins, before which the child's parents bow to the floor, thanking the guests for coming. This is how the first birthday goes!
Thus, even today, in today's rapidly changing world, the traditions and customs of the Korean people fill the lives of Koreans with meaning and are passed down from generation to generation. After all, the economic situation can be restored, but the lost traditions and culture cannot be returned to anyone.
