Seopyeonje: The Voice of Traditional Korea

A scene from film Sopyonje (서편제, 西便制, Japanese title: 風の丘を越えて―西便制（ソピョンジェ)) by director Im Kwon-taek.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopyonje

The piece sang here is from Shimcheongjeon (a tale of filial piety of a dutiful daughter).

Pansori style singing in this film is meant to express Korean people's "han" (恨, lamentation). Lamentation about the division of Korea would also fit this mould.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansori

North Korea would have maintained more traditional form of music than South. But, in South Korea, despite the explosion of K-pop style music in which little of "traditional Koreanness" is found, there are also people like film director Im who explores what may be called "Korean spirit." Not everyone may agree that "han" is at least an aspect or element of "Korean spirit." But that is what I feel.

But having used the term "Korean spirit" to refer to "han", I cannot help noticing the contrast between "Korean spirit" and "Japanese spirit." In "Japanese spirit", one senses a certain agressiveness: it is a fighting spirit. In "han", one finds grief and lamentation, a sort of victim consciousness, the kind Japanese feel for being the only victim of atomic bombs. I wonder whether "han" will ever cease to characterize the spirit of Korea.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Seopyeonje
• 서편제
• 西便制
• pansori
• han
• Korean
• spirit
• 風の丘を越えて
• ソピョンジェ

[ehdusjenny]

man, every korean videos i pass by there are always an argument involving japan or north korea. geez. just watch the video.

[melonbarmonster]

"North Korea would have maintained more traditional form of music than South." This is absolutely not true and is more evidence of a japanized view of Korean culture and an inaccurate one at that. ALL North Korean performances of anything traditionally Korean is inferior in quality although that probably has more to do with the low number of students and lack of access to training and education than anything else.

[silverakisame]

I'm not Korean, but this makes me cry for all that Korea has suffered. This was a beautiful tribute to show that in order to overcome the hardships Korea (the girl) faced in the past (her father and the patrons) and being abandoned by the future generation (her brother) in order to survive - they need both "Han" and modernization to be strong and prevent more pain.

[Lejalice]

This remains me of Cocco Rosie somehow, but this is greater, i always wanted to know more bout asian traditional music

[12ruedespompiers]

눈썹훈남

[LukaTunaLuvr03]

It had to be hard to learn this...

[FearlessHmomgGirl]

I feel my heart synchronizing with the drum

[DIJITALSON]

@youmiek im not korean, but even i cant stop my tears from flowing... I live in Japan... but i live amongst the most amazing people i have ever known... my korean family... I feel so grateful to have known such a great people so full of spirit and strength... so full of love! peace!

[youmiek]

this scene's sori just makes me cry. If you're korean, you can't help it.

[megauti]

This movie is about 18 years old I believe. It got me into love with the pansori for the first time. I remember the old (43 years ago) korea. Country was dead poor, and, you could see these pansori artists performing at the market place on the country side for little coins from the audience.

[vkvkvk1219]

I almost cried at the end

[hbanana7]

there are so little real korean beauties like her in Present Korea. Everything is so "molded," tucked, lifted and injected.