Everyday Culture, Everyday Wonder
Simple traditions, rich stories.
If you enjoy pansori—the traditional Korean musical storytelling—or have heard of the movie Seopyeonje, you might wonder:
“If there’s Seopyeonje, are there also Dongpyeonje and Junggoje?”
Yes, there are!
Pansori has three main styles, shaped by region and singing technique: Dongpyeonje (Eastern Style), Seopyeonje (Western Style), and Junggoje (Central Style).
Let’s explore what makes them unique.
1. What does “je” (制) mean?
In traditional Korean music, je refers to a regional school or style. For pansori, the styles are divided by the Seomjin River.
-
Dongpyeonje: East of the Seomjin River — Namwon, Sunchang, Gurye, Gokseong
-
Seopyeonje: West of the Seomjin River — Naju, Gwangju, Damyang, Hwasun, Boseong
-
Junggoje: Central region — Chungcheong-do and parts of southern Gyeonggi
So, Seopyeonje literally means “pansori from the western region,” while Dongpyeonje means “pansori from the eastern region.”
2. Why do regions have different sounds?
Before modern transportation and communication, music didn’t travel easily.
Each region developed its own style, shaped by local culture, dialect, and emotion.
Pansori singers from each area added their own flavor and techniques, which over time became distinct traditions.
3. Masters who shaped the styles
Pansori was mostly passed down by ear—from teacher to student. Composers were rarely recorded in history.
But from the 19th century, famous master singers became known for defining each style:
-
Dongpyeonje: Song Heung-rok
-
Seopyeonje: Park Yu-jeon
-
Junggoje: Yeom Gye-dal, Kim Seong-ok
These masters refined the styles and influenced generations of singers.
4. The unique sound of each style
| Style | Character | Vocal Technique |
|---|---|---|
| Dongpyeonje | Strong and bold | Deep, heavy voice; short endings; minimal ornament |
| Seopyeonje | Emotional and lyrical | Long, flowing notes; rich ornamentation |
| Junggoje | Simple and calm | Plain, restrained tone; no extremes |
Think of Dongpyeonje as firm and powerful, Seopyeonje as expressive and emotional, and Junggoje as clean and understated.
5. Different paths, one art form
While the three styles grew in different directions, they also inspired each other.
Together, they helped pansori become one of Korea’s greatest performing arts.
Now you know why the same pansori story can sound completely different depending on the je.
Next time you hear pansori, try to guess:
“Ah, this sounds like Dongpyeonje,” or “This must be Seopyeonje.”
It will make listening even more fun.
댓글
댓글 쓰기