Everyday Culture, Everyday Wonder
When the Silla kingdom unified the Three Kingdoms of Korea, a new era of cultural harmony began. This was especially true for music. Silla's native music, which often featured the Gayageum (a 12-string zither), began to absorb the diverse musical traditions of the Goguryeo and Baekje kingdoms. This fusion led to a rich and varied musical landscape. Instruments like the Geomungo (a 6-string zither) and the Bipa (a pear-shaped lute) became popular alongside the Gayageum.
Adding to this cultural mix, Silla widely embraced Buddhist traditions and music from China, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. This open-mindedness allowed a beautiful blend of native and foreign sounds to flourish.
Ok-bogo, the Master of the Geomungo
A key figure in the development of Silla music was Ok-bogo, a musician who dedicated his life to the Geomungo. Born into a noble family, he gave up his privileged life to live on Mount Jirisan for 50 years, where he perfected his craft.
Ok-bogo composed over 30 new pieces, including Sangwongok and Noin-gok, playing a crucial role in passing down the Geomungo tradition in Silla. His passion and mastery helped popularize this instrument across the kingdom.
Manpasikjeok: The Flute That Saved a Nation
The story of the Manpasikjeok is one of Silla's most famous legends. King Munmu of Silla wished to become a dragon to protect the nation after his death. One day, a strange island appeared in the East Sea, splitting and rejoining, with a bamboo tree doing the same.
Upon hearing this, King Sinmun went to the sea, where a dragon appeared and instructed him to make a musical instrument from the bamboo. This new flute was called Manpasikjeok, meaning "a flute that calms ten thousand waves." The legend says that whenever the flute was played, it could stop floods, bring rain during droughts, and even repel foreign invaders. This legendary flute is believed to be the origin of the modern Korean Daegeum, a large bamboo flute.
During this period, Silla music was often performed by the Samhyeon Samjuk (三絃三竹), a trio of string instruments (Geomungo, Gayageum, and Bipa) and a trio of wind instruments (Daegeum, Junggeum, and Sogeum). This combination formed the foundation of the royal court's musical ensembles, beautifully blending native and foreign musical traditions.
Cheoyongmu: A Dance to Ward Off Evil Spirits
The story of Cheoyong shows how integrated foreign cultures were in Silla. Cheoyong was a foreigner who was welcomed by the king and given a high position. One night, he returned home to find his wife with a plague deity. Instead of getting angry, he sang and danced, moving the deity so much that the god promised never to enter a place with Cheoyong's image again.
This event led to the creation of the Cheoyongmu dance and song, which became popular throughout Silla. People would hang Cheoyong's mask on their doors to protect against evil spirits. This tradition highlights Silla's rich cultural exchange and the power of art to unite and protect.
Beompae: Buddhist Chants and the Monk Wonhyo
As Buddhism became the dominant religion in Silla, Beompae (Buddhist ritual chants) flourished. Beompae originated in India and traveled through China before arriving in Korea. It gradually evolved, blending with Korean musical styles.
One of the most influential figures in Korean Buddhism was Wonhyo. He gained enlightenment after drinking water from a skull, realizing that "everything depends on the mind." He chose not to go to China for study, but instead, he spread the teachings of Buddhism among the common people.
Wonhyo used a gourd to create a unique song called Muehga. Mueh means "unhindered" or "free from worldly attachments." He sang and danced to the rhythm of his gourd, making complex Buddhist teachings simple and accessible to everyone. This unique form of performance, blending music and philosophy, was a key reason for Buddhism's widespread acceptance in Silla.
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