Customer Reviews

Korean Intangible Cultural Properties: Traditional Music and Dance

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This is an important walk through traditional Korean song and dance. I am so glad that this book has been compiled to preserve the history and background of these cultural treasures. I don't know of any other book that combines all this information on Korean music like Pansori (Narrative Solo Singing), Daechwita (Traditional Military Music), Hyangje Julpungnyu (Buddhist Ceremonial Music). Music from the different regions like Jeju Island, Northwest Region Gyeonggi Region are discussed too. There's also the Dance of Peace, the Crane and Lotus Flower Dance, the Monk dance and even Taekgyuen (Traditional Martial Art). I've seen some of these dances and songs performed, but knowing the history behind it makes the experience so much richer. Very interesting. Very unique.

I've read many, even most of the books on Korean culture. This book could have been useful and interesting, but instead I found it to be superficial. Sure, some of the photos are good, but many terms are not defined. If you know a lot about Korean culture, you'll find it frustratingly sparse, if you know little you'll find it frustratingly full of words you're not familiar with that aren't adequately explained.