Special Joint Exhibition of the National Museum of Korea and National Gugak Center, ‘Korean Traditional Musical Instruments and Music’

 

ㅇExhibited artifacts

- Artifacts: Gilt bronze incense burner from the Baekje period (National Treasure No. 287), long-necked earthenware jar with figurines (National Treasure No. 195), Goryeo celadon janggu (drum), and others
- Scores: Geumhapjabo, the oldest extant music book for geomungo (Treasure No. 283), Daeakhubo (Late Great Music Score, Treasure No. 1291)
- Paintings: Musinjinchandobyeong (folding screen, 1848), Mudong (dancing boy) by Kim Hong-do (Treasure No. 527)
- Musical instruments: Takyeonggeum (six-string instrument; National Treasure No. 957), pyeonjong (serial bells) of the Joseon Dynasty, pyeongyeong (traditional percussion instrument, a kind of stone chime or lithophone), Heungseon Daewongun beopgeum (law-zither)

 

 

This exhibition is meaningful in that it has brought together Korean musical instruments that hold an important place in the history of music and relevant scores, publications, and paintings on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the National Gugak Center. Visitors will see how Korean musical instruments and music developed through the ages, from prehistoric times to the present. 

 

The exhibition has three parts. 

 

 

Part 1 ‘From Sound to Music’
The first part features the origins and process of change of musical instruments from prehistoric times to the Goryeo Kingdom. On display are bronze bells in various forms that were used in the prehistoric age for harvest rituals and festivals. Also on display is a musical instrument unearthed in Sinchang-dong, Gwangju that is the earliest known string instrument along with a replica. The exhibition also features artifacts related to musical instruments of Three Kingdoms period including a jar decorated with clay dolls from the Silla period (National Treasure No. 195) and scenes of performing musical instruments. Visitors will be able to better understand the music and musical instruments of the Silla, Goguryeo, and Baekje Kingdom. 
 

Bronze bells

(unearthed in Daegok-ri, Hwasun-gun, South Jeolla Province and other locations)
 

A Jar with clay dolls playing the geomungo (six-stringed Korean zither)

National Treasure No. 195

 

 

Part 2 ‘Establishment and Development of Korean Music’
The second part shows the development of music and musical instruments during the Joseon Kingdom through various relics. The musical instruments and documents from the reign of King Sejong are displayed to show how court music, based on Confucianism, became more systemized. The 『Geumhapjabo』 (Treasure No. 283), the oldest extant music score for geomungo, provides insight into Jangakwon, a bureau of music that supervised musical activities at Joseon-era palaces, and its musicians. 

 

Geumhapjabo (Treasure NO. 283)

the oldest extant music score for geomungo

 

 

Part 3 ‘Korean People and Music’
In the third section are displayed musical instruments that were played by scholars who were the philosophical and cultural leaders of the Joseon Dynasty as well as paintings of scholars performing the musical instruments. With the help of several families, different geomungo have come together to be exhibited in one place, including the Takyeonggeum (Treasure No. 957) of Kim Il-son that embodies the breath of Joseon scholars. Also exhibited is the ‘Mudong’ by Kim Hong-do and the three string instruments and six wind instruments depicted in the painting. 
  

Geomungo – Takyeonggeum (Treasure No. 957) and others

 

Mudong by Kim Hong-do