[Jeonju] - Sound Culture Center & Oriental Medicinal Culture Center

Annyeong~! Really sorry for taking so much time to update my 2015 trip. My previous post stop at Jeonju Village that retains its historical charms and tradition...

Hi, welcome back~!^^

 Jeonju SORI Culture Center (전주 소리문화관).

Jeonju is home to Pansori, a UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This hanok-style house is Jeonju SORI Culture Center (Jeonju Sound Culture Center). It's built to raise the cultural superiority of Jeonju and to lead the new Pansori culture.

A diversity of such Pansori related performances can be found at this Culture Center. On top of that,  visual records of pansori, and other various historical records are on display at the memorial hall. But, sadly it was not opened when we're there.

Performing stage and hall.

I searched google images and saw they often have performances here. Hope next time I'll be lucky enough to catch Pansori performance at night, because it looks so beautiful! Behind the stage is the hall for classes, experiences and seminars. 

Elegant hanok pavilion (정자) is the perfect spot for resting and 

enjoying the charming surrounding and pleasant ambience.

 The pavilion is nestling on top of wishing pond with a lot of koi fish. 

My hubby was busy snapping photos of me in hanbok, while kids trying to throw the coins inside the pair of traditional Korean shoes (화혜장 = Hwahyejang). ;P

I really like beautiful Korean pavilion.

You should check these big pavilions offering beautiful surrounding and awesome views of Jeonju Hanok Village: 

~ Omokdae Pavilion (오목대)

~ Cheongyeonru Pavilion (청연루)

~ Hanbyeokdang Pavilion (한벽당)

  Add: 56, Hanji-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do.

 Operating hours: 10:00-19:00 (Closed on Mondays).

 Website: sori.jjcf.or.kr (Korean only).

 Random Photos: Fortune Teller Machine and

beautiful calligraphy for road signs.

Now, let's check out another interesting Culture Center: 

Oriental Medicinal Culture Center (우석대전주한방문화센터).

This Oriental medicine and Oriental pharmacy is connected to the traditional living culture and oriental medicinal culture center.

Legendary Physicians in Traditional Korean Medicine (Hanbang).

Thanks to Sageuk dramas, out of these 5 famous physicians at least I know Heo Jun. He's frequently protrayed in Sageuk dramas. The recent fantasy medical drama, Live Up to Your Name, Dr. Heo, he did travel to modern Korea. Heo Im, a great accupunture physician also had the same experience.

Heo Jun (허준) was a court physician during the reign of King Seonjo of the Joseon Dynasty. He wrote a number of medical texts, but his most significant achievement is Dongui Bogam (Mirror of Eastern Medicine). It's the first book on medicine to be inscribed on the Memory of the World Register by UNESCO which spread to East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam where it is still regarded as one of the classics of Oriental medical encyclopedia.

Although he worked extensively with the royal family, he put a great emphasis on making treatment methods accessible and comprehensible to common people. He found natural herb remedies that were easily attainable by commoners and wrote the names of the herbs using the simple hangul letters instead of hanja (Chinese characters).

Googled on Yi Je-ma (이제마), he was a Korean medicine scolar in Late Choseon who founded the study of Sasang medicine. Hhe claimed that Because each person's natural constitution is different, the same disease must be treatd differently.

 

Korean Oriental medicine sees the human body as 

a miniature of universe based on the concept of yin and yang.

There are 4 seasons, people have 4 limbs. There are 5 elements and human have 5 organs. There are 6 poles in the universe and human have 6 bowels. There are 9 points in universe, and we have 9 body openings. The day is diveded by 12 hours, and we have 12 energy points. In the year there are 365 days, human beings have 365 joints (acupoints). 

The mind must be under control to treat disease. Patient must let go of negative thoughts and leave the body in peace. If one's mind merges with the universe, one will find peace and health.

It studies O-haeng (5 elements) comprising the universe: geum (metal and rock), mok (wood), su (water), hwa (fire), and to (earth). It also studies the process of Yuk-gi (6 Atmospheric Influences) in the realm of natural science: pung (wind), han (cold), yeol (heat), hwa (fire), seup (humidity), and jo (dryness).  Therefore, illnesses is treated holistically to the entire body and not locally.

 Antique Medicine Cabinets and knife for slicing medicinal herbs 

similar to those found in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Various types of medicinal herbs.

Aromatherapy Essential Oil and Candles.

Besides Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and consuming Herbal medicine, Oriental treatments also include Aromatherapy by treating bodily ailments using essential plant oils and Meditation to relax and calm body and mind.

I'm always amazed how the physician know what's wrong with the body 

just simply put their 3 fingers on the hand to diagnose the pulses!!!

 

Hanbok Rental also available inside this cultural center.

Beautiful jeogori and chimas...

 

Traditional Hanbok Rental Fee: 1.5 hours ₩5,000 / 4 hours ₩10,000.

Uhwudong Hanbok Rental Fee: 1.5 hours ₩20,000 / 4 hours ₩30,000.

Add: 53, Eunhaeng-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si 

Phone: 063-232-2500

Happy kids queueing to buy cute candy floss outside the center.

Visit Korea Special VIP Tour [Day 2-8]

I was addicted to Korean traditional musical performance after I watched 'Fantastick' show. It's like a wish came true to watch another famous show. 

 

 Jeongdong Theater (정동 극장).

 

Before watching Miso: Baebijang-jeon (배비장전), 

we attended a class on how to play Janggu. 

The teacher introduced us this percussion instrument.

Janggu (장구) is Korean Traditional hourglass-shaped drum. To play the janggu, you'll need beating sticks (chae): Gungchae and Yeolchae.

It's like learning Korean language... we're asked to repeat what the teacher said:

Jang~gu, Gung~chae and Yeol~chae, Janggu~chae.

Then we're taught on how to hold the sticks properly:

1. Gungchae on left hand. If you beat it on the janggu it'll make 'Gung' sound.

2. Yeolchae on right hand. If you beat it on the janggu it'll make 'Ttak' sound.

3. Gungchae + Yeolchae together will make 'Dong' sound.

Then, we  practiced to beat a set of rhythm - Jangdan (장단):

'Dong ~ Dong ~ Gung ~ Ttak ~ Gung'.

Now we seemed more professional as the teacher taught us a bit of 

hand variation to beat Gungchae on the right side of Janggu.

After that we learned another 3 sets of basic rhythms: 

1. 'Dong ~ Ttak ~ Ttak ~ Gung ~ Tak ~ Gung'

2. Dong dong dong~~~ dong!

3. Dong ~ Dong ~ (pause) ~ Dong ~ Dong (pause) ~ Dong Dong Dong ~ Dong Dong

The class ended after we played from first to forth rhythm in one go. 박수~!!! 

It's not hard nor easy too. Well, kinda tricky especially when I've to think which hand to hit the Janggu when changing the rhythms. But it's really fun and everyone enjoyed the class because the teacher was really nice and passionate to teach us how to play this folk percussion instrument.

 Yes! Certificate for completing Janggu class. 

(Maybe I can apply job as Janggu performer in Korea) ;P

  
 We were to leave the theater after the class, as they need to prepare the stage.


 Ticket counter open at 7:00 pm for 8:00 pm show.

 Tourists and locals were waiting for the show.

Quite a lot of people inside the hall, so I went outside to take some photos.

 
Secretary Bae (배비장) and District Magistrate (사또).

In the bus, Kim eonni told us meaning of Miso (미소 = Smile) and synopsis of newly created traditional performance of Baebijang-jeon (裵裨將傳 / The Story of Secretary Bae).

Baebijang-jeon is based on classical satire novel of the Joseon Dynasty. It evokes laughter by alluding to the hypocrisy of Secretary Bae who act that he's not interested with beautiful gisaeng and just concentrating in his study.

 Yangban and Giseang lifestyle in Hanyang (capital of Joseon Dynasty).

 

He's appointed as secretary in charge of culture and art. 

He and the Jeju new district magistrate (Satto) sailing to Jeju Island. 

  

Aerang, the most beautiful gisaeng in Jeju that causing

 Hareubang (Stone Statue) to wake up and horses to 

gallop (not Psy's horse-dance) towards her scent.

Secretary Bae doesn’t mingle with the people at the welcoming party of the new magistrate. Instead, he goes around scolding the other secretaries for socializing with gisaengs (courtesans). Satto was curious and wanted to test Secretary Bae. He ordered the male servant to ask Aerang to seduce him.

Aerang's seduction at the waterfall in Hallasan.

Will he be immune to Aerang's seduction as he promised his wife not to have love scandal before he went to Jeju Island?!

I love Baebijiang-jeon show because of its unique and interesting scenario. It's also vividly reviving the style of Joseon era with beautiful and colorful hanbok of Gisaeng, Satto, Yangban, Court dancers.  and nice setting of matching backgrounds according to the storyline.

 

It's so cool that they have using Traditional instruments such as janggu, buk (barrel drum),
jing (gong), Haegeum, Gayageum, and modern drum for live performance.

I was sitting on the second or third row, so I could see those musical performers playing those instruments and creating such an amazing and fantastic sound effects for the whole show.

Not only that, you feel like watching several Gugak and Pungmulnori performances in the show. There were few representative folk dances such as Ogomu (five drum dance), Court Dance Hwa-gwan mu (flower crown dance), Sangmo Dance (pinning streamer hat performance).

 One of the famous painting of Shin Yun Bok also appeared on the 

screen when Secretary Bae and his maid walking to Aerang's house.

 

This live performance brought smiles to everyone... No wonder it's called MISO~! 

When I watched Baebijiangjeon, it reminded me on K-drama 'Arang and the Magistrate.'

Because newly appointed Jeju Magistrate's uniform similar to Satto Kim Eun-oh in the drama. And the leading female performer's name (애랑 / Ae-rang) sounded very similar to Arang (아랑). 

 

We received Souvenirs from Jeongdong Theater:

Miso Program Book with special fabric cover and cap.

You can purchase the the souvenirs at the counter. When I saw the scented candle in the jar, I was so sad. I won it from their contest, but I didn't replay as I only noticed the message after the cut off time. ㅠㅠ

Jeondong Theater Instagram contest: 

Beautiful photo about Korea.

Website: www.jeongdong.or.kr

Add: 43 Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.

Phone: +82 2-751-1500

I just noticed from the map that Jeongdong Theater is located between Deoksugung and Kyunhyang Newspaper building. If you have time, I'll recommend you to watch 'Baebijiangjeon' and 'Fantastick' Shows. In between the show, you can visit Deoksu Palace and have your meal at the restaurants or coffee shops at famous Doldamgil (Stone wall street).

This trip is made possible by VisitKorea organised by Korea  Tourism Organization.