Find content
OPTIONAL - Only in:
OR search by:
Questions, Answers and VOD
For content providers

Ganggangsullae


Language: English

Ganggangsullae is a seasonal harvest and fertility ritual popular in the south-western part of the Republic of Korea, performed primarily on Korea’s Thanksgiving in the eighth lunar month. Under a bright full moon, dozens of young, unmarried village women gather in a circle, join hands and sing and dance all night under the direction of a lead singer. During interludes, the women playfully mime vignettes reflecting life in a farm or fishing village, including treading on roof tiles, unrolling a mat, catching a mouse or tying herrings. The dance takes its name from the refrain repeated after each verse, although the exact meaning of the word is unknown. Once a rare break from restrictive rules governing the behaviour of rural young women who were not allowed to sing aloud or go out at night, except during the Chuseok Thanksgiving celebration, the ritual is mostly preserved today by middle-aged women in cities and taught as part of the music curriculum of elementary schools. Now practised as a performing art throughout Korea, it can be seen as a representative Korean folk art. It is an important hereditary custom drawn from the rice culture that pervaded daily life in the countryside. The easy tunes and movements can be learned quickly for this communal practice that contributes to harmony, equality and friendship among the women dancers.


on this subject: Nomination file/Dossier de candidature


Topics and Tags
Place/region: Republic of Korea, Asia and the Pacific
Series: Inscriptions on the Intangible Heritage Lists
Type: Documentary
Duration:
Production and personalities:
Director: Kim Kwang, shik-CHA
Publisher: Cultural Heritage Administration
Published in:
Rights: Cultural Heritage Administration
 

   LICENSING: for inquiries about licensing this material, please contact the rights holder or the authors directly. You may also wish to consult our FAQs 4 to 7

Original: DVD
Location: EV only
UMVS reference: AVFONDS-CLTITH-2009-0018800006
Source ref.: DOC:00703-EN, CAND:00188
Rights holder: UNESCO ; Cultural Heritage Administration