Korean Storytelling - Pansori

 Pansori

Pansori (판소리; pansori) is a Korean cultural art, something like a storytelling in English culture which is believed to have been inherited since the 18th-century during the reign of  King Yeongjo of the Joseon dynasty. It performed by a singer and a drummer. Then, it becomes Korean National Intangible Culture Heritage since 28 December 1964 and as UNESCO's Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of Korea on 7 November 2003. Firstly a folk entertainment for the lower-class peoples, it then became for elite peoples too since the 19th century. Pansori has been the start idea of the nowadays K-pop trends.

Pansori tales tell about moral issues, a valuable lesson, and illustrate ancient Koreans' believe in karma in their own unique way. Pansori mixes body movements and songs to the accompaniment of a drummer. It originally called "sori" (소리) that means sound, "taryeong" (타령), "japga" (잡가), "geukga" (극가), "clown song", or "changgeukjo" (창극조; 唱劇調). Then, it began to called as the "Sound of Han" during the late 20th century.

A singer/changja (창자, 唱者) wear a "gat" (갓), leather shoes, hold a fan or handkerchief; while the drummer/gosu (고수, 鼓手) wear a "durumagi" (두루마기) and "gat" (갓).

Type

There are 12 sounds/yards in Pansori before 1810, but becomes only 5 during Shin Jae-hyo's reign and restored into 12 again during the 18th-century. The original entire version must be perform about ten hours, musicians can only perform only half by highlight the most popular parts.

History

• Origin (17th-century)

Pansori was performed firstly by shamans or street performers, and watched by lower-classes people, while development on the Honam Region.

• Expansion  (18th-century)

Chunhyangga believed to be the most famous Pansori performed in Honam in 1754 and elite-classes people started to watch Pansori.

• Golden Age (19th-century)

Shin Jae-hyo becomes one of the popular key people, as Pansori's researcher and patron.

• Decline (20th-century)

Pansori started to performed indoors and staged like Western Operas. Many female singers perform the Pansori yet censored by the Japanese government for Korean nationalism. Many Pansori combinations were created in the 1990s, such as: Pansori-reggae, Pansori-classical music, Pansori-rap.

• Resurgence (21st-century)

Pansori becomes Korean National Intangible Culture Heritage since 28 December 1964 and UNESCO's Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of Korea on 7 November 2003.

School Type (제, 制)

• Dongpyeonje (동편제, 東便制; Eastern Type)

Based on Unbong, Gurye, Sunchang, Heungdeok areas. It focused on natural and real singer's voice volume.

• Seopyeonje (서편제, 西便制; Western Type)

Based on Naju, Haenam, Boseong areas. It focused on sad and resentful feelings of the music yet colorful singer's voice volume.

• Junggoje

It focused on the medium voice volume and started in a low voice while slowly higher and higher.

Quality (목&성)

Mok (목) is the type of tune and singing and Seong/Sung (성) is the sound quality.

Now, there are two group of Pansori: Orthodox Pansori and Touristic Pansori.