Hello and a very good evening to all of my viewers and readers, based on my topic you can already make a guess about what I'm going to talk about, right? You are correct. It is about Korea. But it ain't about KPOP, but deeper than that. Let's join me to look up for more information about Korea.
KOREAN CULTURES
There is one culture in Korea name Han Style. It was divided into six parts which are Hangeul Alphabet, Hansik Cuisine, Hanbok Clothing, Hanok House, Hanji Paper and Hanguk Eumak. It is called as Han style is because all of their names are started with Han.
1. Hangeul Alphabet.
The Korean alphabet, a very scientific writing system that has been designated by UNESCO as an important part of the Memory of the World Heritage. As a result of the Korean Wave and Korea 's economic prosperity, the desire to learn hangeul and the Korean language is exploding.
2. Hansik Cuisine
Korean food continues to gain popularity throughout the world for its incredible health benefits.
3. Hanbok Clothing
The focus of attention when Daejanggeum (Jewel in the Palace), a TV drama on royal court cuisine, became popular in Asia. Modifications of the exquisite colors and designs of the hanbok are also used as motifs in all Korean-style designs.
4. Hanok House
Many international visitors are showing interest in the traditional Korean home, hanok as they want to experience ondol, the Korean floor heating system very effective in the cold winter. Ondol is an important aspect of Korea' s unique architectural style, and brought floor heating into vogue globally.
5. Hanji Paper
A traditional form of paper that can last for over one thousand years and is known for its outstanding quality and elegant designs. The paper is drawing attention not only for record-keeping purposes but also for interior decoration and for it’s uses in paper wrapping.
6. Hanguk Eumak (music)
Traditional Korean music that has slow-rhythm and sentimental lyrics that epitomize the sad history of Korea. Such unique Korean sentiments had significant influence on Korean popular music and drama and are an important driver of the Korean Wave.
more info: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AKR/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=908923
The next culture that I would like to talk about is Korean birthday celebration.
1. Doljanhi
This is the most popular birthday celebration in Korea. Dol is celebrated for the first birthday of a child. When Korea had little medicinal knowledge, many newborns would die from childhood diseases or because of Korea’s seasonal temperature differences. When a child lived to be a year old during that period, it was a very joyous occasion.
2. Saei-rye (세이레)
The baby's well-being is celebrated 21 days after the birth with a meal of white rice, Miyeok guk (Miyeok seaweed soup), and Baekseolgi (white rice cake tteok). The Baekseolgi symbolizes sacredness. By this time, the baby and mother are still recovering from birth, so people were not allowed to see them. However, close family members are met and prayed for the healthy recovery of the baby's mother on this day.
3. Baek-il (백일)
Another birthday celebration is Baek-il (100th-day celebration). During this celebration, the family worships Samshin. They make her offerings of rice and soup for having cared for the infant and the mother, and for having helped them live through a difficult period. They give thanks toSamshin and also pray for jae-ak (wealth), longevity, and cho-bok (traditional word for "luck"). After the prayer the family, relatives and friends celebrate with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with sugar or honey. In order to protect the child, red bean rice cakes are placed at the four compass points of the house. This not only brought protection, but was also believed to bring good fortune and happiness. It is widely believed that if 100 people share the rice cakes the child will live a long life, so the family would also send rice cakes to neighbors and others. Those who receive rice cakes return the dishes with lengths of thread (expressing the hope for longevity), rice and money (symbolizing future wealth).
4. Hwangap (환갑)
When a person turns 60, there was a celebration known as hwangap. This was considered an auspicious year, since when someone turned 60 the sexagenary cycle of the Korean zodiac is complete. Each person is born under one of the twelve zodiac animals. It takes 60 years for the zodiac animal and the element under which one is born to align. Another reason that hwangap is so important is that many years ago (before the advent of modern medicine), it was uncommon for a person to live 60 years. Hwangap is now celebrated on the 70th birthday instead, since most people live to be 60. There is a celebration; children honor their parents with a feast and merrymaking. Part of the celebration involves the children of the birthday celebrant; starting with the eldest, they bow and offer wine to their parents. After the children give their respects to their parents, their children show respect to them; again starting with the eldest, in the same way. While these rituals are being carried out, traditional music is played and professional entertainers sing songs, encouraging people to drink. In order to make the recipient of the hwangap feel young, adults and teens dress in children’s clothing. They also sing children's songs and dance children's dances.
5. Coming-of-age rites
A less well-known birthday celebration is when a boy or girl reaches their adult age (20 for the boy and 15 for the girl). When a boy turned into an adult he would tie his hair into a top knot and be given a Gat (traditional cylindrical Korean hat made of horsehair). He would be required to lift a heavy rock as a test of his strength. If he can lift and move the rock, he is considered a man. A girl would become an adult by rolling her braided hair into a chignon bun and fixing it with a Binyeo, a long ornamental hairpin
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