Size

23cmx140cm(length)

Materials

upper board-paulownia wood, lower board-chestnut wood, the finest silk- thread

Features

carefully selected materials, elaborating coating and using best-quality silk-thread

The origin of the Kayagum goes back to the Three Han Period of Korean history. Then, around 560 AD, King Kashil of the Kaya Kingdom, influenced by the music of Dang China, refined the instrument and ordered maestro Uruk to compose twelve pieces for it. On the resonant trunk made of paulownia tree, twelve strings are placed supported by goose’s foot shaped frets. The instrument is divided into two kinds: "Jeong-ak (Beop-keum or Poongryu)’ Kayagum and "sanjo" Kayagum. The former type sounds by pushing or filliping strings while the latter sounds plucking or filliping. Kayagum is widely regarded feminine instrument in that it has a light and elegant sounds. The jeong-ak Kayagum is used in the large-scale chamber music such as Yeomin-rak’ or ‘Pyungjo-Hoisang’ or to accompany lyric songs or ‘Se-ak’ like ‘Cheon-nyun Manse’ or ‘Boheo-sa’. The sanjo Kayagum is used in folk and improvisational musical pieces such as sanjo (solo music with drum accompaniment) and shinawi (improvisational ensemble music). Besides these two kinds of gayakeum, there is reformed style Kayagum equipped with broader compass and diverse sounds.

In Japan, Kayagum is known as Shilla-keum (or Shilla-gi-go-do) on ground that it was introduced by the person of Shilla Kingdom. At present, Shilla-keum is kept in Jeongchang-won in Nara, Japan.

Poongryu Kayagum is often played to accompany lyric song along with Komungo (a 6-stringed zither). Kayagum sanjo is most famous instrument in Korea and abroad due to the popularity of Sanjo in which Kayagum is played as the solo instrument.

Size

23cmx165cm (long)

Materials

paulownia tree, chestnut tree and best quality silk-thread

Features

The instrument has a deep and resonating sound by using the specially selected best-quality materials and thread.

Komungo or hyeon-geum, was invented around 550 AD by Wang San-ak, a famous musician of the Koguryo Kingdom who remodeled seven Hyun-geum of China and composed many songs for his new instrument. When he played it in the presence of the king, amazingly, a black crane was fled there and danced to his songs. That’s why they called his instrument 'Hyun-hark-geum’: crane string instrument.' Later, it was changed as 'Komungo'. After the United Shilla Kingdom, the instrument was handed down. Many musicians including Ok-bo-go used it and made it popular. It was one of Sam-hyun (three important strings) in the era of United Shilla Kingdom along with Kayagum and Dang-bipa.

On the resonant trunk made of paulownia tee, 6 silk strings with different thickness are placed and 16 Gwae (fret). The names of strings are Dae-hyun, Mun-hyun, Mu-hyun, Gwaesang-cheong, Gigwae-cheong and Yu-hyun in the order of thickness. The front face is made of paulownia wood and the rear face, hard chestnut wood. The plectrum is made of bamboo grown beside sea.

The method of performance is that the fingers of left hand place on the Gwae for control of pitch and the right hand makes sound by beating or plucking the strings with a stick called 'Sul-Dae' grasped between the index finger and the middle finger.

Size

39cm(long)x130cm(wide)

Materials

Paulownia wood and best-quality silk-thread

Features

Using hard paulownia wood and best-quality silk-thread make heavy and magnificent sound possible.

Ajaeng was introduced to Korea from Ming, China in 1389 during the reign of King Kongyang of the Koryo dynasty, and later remodeled during the reign of King Sejong of the Chosun dynasty. The materials are the same as those of the Komungo (a 6-stringed zither) or Kayagum. Ajaeng has 7 to 9 strings with different thickness supported frets and play on the support called ‘Chosang’. Its bow is made of a peeled branch of forsythia painted with pine resin.

Ajaeng is classified into two kinds at present :Jeong-ak and Minsok-ak.

The former style Ajaeng sounds rough but magnificent, wide and heavy. Since it produces the most heavy sound of all traditional instruments, it creates fantastic atmosphere and use in ensemble of A-ak or ensemble of wind instruments like Boheoja (Waling in the void), Nagyangch’un (Spring in Loyang), Samhyunyoungsang-Hoisang and Dong-dong. It also plays in the large-scale concert of wind and string instruments like Yomillak (Enjoyment with the people) and Pyungjo-hoi-sang etc. Sanjo Ajaeng is used in ensemble of folk music as well as solo instrument.

In Koryo dynasty, ajaeng only played in Dang-ak(a kind of national music which was based on Chinese music), but since the reign of King Sungjong of Chosun dynasty, it have used in both Dang-ak and Haying-ak(a kind of folk music).

Size

12cm(long)x67cm(wide)

Materials

Resonant trunk made of bamboo root and best-quality silk-thread

Features

UBy using best quality bamboo root and silk-thread, the instrument’s specific soft and clean sound is made.

Haegeum is an instrument introduced from Sung, China in 1114 AD during the reign of King Yejong of the Koryo dynasty. On top of a small resonant trunk with a diameter of about 10 centimeters, there is a bamboo stick that is about 66 centimeters in length. And on the stick are two strings, which are supported by ‘Wonsan’. A bow made of horsehair coated with pine resin. By holding this bow in the right hand, the performer makes sound by rubbing the bow against these strings. It is amazing how much diverse timbre it produces only with these two strings.

After its introduction, it was used for both Hyang-ak and Dang-ak, but, according to the book written in the period of King Sungjong of the Chosun dynasty, it only used in Hyang-ak and called ‘Danggu’. It can produce high and low pitched sound freely. Its soft and clean sound fascinates peoples’ mind.

This instrument is most widely used in traditional music performance both in Jeong-ak(chamber music) and folk music like Hapju, Sanjo and Gagok (lyric song) as an accompaniment. It is classified in string instrument, but always played in the part of wind instrument.