Culture of Arirang(양장본 Hardcover)

The central feature of Bonjo Arirang, which is also known to foreigners, is its very simple article and melodical pattern. Such simplicity is its strongpoint since it allows the song to be easily learned and sung by whomever. But 'Arirang is not simple.' Arirang is not a folk song. Arirang is not merely a song. Arirang is an independent genre and a culture that holds the three spirits of resistance, unity, and co-existence.

This book's basic view is to approach Arirang not as a folk song, but as social culture; thus Arirang culture. There is something I wish to obtain through this book. Rather than solve an issue concerning Arirang, I wish to contribute in raising meaning questions for the general public and foreigners. Especially, I'd like to provide questions to the UNESCO committee and North Korean researchers.



외국인까지 알고 있는 본조아리랑은 사설과 선율의 양식(패턴)이 매우 단순하다는 데 그 핵심이 있다. 이러한 단순성은 누구나 쉽게 배워서 어렵지 않게 부를 수 있다는 장점이기도 하다. 그러나 '아리랑은 단순하지 않다'. 아리랑은 민요만이 아니다. 아리랑은 노래만은 아니다. 아리랑은 독립 장르이고, 저항ㆍ대동ㆍ상생이라는 세 가지 정신을 담은 문화이다.

이 책의 기본 시각은 민요사로서의 아리랑에 대한 접근이 아닌 사회'문화사'로서의 아리랑 문화에 접근하는 것이다. 이 책을 통해 얻고자 하는 것이 있다. 아리랑에 대한 어떤 논점을 해결하기보다는 일반인들과 외국인들이 아리랑에 대한 의미 있는 질문을 가능하게 하는 데 기여함이다. 특히 세계유네스코 위원들과 북한의 연구자들에게 아리랑의 질문거리를 제공해 주었으면 한다.

Author's Preface For a Meaningful Questioning on Arirang

Translator's Preface For an understanding of the various modes of Arirang



Chapter 1. The History of Arirang

1. Reading Arirang through Arirang

⑴ The Concept of Arirang Culture

⑵ The genesis of Arirang and its background

⑶ Naming by Background of Transmission and Function

⑷ Identity, the Gene of Unity; the Chorus

⑸ The Change of Arirang's Characteristics



2. The Emergence of Modern Folk Song Arirang

⑴ Dependency towards History, 'Shinsung Yumgok, Arirang Taryung'

⑵ A Flamboyant Dedication, 'Arirang is Rice'

⑶ Arirang, The Public Media Noticed by the Japanese Empire



3. Arirang Culture, the Kaleidoscope of Modern History

⑴ The Birth of the Movie 〈Arirang〉 and Theme Song 〈Arirang〉

⑵ The Story of The Movie 〈Arirang〉

⑶ Na Wungyu and the Funeral Song

⑷ 'All Songs Commute through Arirang'

⑸ The Imperial Subjectivization Policy of the Japanese Government-General of Joseon, 〈Emergency Arirang〉

⑹ Arirang's Lost of Integrity, the Musical Drama 〈Arirang〉

⑺ The Arirang Cultural Movement

⑻ Diaspora Arirang, Imprinted in Overseas Korean Communities



4. The Path of Continuity and Modification

⑴ The Modes and Diffusion of Arirang in Japga Collections

⑵ Diffusion Through Musical Recordings

⑶ Diffusion Through Broadcasting

⑷ Diffusion Through Popular Song Collections



5. The Bonjo Arirang Period

⑴ The Status of Arirang, Bonjo Arirang

⑵ From the Theme Song 〈Arirang〉 to Bonjo Arirang

⑶ Being Used After the Late 1940's

⑷ Bonjo Means the Status of the Representative



Chapter 2. The Diffusion of Arirang and It's Modes

1. The Kinds of Arirang and Their Regional Diffusion

⑴ Arirang, One Yet Many and Same Yet Different

⑵ The Regional Diffusion of Arirang

⑶ Classification of North Korean Folk Songs and Arirang

⑷ Korean Communities Overseas



2. The Nature of Arirang of Each Region and Their Stories

⑴ Arirang Hill is Mungyung Seje?

⑵ Arirang of Seoul and Seoul Arirang

⑶ The Sori of Lives, The Song of A Thousand Years Jungsun Arari

⑷ Jindo Arirang that 'Cannot Be Well-Sung by All'

⑸ Milyang Arirang that Exhibits Contemporariness

⑹ Arirang of North Korea

⑺ Arirang, Succession Towards Unification

Kim YeonGap