E2024-G118

Gwangju’s Farmers’ Music: Community Solidarity for Agricultural Abundance

Narrative

Farmers’ performances, called nongak in Korean, are a popular performing art derived from communal rituals and rustic entertainment that combine a percussion ensemble and sometimes wind instruments, parading, dancing in various formations, skits, and acrobatic feats. These performances are closely tied to traditional folk religion and were held on special occasions to appease local guardian deities, ward off evil spirits, and to wish for and celebrate a prosperous harvest.

The farmers’ performance of Gwangsan consists of various performances that have been passed down for generations in Gwangju, including in Sochon-dong, Sanwol-dong, Mareuk-dong, and Chilseok-dong. It is representative of the western Jeolla-do style of farmers’ performances. Depending on the scale of the event, the number of participants can range from 20-30 people up to 50-70 people. The performers are divided into two groups: musicians and actors. The musicians play percussion and wind instruments used in Korean folk music such as the small gong (kkwaenggwari), the large gong (jing), the double-headed drum (janggu), the barrel drum (buk), the hand drum (sogo), the bugle (napal), and the double-reeded horn (taepyeongso). The musicians followed around by the actors who depict folk characters such as an artilleryman, a nobleman, an old woman, a monk, a bride, a low-ranking official, and children. The rhythms are diverse and change frequently with clear and natural transitions. Solo instrumental performances, such as the solo double-headed drum (seoljanggu), and well-developed dancing techniques add variety and merriment to the performance. The lead small gong player Jeong Deuk-chae (1939-2021), solo double-headed drum performer Kim Jong-hoe (1918-2000), and solo barrel drum performer Seo Chang-sun (1916-1999) were officially designated as holders of the skill of the Farmers’ Performance of Gwangsan. The tradition is maintained by the Farmers’ Performance of Gwangsan Preservation Society.

Specific sub-sects of the farmers’ performance of Gwangsan include the farmers’ performance of Pungjang, the farmers’ performance of Dangsan in Sochon-dong, and the farmers’ performance tradition that is part of the Loop Fight of Gwangju. Another kind of traditional farming music are farmers’ songs (deulnorae), which are call-and-response style songs sung to withstand the exhaustion of the laborious farming work and to wish for an abundant harvest. The Farmers’ Songs of Yongjeon refers to songs performed by the farmers of Yongjeon Village. They are sung during the steps of rice cultivation which require the coordination of many people, such as picking rice seedlings, transplanting rice seedlings, and weeding. The tradition is being preserved by the Farmers’ Songs of Yongjeon Preservation Society.

Story Map

• Folk Spirit: Village Guardians and Community Traditions
  • Sajikdan Altar: Praying to the Spirits of the Land and Grain
  • Village Guardians: Local Trees and Shrines
  • Gwangju’s Farmers’ Music: Community Solidarity for Agricultural Abundance
  • Guardian Posts: Guiding the Way, Protecting the Village
  • The Loop Fight of Gwangju: Competition to Bring the Community Together