Ganggangsullae facts for kids
| Ganggangsullae | |
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Quick facts for kids Korean name |
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| Hangul |
강강술래 or 강강수월래
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| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Ganggangsullae or Ganggangsuwollae |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kanggangsullae or Kanggangsuwŏllae |
Ganggangsullae (Hangul: 강강술래) is a very old traditional Korean dance. It's about 5,000 years old! People first danced it to ask for a good harvest, meaning lots of crops. Now, it's a special symbol of Korean culture. Women in Jeollanam-do, a province in South Korea, often perform this dance. It's especially popular during Chuseok, a Korean holiday that's a bit like American Thanksgiving.
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History of Ganggangsullae
This dance is thought to have started around 5,000 years ago. Back then, Koreans believed that the Sun, Moon, and Earth controlled the world. To get a good harvest, people would dance under the brightest full moon of the year. Usually, it was girls wearing hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing.
Ganggangsullae During Wartime
In the 16th century, Japan attacked Korea. Korea's Admiral Yi Sun-sin used the Ganggangsullae dance as a clever trick. He told women to dance on Mount Okmae (옥매산) while wearing military uniforms. This made the Japanese think that Korea had a much bigger army than it actually did. It helped trick the enemy!
A Protected Cultural Treasure
On February 15, 1966, the Ganggangsullae dance was officially recognized. It was added to the list of Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea as number 8. This means it's a very important part of Korea's heritage.
How Ganggangsullae is Danced
Traditionally, this dance is performed without any musical instruments. Young and old women gather at night under the moonlight. They wear their hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing. They hold hands and form a large circle, then start moving around clockwise.
The Singing and Tempo
One person acts as the lead singer and sings a line of the song. Then, everyone else in the circle sings "ganggangsullae" as a reply. The lead singer sings another line, and the group replies again with "ganggangsullae." This is probably how the dance got its name! As the dance continues, the tempo of the song often gets faster and faster. The women sing about their daily lives, their feelings, and what they hope for.
Games and Fun
During the dance, the women also play different games. The Ganggangsullae dance can sometimes last all the way until dawn, making it a long and fun celebration!
Related pages
Images for kids
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Ganggangsullae, 1891-1930
See also
In Spanish: Ganggangsullae para niños
