Chunhyangga

''Chunhyangga'' is the most famous ''pansori'' (musical story telling) in Korea, having had considerable popularity in the country for the past century. ''Chunhyangga'' is considered to be the best ''pansori'' musically, and as a work of literature and play.

''Chunhyangga'' tells the story of love between Chunhyang (춘향), the daughter of a ''kisaeng'' entertainer, and Yi Mongryong (이 몽룡), the son of a magistrate. After the two are illegally married, Mongryong goes to Seoul and a corrupt local magistrate, Byeon the vicious (변학도), attempts to force Chunhyang to be his concubine. She refuses and is faced with death, but is rescued at the last minute by Mongryong returning in his new role as a secret royal inspector. The story is set in Namwon, in Jeolla province, where an annual Chunhyang Festival is held.

There are no records confirming the exact time when ''Chunhyangga'' was written. ''Chunhyangga'' can be found in ''Manwhajip'' written by Yu Jin-han during the Joseon Dynasty, as well as in ''Mugeukhangrok'' of the same era written by Juik-Yang. Therefore, it supposed that ''Chunhyangga'' has existed since before Sukjong of Joseon (1661–1720).

The Chunhyangga is not only a story about a woman of chaste reputation, but also about resistance to the aristocracy. The story stars Chunhyang, the daughter of a gisaeng (female entertainer), who becomes the wife of a district magistrate. This indicates that the story's writer denied the status system. In ''Chunhyangga'' one can find an expression of the common people's wish for truth and human freedom.

The story has various scenes: one is peaceful, one sad, one humorous, and one serious. The music changes with the scene, story and themes. The diverse ''pansori'' singers who have performed it over time have contributed famous ''deoneum'' (new section to musical story), so it is valuable musically and historically.

''Chunhyangga'' is the longest among the five ''pansori''s. In 1969, ''pansori'' master singer Park Dong-jin sang ''Chunhyangga'' for eight hours (surprising his audience). The original version of ''Chunhyangga'' was not that long, but has been greatly developed over time. The singers of ''pansori'' added new techniques, melodies and stories to ''Chunhyangga''.

''Chunhyangga'' is one of the five surviving stories of the Korean ''pansori'' musical storytelling tradition. The other stories are ''Simcheongga'', '' Heungbuga'', '' Jeokbyeokga'' and '' Sugungga''. Although based on older traditional songs, it was composed in its present form in the 1870s by the pansori writer Shin Jae-hyo.

Plot

The Chunhyangga is composed of seven parts:
# Yi Mongryong and Chunhyang's first meeting at Gwang Hanru.
# Mongryong and Chunhyang's love.
# Mongryong and Chunhyang's parting.
# Byeon's tyranny and Chunhyang's imprisonment.
# Mongryong wins first place in a state examination and meets Chunhyang again.
# Byeon is punished and Mongryong and Chunhyang live a long and happy life.
# Mongyong is married to Chunhyang.

''Godae Soseol''

''Chunhyangjeon'' (hangul: 춘향전; hanja: 春香傳) is a ''godae soseol'' (hangul: 고대 소설; hanja: 古代小說, an ancient story) based on ''Chunhyangga''.

Modern adaptations

The story has been made into films over a dozen times, most recently as Im Kwon-taek's '' Chunhyang'' in 2000. It was also the basis of the successful Korean romantic comedy series '' Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang''.

It has also been converted to a successful children's musical, performed in English by Theater Seoul entirely by children and youth. This show has been brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival twice, once to the Underbelly (2006) and once to C venues (2007).

''Legend of Chun Hyang'', a manga by Clamp, is loosely based on this story.

See also

* Korean folklore
* Korean literature
* Korean music
*Pansori
* Pansori gosu
*Culture of Korea

References

{{reflist

External links

The Ch'unhyang Story
- from Instrok.org, created by East Rock Institute

National Changguk Company of Korea


Pansori
Korean folklore