The ''gyobang'' were the principal buildings associated with

kisaeng Kisaeng (Hangul: 기생, Hanja: 妓生, RR: ''Gisaeng''), also called ginyeo (Hangul: 기녀, Hanja: 妓女), were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men ...

during the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...

and Joseon Dynasties. They provided instruction in music including

Hyangak ''Hyangak'', literally "indigenous/native music, folks music" is a traditional form of Korean court music with origins in the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC – 668 AD). It is often accompanied by traditional folk dances of Korea, known as ''hyan ...

(lit. "village music) and dance, and by the late Joseon dynastyhttp://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_3.jsp?cid=293329 they were also the administrative center of kisaeng society. ''Gyobang'' first appear in historical records in the early 11th century, in the reign of King Hyeonjong. However, since that record describes the king releasing 1,000 kisaeng from the ''gyobang'', it is likely that they date to the 10th century and the formation of the kisaeng class. When Korea came under Japanese rule in the early 20th century, the ''gyobang'' were replaced by ''

gwonbeon The gwonbeon were institutions set up for the training and oversight of kisaeng and other entertainers in the early 20th century. They were the successors of the ''gyobang'', government-supported institutions which had provided such education and ...

''. No ''gyobang'' survive today, although a handful of pictorial depictions do.

References

{{Reflist Goryeo Joseon dynasty Kisaeng

See also

References