Gayageum

Pluck, press and shake (nonghyeon) the twelve silk strings, sliding bridges to tune, to play along with falling note cues that include the bending, vibrato-like gestures that make Korean sanjo music sound the way it...

How it is played

Pluck, press and shake (nonghyeon) the twelve silk strings, sliding bridges to tune, to play along with falling note cues that include the bending, vibrato-like gestures that make Korean sanjo music sound the way it does.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of South Korea. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

Usually placed in the era of Classical Worlds (about 1000 BCE to 500 CE), although its exact origins are uncertain, within the cultural world of Japan and Korea.