3 Korean Cultural Properties Added to UNESCO List Options

[haohao]

Korea's martial art taekkyon and tightrope walking received world intangible heritage status from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday, the world body said.

In a meeting in Bali, Indonesia, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage added the Korean assets "taekkyon" and "jultagi" (tightrope walking) to the intangible list, it said.

They were among the six cultural traditions promoted by South Korea for UNESCO registration.

[unko]

Ehh, Taekkyon is ongoing propaganda and Korean martial arts revisionist history. Dislike.

[doggyji]

The tightrope walking (Jultagi) has an aspect of a comedy. The performer usually crack jokes on the rope.

Ehh, Taekkyon is ongoing propaganda and Korean martial arts revisionist history. Dislike.

What about Taekkyon is even "propaganda"?

The most comprehensive military training manual during the Joseon Dynasty is 武藝圖譜通志. This manual was officially compiled in 1790 under the order of the king to improve standardized military training. The first volume is based on 武藝諸譜 written in 1598. The methodology of 武藝諸譜 is in turn based on 紀效新書 written by Ming General 戚继光.

Taekkyeon/Taekkyon was not a military art but a combat game/sport like Ssireum in Joseon. That's why it was recorded as a type of "戱" as in 手搏戱. The oldest relevant term 手搏 was used in various records for many centuries referring to some sort of bare-hand combat. How exactly the activity called 手搏 might have changed over time from the earliest form is unclear. 手搏 is related to Taekkyon according to an encyclopedia called 才物譜 (1798) written by 李晩永/李成之. "手搏爲卞 角力爲武 若今之탁견(Takkyeon)". FYI, he used Hangul for some proper nouns. Taekkyeon is described in more details in 海東竹枝 (1925) written by 崔永年.

托肩戱 (Tak kyeon Hee)

舊俗有脚術相對而立互相蹴倒有三法最下者蹴其腿善者托其肩有飛脚術者落其髻以此或報仇或賭奪愛嬉自法官禁之今無是戱名之曰탁견

百技神通飛脚術
輕輕掠過髮簪高
鬪花自是風流性
一奪貂蟬意氣豪

American ethnographer Stewart Culin described Taekkyon in "Korean Games" (1895).

Htaik kyen-ha-ki is a combat between two players, chiefly with the feet. They take their positions with their feet apart, facing each other, and each endeavors to kick the other's foot from under him. A player may take one step backward with either foot to a third place. His feet, therefore, always stand in one of three positions. One leads with a kick at one of his opponent's legs. He moves that leg back and kicks in turn. A high kick is permitted, and is caught with the hands. The object is to throw the opponent.

When it almost died out, Song Deok Ki revived it after liberation.

大快圖 (1836) drawn by 劉淑 who was a court painter.



This post has been edited by doggyji: Dec 8 2011, 02:00 AM

[unko]

What about Taekkyon is even "propaganda"?

The most comprehensive military training manual during the Joseon Dynasty is 武藝圖譜通志. This manual was officially compiled in 1790 under the order of the king to improve standardized military training. The first volume is based on 武藝諸譜 written in 1598. The methodology of 武藝諸譜 is in turn based on 紀效新書 written by Ming General 戚继光.

Taekkyeon/Taekkyon was not a military art but a combat game/sport like Ssireum in Joseon. That's why it was recorded as a type of "戱" as in 手搏戱. The oldest relevant term 手搏 was used in various records for many centuries referring to some sort of bare-hand combat. How exactly the activity called 手搏 might have changed over time from the earliest form is unclear. 手搏 is related to Taekkyon according to an encyclopedia called 才物譜 (1798) written by 李晩永/李成之. "手搏爲卞 角力爲武 若今之탁견(Takkyeon)". FYI, he used Hangul for some proper nouns. Taekkyeon is described in more details in 海東竹枝 (1925) written by 崔永年.



American ethnographer Stewart Culin described Taekkyon in "Korean Games" (1895).



When it almost died out, Song Deok Ki revived it after liberation.

大快圖 (1836) drawn by 劉淑 who was a court painter.

Wherever there's holes that can be filled from questions that have been asked it seems someone comes up with an answer for them.

1. Karate's kata do not actually contain many of it's kicks, where did they come from. Taekkyon practitioners have propagated from Taekkyon.

2. Why does Korea not have Martial Arts like Japan? Taekkyon practitioners have propagated they did, but it was banned by Japanese and almost died out.

3. Modern renditions of Taekkyon actually contain an obvious reverse influence from TKD.

[chiuchimu]

1. Karate's kata do not actually contain many of it's kicks, where did they come from. Taekkyon practitioners have propagated from Taekkyon.

What are you trying to say? Taekkyon exponents say Karate kicks come from Taekkyon? Never heard that one before. Also, Karate is a Chinese influenced martial arts that the Okinawan developed a long time ago before Okinawa became a part of Japan. True Japanese martial arts are bushijitsu, Jujitsu, sumo etc... Karate IS a Japanese martial arts now, but it wasn't invented in Japan.

2. Why does Korea not have Martial Arts like Japan? Taekkyon practitioners have propagated they did, but it was banned by Japanese and almost died out.

As I understand it, this is true. Japan did ban traditional Korean martial arts and promoted the practice of Japanese martial arts like Karate, Judo, Kendo and Jujitsu. That doesn't mean the traditional arts went extinct. However, I have no doubt that these Japanese arts had a deep impact on some of revivals of traditional Korean martial arts.

Here are some examples I find similar:Not knowing if all/any are considered traditional:

Hopkido - Aikido( I think relationship is openly understood)
Kumdo - Kendo( Debated fiercely on both sides)
Tae kwondo - Karate( Debated and compared better)
Yundo - judo( relation understood but comparisons on which is better)

I see no problem in martial arts adopting foreign techniques. I'm Japanese but I practice Muay Thai( like many Japanese. )

3. Modern renditions of Taekkyon actually contain an obvious reverse influence from TKD.

I don't think so.
I've seen Taekkyon on video. The methods don't impress me. If Taekkyon adopted TKD techniques, It would be more effective than what I see in those videos. I just don't see any improvements.

To be fair, I don't find Karate or TKD techniques effective when compared to Mauy Thai, Greece-Roman Wrestling, Jiujitsu, western boxing.

[doggyji]

What are you trying to say? Taekkyon exponents say Karate kicks come from Taekkyon? Never heard that one before. Also, Karate is a Chinese influenced martial arts that the Okinawan developed a long time ago before Okinawa became a part of Japan. True Japanese martial arts are bushijitsu, Jujitsu, sumo etc... Karate IS a Japanese martial arts now, but it wasn't invented in Japan.

I don't know where he came across the idea that Taekkyon is in any way related to Karate, either. I've never read such argument. It is TKD that's related to Karate because the founders of TKD were Korean Karate practitioners during the colonial period. They put more emphasis on kicks in TKD.

As I understand it, this is true. Japan did ban traditional Korean martial arts and promoted the practice of Japanese martial arts like Karate, Judo, Kendo and Jujitsu. That doesn't mean the traditional arts went extinct. However, I have no doubt that these Japanese arts had a deep impact on some of revivals of traditional Korean martial arts.

Here are some examples I find similar:Not knowing if all/any are considered traditional:

Hopkido - Aikido( I think relationship is openly understood)
Kumdo - Kendo( Debated fiercely on both sides)
Tae kwondo - Karate( Debated and compared better)
Yundo - judo( relation understood but comparisons on which is better)

I see no problem in martial arts adopting foreign techniques. I'm Japanese but I practice Muay Thai( like many Japanese. )

Hapkido and Yudo are just Korean pronunciations of Aikido and Judo. It's normal that different branches practice slightly different styles. As for the swordsmanship, in the Joseon military training manual Muyedobotongji (武藝圖譜通志), a great portion was dedicated to it. The modern term Gumdo is from Kendo. Koreans did not originally call their swordsmanship Gumdo. Japanese Kendo influence through the colonial period, revivalist movement after liberation and faction politics for the authority are all mixed up. Even some of the revivalists adopted Kendo equipment. Generally, Shippalgi is considered the most traditional school of weapon martial arts in Korea.

This post has been edited by doggyji: Dec 10 2011, 05:32 AM