# Aak

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Court ceremonial music of Korea

For other uses, see [AAK (disambiguation)](/source/AAK_(disambiguation)).

Aak Hangul 아악 Hanja 雅樂 RR aak MR aak

***Aak*** ([Korean](/source/Korean_language): 아악; [Hanja](/source/Hanja): 雅樂; Korean pronunciation: [\[a.ak̚\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Korean)) is a [genre](/source/Musical_genre) of [Korean court music](/source/Korean_court_music). It is an imported form of the Chinese court music *[yayue](/source/Yayue)*,[1] and means "elegant music". *Aak* was performed almost exclusively in state sacrificial rites, and in the present day it is performed in certain Confucian ceremonies.[2]

*Aak* in [Korea](/source/Korea) was facilitated and adapted through the gifting of instruments from a [Chinese](/source/China) emperor to [Korea](/source/Korea) in the 12th century.[3] Due to Japanese occupation in the 20th century, performances of *aak* were limited to The Sacrifice to Confucius and The Sacrifice to Royal Ancestors.[4]

## Background

*Aak* musicians at the Confucian ritual of [Munmyo](/source/Munmyo) Shrine, [Sungkyunkwan](/source/Sungkyunkwan) [seowon](/source/Seowon)

*Aak* is one of three types of [Korean court music](/source/Korean_court_music); the other two are *[dangak](/source/Dangak)* and *[hyangak](/source/Hyangak)*. *Aak* is similar to *dangak* in that both have Chinese origins. All the instruments used in *aak* are derived from Chinese originals, and very few of these are used in other kinds of traditional Korean music.[5] Aak was first performed at the Royal Ancestral Shrine in the [Goryeo](/source/Goryeo) period as ritual music of the court. The definition of *aak* later became narrowed to music for Confucian rituals, although *aak* in its broadest sense can still mean any kind of refined or elegant music and therefore can arguably encompass *dangak* and *hyangak*.[6]

The music is now performed by members of the [Kungnip Kugagwon National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts](/source/National_Gugak_Center) in Seoul, Korea.[5]

## History

### Koryô Dynasty

*Aak* was brought to [Korea](/source/Korea) in 1116 through a large gift of 428 musical instruments, as well as 572 costumes and ritual dance objects from [China](/source/China), a gift to Emperor [Yejong of Goryeo](/source/Yejong_of_Goryeo) from [Emperor Huizong of Song](/source/Emperor_Huizong_of_Song).[1][3][7] The number of performers in Korea's *aak* ensembles were reduced to 190 from the 400 required for China's ensembles.[8] Many of the musical pieces and instruments originally brought from [China](/source/China) would eventually be lost to deterioration and the 1361 invasion of [Red Turbans](/source/Red_Turban_Rebellions) from China.[9][10]

### Joseon Dynasty

A restoration of *aak* occurred in the 15th century during the [Joseon Dynasty](/source/Joseon), led by [King Sejong](/source/Sejong_the_Great)[11][12] in an effort to promote Confucianism.[13] This revival of *aak* tradition was based upon Chen Yang's writings on court ensemble *Yueshu* or "Treatise on Music", Lin Yu's court music notation *Dasheng yuepu* or "Collection of Dasheng Music", and *Aak Po* or "Treatise on Ceremonial Music" (a chapter of the Sejong Annals)*,* showing little resemblance to the *aak* performances of the previous dynasty.[14][15] This caused a further decrease in the number of performers to about 20, notably without any singers or stringed instruments.[16][17] The *aak* tradition suffered loss again due to invasions of the Manchu and [Japanese](/source/Japan) in the 16th century, not returning until the late 17th century.[18]

### Modern Period

In 1910, [Korea](/source/Korea) was annexed by [Japan](/source/Japan), causing the abolishment of the majority of court music pieces, leaving only the Confucian rites: The Sacrifice to Confucius and The Sacrifice to Royal Ancestors.[4][19] These continue to be the only surviving pieces from the 20th century through present times, though The Sacrifice to Royal Ancestors has not been considered to be part of *aak* since the 15th century.[4][20]

## Performance

The music is now highly specialized, and it is played only at certain ceremonies, in particular the *[Seokjeon Daeje](/source/Seokjeon_Daeje)* held each spring and autumn at the [Munmyo](/source/Munmyo) shrine in the ground of [Sungkyunkwan University](/source/Sungkyunkwan_University) in [Seoul](/source/Seoul) to honour [Confucius](/source/Confucius).[21] It may also be performed at special concerts.

There are two instrumental ensembles – a "terrace" or *tȗngga* ensemble located on the porch of the main shrine, and a "courtyard" or *hôn'ga* ensemble located near the main entrance in front of the main shrine building. The music performances or *munmyo jeryeak* may be accompanied by dances called *munmyo ilmu*.[22][23] There are two forms of dances; one a "civil" dance, the other a "military" dance, performed by 64 dancers in an 8x8 formation.[5][22]

## Sound

The modern repertoire of *aak* consists of just two different surviving melodies.[24] Both the two surviving pieces have 32 notes that last around 4 minutes when performed, and one of the two is performed in a number of [transpositions](/source/Transposition_(music)). The two ensembles perform in alternating turns, playing in musical keys with pitches corresponding to the concept of *yin* and *yang* from Confucian philosophy, the *tȗngga* ensemble in *'yin'* key and the *hôn'ga* ensemble in the *'yang'* key.[25] The music is played very slowly. Each note is drawn out for around four seconds, with the wind instruments rising in pitch at the end of the note, giving it a distinctive character.[5] This rise in pitch is believed to have been introduced in the 20th century, influenced by [Chinese](/source/China) musical practice.[26]

## Instruments

*[Bu](/source/Bu_(instrument))* and *[Pyeongyeong](/source/Bianqing)* played in *aak* during Confucian ritual performance at [Munmyo](/source/Munmyo) Shrine

Instruments utilised in aak music are classified by their primary materials through a system of [Chinese](/source/China) origin, referred to as *p'arum* or the "eight sound" system.[27] The eight types of instrument under the *p'arum* system: [bamboo](/source/Bamboo), [wood](/source/Wood), [metal](/source/Metal), [silk](/source/Silk), [skin](/source/Skin), [stone](/source/Rock_(geology)), [gourd](/source/Gourd), and [clay](/source/Clay).[27]

The instruments used in the performance of The Sacrifice to Confucius are limited to the types of instruments present in [Emperor Huizong of Song's](/source/Emperor_Huizong_of_Song) gift to Korea's [King Yejong of Goryeo](/source/Yejong_of_Goryeo), many of which only remain in use for aak.[28] The construction practice used in the instruments present in aak is based upon a measurement system of [Chinese](/source/China) origin where the instrument's pitches correspond to the measurements of [Emperor Huizong's](/source/Emperor_Huizong_of_Song) finger.[29] This practice introduced by the Dasheng Institute was abandoned in [China](/source/China) but remained in practice in [Korean court music](/source/Korean_court_music).[29]

### List of instruments

#### Bamboo

- [Ji (instrument)](/source/Chi_(instrument)) – aerophone

- [Yak (instrument)](/source/Yak_(instrument)) – aerophone

- [Jeok (instrument)](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeok_(instrument)&action=edit&redlink=1) – aerophone

- [So](/source/Paixiao) – aerophone

#### Wood

- [Bak (instrument)](/source/Bak_(instrument)) – idiophone

- [Bu (instrument)](/source/Bu_(instrument)) – idiophone

- [Chuk (instrument)](/source/Chuk_(instrument)) – idiophone

#### Metal

- [Pyeonjong](/source/Bianzhong) – idiophone

#### Silk

- [Seul](/source/Se_(instrument)) – chordophone

- [Geum](/source/Guqin) – chordophone

#### Stone

- [Pyeongyeong](/source/Bianqing) – idiophone

## Players

- [Lee Ju-hwan](/source/Lee_Ju-hwan)

## See also

- [Akhak Gwebeom](/source/Akhak_Gwebeom)

- [Culture of Korea](/source/Culture_of_Korea)

- [Gagaku](/source/Gagaku)

- [Jongmyo Jeryeak](/source/Jongmyo_Jeryeak)

- [Korean music](/source/Korean_music)

- [Nhã nhạc](/source/Nh%C3%A3_nh%E1%BA%A1c)

- [Traditional Korean musical instruments](/source/Traditional_Korean_musical_instruments)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-korean_music_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-korean_music_1-1) Keith Howard. ["Korean Music"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050327011554/http://www.worldmusiccentre.com/uploads/cdime/howard2001.PDF) (PDF). Archived from the original on March 27, 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:22_2-0)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://doi.org/10.2307/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 107. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0740-1558](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0740-1558). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) Provine, Robert C. (December 21, 2001). "Confucian Ritual Music in Korea: Aak". *East Asia: China, Japan, and Korea*. *The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music*. New York: Routledge. pp. 862–863.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_4-2) Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://doi.org/10.2307/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 107. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0740-1558](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0740-1558). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-garland_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-garland_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-garland_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-garland_5-3) [*The Concise Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Volume 2*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hzIt6ZL5lY0C&pg=PA1201) (1st ed.). Routledge. 2008. pp. 1201–1202. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0415994040](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0415994040).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Korean ritual music"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040605230418/http://sapaan.com/vol3/jeon2.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.sapaan.com/vol3/jeon2.htm) on June 5, 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Keith Howard (2012). [*Music As Intangible Cultural Heritage: Policy Ideology and Practice in the Preservation of East Asian Traditions*](https://books.google.com/books?id=JlWFbrJMy9sC&pg=PT225). Ashgate. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1409439073](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1409439073).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 96. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0740-1558](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0740-1558). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:1_9-0)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 97. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0740-1558](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0740-1558). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:02_10-0)** Provine, Robert C. (December 21, 2001). "Confucian Ritual Music in Korea: Aak". *East Asia: China, Japan, and Korea*. *The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music*. New York: Routledge. pp. 862–863.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Lee, Byong Won (1981). ["Korean Court Music and Dance"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/43562607). *The World of Music*. **23** (1): 38. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0043-8774](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0043-8774). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [43562607](https://www.jstor.org/stable/43562607).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:12_12-0)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 97. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0740-1558](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0740-1558). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Kwon, Donna Lee (2011). [*Music in Korea: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture*](https://www.worldcat.org/title/740630366). Global Music Series. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 28. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0195368284](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195368284). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [740630366](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/740630366).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Robert C. Provine, Jr. (January 1974). "The Treatise on Ceremonial Music (1430) in the Annals of the Korean King Sejong". *Ethnomusicology*. **18** (1): 1–29. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/850057](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F850057). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [850057](https://www.jstor.org/stable/850057).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 97–106. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:13_16-0)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 97. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0740-1558](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0740-1558). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:03_17-0)** Provine, Robert C. (December 21, 2001). "Confucian Ritual Music in Korea: Aak". *East Asia: China, Japan, and Korea*. *The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music*. New York: Routledge. pp. 862–863.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 106–107. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Kim, Hee-sun (2012). ["Performing History and Imagining the Past: Re-contextualization of Court Ensembles in Contemporary South Korea"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41699977). *The World of Music*. **1** (1): 84–85. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0043-8774](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0043-8774). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [41699977](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41699977).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Lee, Byong Won (1981). ["Korean Court Music and Dance"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/43562607). *The World of Music*. **23** (1): 39. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0043-8774](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0043-8774). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [43562607](https://www.jstor.org/stable/43562607).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Peter Fletcher (2004). [*World Musics in Context: A Comprehensive Survey of the World's Major Musical Cultures*](https://books.google.com/books?id=4vBEfViLyp8C&pg=PA375). Oxford University Press. pp. 375–376. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0195175073](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195175073).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-korea_times_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-korea_times_22-1) Jon Dunbar (March 14, 2016). ["Confucius to be honored in ancient ceremony"](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2016/06/317_200344.html). *[The Korea Times](/source/The_Korea_Times)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:3_23-0)** Kwon, Donna Lee (2011). [*Music in Korea: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture*](https://www.worldcat.org/title/740630366). Global Music Series. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 32–39. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0195368284](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195368284). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [740630366](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/740630366).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 107. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Provine, Robert C. (December 21, 2001). "Theory and Notation in Korea: History". *East Asia: China, Japan, and Korea*. *The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music*. New York: Routledge. pp. 833–835. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780824060411](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780824060411).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 110. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:32_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:32_27-1) Kwon, Donna Lee (2011). [*Music in Korea: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture*](https://www.worldcat.org/title/740630366). Global Music Series. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 32–39. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0195368284](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195368284). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [740630366](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/740630366).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:33_28-0)** Kwon, Donna Lee (2011). [*Music in Korea: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture*](https://www.worldcat.org/title/740630366). Global Music Series. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 32–39. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0195368284](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195368284). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [740630366](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/740630366).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_29-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_29-1) Provine, Robert C. (1992). ["The Korean Courtyard Ensemble for Ritual Music (Aak)"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472). *Yearbook for Traditional Music*. **24**: 92. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/768472](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F768472). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [768472](https://www.jstor.org/stable/768472).

## External links

- [*A Study of Musical Instruments in Korean Traditional Music*](https://web.archive.org/web/20070523061659/http://210.95.200.103/BookData/200007/index.htm) (The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Korea, 1998)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

- [Old recordings of aak in the 1960s](https://web.archive.org/web/20100619162911/https://eee.uci.edu/programs/rgarfias/films.html) A collection of Korean court music videos

Authority control databases International FAST National United States Korea Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.