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The Koreans  |
| CCTV.COM 2003-07-04 17:07:08 |
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Richard
I am Richard Dong. And on today’s show, will be introducing the
Korean ethnic group of Jilin province.
Jade
Yes. We will northward bound once more when we set out to
discover the beauty and proud culture of this minority who
inhabit the Yan Bian Korean Autonomous Prefecture located in
the eastern part of Jilin province.
Richard
That is right. The Korean ethnic group in that area has a
population of almost two million people and they are a proud
race of who are very adept at music and dance, which we shall
see later on.
Jade
I am looking forward to that. So, sit back, relax and for the
next half hour, let Center Stage be your guide to the beauty
and wonder of the Korean ethnic minority of Northern China.
Jade
I don’t know you could speak Korean！
Richard
Well, I don't know if you could call it being able to speak
Korean.
Jade
How do you say Kim chi？
Richard
Kim Chi.
Jade
A man of many talents. Like many of China are minorities, songs
and dance are an important part of the culture of the Korean
nationality. According to the content and singing style,
Korean music can be divided into five different categories.
Richard
They are ballads, dancing, instrumental music, story telling
music and opera. One thing that makes the performers stand out
is of course the traditional costume of the Korean ethnic
group, especially for the women.
Jade
Yes, the dresses are very voluminous, reaching just below the
armpits. White is nearly always visible as this color is seen
to represent simplicity and serenity.
Richard
Well, the performer in first clip today is wearing one such
dress； She is singing a popular Korean folk song .
Jade
In this song however, it refers to the legend that is the
name of a young girl, who was taken from her handsome boyfriend
by a wicked landlord. The boyfriend was so angry that he found,
and killed the landlord for which he was sentenced to death！
Richard
What happened to the girl, did she find another guy？
Jade
No, in fact she died from a broken heart.
Richard
Oh, that’s so sad.
Jade
The following year a flower was seen growing on the grave of
the young girl, the people gave the flower the name . And now,
this flower has become a symbol to the Korean people of the
girls？ chastity and purity.
Richard
That’s so beautiful, quick, roll the clip I think I am gonna
cry.
Jade
Did you see that man with the twirling streamer hat？ I bet he
feels very dizzy after all that spinning.
Richard
I felt dizzy just looking at him. The Yan Bian district has
been given the title ？ And our next clip certainly shows this to be a worthy title. The Long Drum dance is perhaps one of the Korean Ethnic nationalities most famous dances.
Jade
The long drum dance is usually sung as a celebration of a
happy occasion such as a wedding, at the beginning of a brand
new year or to celebrate a particularly good harvest.
Richard
Performed here by members of the song and dance troupe of the
Yanbian Korean Autonomous prefecture, in celebration of the
dawn of a new century. I am sure that the performance is nothing short of excellence.
Jade
And they are wearing those dresses you like！
Richard
Beautiful！
*******
Richard
I am Richard Dong, and your still watching Center Stage, where
on today’s show we are talking about the Korean ethnic minority
of China.
Jade
Just now we saw a clip of a stunning performance of the Long
Drum Dance.
Richard
Nothing like banging a drum when you are feeling happy.
Jade
The famous Korean Folk song five hundred years is a beautiful
love story ？
Richard
Another love story！ I hope this is a happier one than that
last one you told me.
Jade
It is. Five hundred years tells the rather simple tale of two
lovers who promise to remain faithful to one another and to
live in happiness for five hundred years.
Richard
See, that’s what the young people of today should be saying to
each other.
Jade
Maybe they should learn from your example.
Richard
Let’s take a look, shall we？
*****
Jade
Don’t go away. After this short break, we will be back with
more songs and dance and even a love story or two！
Richard
All with a happy ending！
Jade
Of course！
****
Richard
Chinese culture and arts, look no further than Center Stage, the show that gives you the bigger picture.
Jade
Welcome back. The beautiful scenery of the Yanbian Korean
autonomous prefecture has inspired many outstanding folk
songs, one of the more notable of these songs is Jin Gang
Mountain.
Richard
This song is again performed by members of the Yanbian song
and dance troupe.
Jade
Let’s check it out！
*******
Richard
Springtime is a time when new life begins, when the air is
fresh with the scent of blossoming flowers. It’s a time when
the world is reborn. It’s also a time, according to Korean
tradition, when young men and women should meet and begin
talking about love？
Jade
Very nice. One custom that is very distinctive is that of
formally announcing the marriage of young Korean couples.
Villagers erect high poles at the entrance to the village from
which swings would be hung. The couples would then swing from
these as a sign that they will always remain together.
Richard
Coming next is a piece of music that tells the story if this
rather unusual custom entitled “The girl on a swing”？
*********
Richard
Possibly one of the most famous of all Korean folk songs,
Alirang is a folk hero of the Korean people. But today we are
going to present you the song performed in three different
ways.
Jade
The first, is the more traditional format that our viewers
have no doubt heard before. The second is performed by an
American dancer called Allen Wilder who preformed this dance
as part of the Annual Foreigners Talent Contest held this year
in Kunming
Richard
And finally we have a group from Korea, performing a distinctly modern version of this traditional tune.
********
Jade
Well that’s all for this edition of Center stage, I hope you
can join us next time for a new edition .
Richard
Till then, we are going to leave you with this piece of MTV of
a very popular tune called Jin Da Lai. Don’t forget to join us
next time for another dose of Center Stage.
Jade
Hope to see you then, Bye！
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