People learn about traditional music and the musical instruments that existed during Joseon times during a class offered at the National Palace Museum of Korea.
A set of free classes is available in Seoul for people who want to get a better understanding of the traditions and lifestyles of royal court families from Joseon times.
The National Palace Museum of Korea in Jongno-gu District, central Seoul, will host a total of 45 educational programs that focus on feasts, games and cuisine, as well as clothes and accessories enjoyed by the royal families. The classes will last until November and welcome people of all ages, from children and students through to the middle-aged and elderly. The education here is individualized to cater to each age group.
The curriculum includes the class “Princess and Prince Come Over to the Museum,” designed especially for preschoolers. The toddlers will enjoy stories about princesses and princes by watching puppet shows and playing games.
There are also classes targeting primary and middle school students that chronicle the life of some Joseon kings and that explain artifacts from royal palaces and tombs.
Students will also be able to cook some royal dishes or build a smaller version of a royal palace replica inspired by the architectural style found in the existing real palaces. They will have a chance to learn more about medical treatments, astronomy and royal songs that resonated across the palaces, as well.
There are classes for soon-to-be moms, too. Here, you can learn about what the royal families used to teach as prenatal education, such as what kinds of food, music and books should be eaten, listened to and read.
In these classes, participants will also be able to have hands-on experiences, including sewing and calligraphy, among others, that royal mothers-to-be used to do before giving birth.
There are more classes on the cooking of royal dishes, some of them allotted specifically for multicultural families. For older participants, there is a program that aims to help senior citizens keep in good shape by learningchunaengjeon (춘앵전, 春鶯囀), a form of court dance from the 19th century.
People cook up some royal dishes from Joseon times as part of the educational programs offered at the National Palace Museum of Korea.
Children listen to an explanation about traditional garments worn by Joseon kings.
A young museum-goer draws an orchid during a class at the National Palace Museum of Korea.
For more information on these classes, or to apply for any of the programs, please visit the website below.
http://gogung.go.kr/main.do (Korean)
http://gogung.go.kr/fore/main.do?pLng=en (English)
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: the National Palace Museum of Korea
jiae5853@korea.kr
