This comprehensive overview of 19th-century painting in Germany, Holland, Scandinavia, and Russia offers readers a captivating look into the cultural and artistic landscape of Europe during this period. With detailed analyses of masterpieces and careful observations of developing styles and movements, Painting of the Nineteenth Century is an essential addition to any art lover's collection.
Literary Nonfiction. Northeast Asia Studies. Music has played and continues to play a vital role in Korean society, providing a rich vein of material as a dynamic part of the nation's culture. Korean music's history reflects active engagement with surrounding cultures, as well as indigenous creativity and innovation. Korea is heir to one of the world's oldest repertoires of notated music. Over the past several hundred years, virtuosic instrumental genres based upon the music of shamanist rituals and agricultural ceremonies developed into highly sophisticated art forms. This book examines the development of Korean traditional music, looking at what makes it unique, surveying its wide variety of genres, and reviewing its dramatic history as an art form.
Korean painting embodies a deep reverence for nature, reflecting the traditional worldview of its people. Set against the backdrop of Korea's dramatic landscapes, including rugged peaks and deep valleys, these artworks showcase a profound connection to the natural world. The yearning for nature is vividly expressed through the unique aesthetics of Korean art, highlighting the cultural significance of the environment in shaping artistic expression.
Korea’s capital for the last 600 years, Seoul is an energetic, pulsating city where the ancient and modern coexist in dramatic contrast. With its grand royal palaces, quaint old alleyways, ancient temples, colorful markets, neon shopping districts, and verdant mountains, you’ll never run out of things to see and do. The most comprehensive guidebook to the city of Seoul ever released, “SEOUL” contains 464 pages of in-depth travel information, helpful tips, background information on culture and history, detailed maps, and beautiful photographs. Making full use of Seoul Selection’s vast knowledge of the city, the guidebook is perfect not only for tourists visiting Seoul on holiday, but also for veterans of the metropolis looking for a deeper understanding of its history and culture.color illus.
The Korea Essentials series is a cooperative project between the Korea Foundation and Seoul Selection to furnish the international reader with insight and basic understanding into the arts and culture of Korea. The content of this series is based on material published in Koreana, the Korea Foundation's magazine. The series is compiled and edited by Seoul Selectionʹs editorial staff. -- Publisher description.
Nonfiction. Travel. Northeast Asia Studies. With 5,000 years of history and culture packed into one very tight package, Korea is a fascinating travel destination that both compares and contrasts favorably with its larger neighbors. From the pulsating streets of Seoul to the peaceful temples and gardens of the Korean countryside, Korea is a study in contrasts--one foot in the future, with the other firmly rooted in one of the world's richest cultural heritages. In addition to beautiful photos that bring alive Korea's scenic charms, this guide features travel trips (including detailed maps, transportation information and "Off the Beaten Track" destinations for the adventurous traveler) and comprehensive and detailed descriptions of the culture and history of one of Asia's most fascinating countries.
A look at the glorious culture, history, and spirit of the Joseon Dynasty through palaces, royal tombs, and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the treasured vestiges of the Joseon kings.
Nonfiction. Korean Language Reference. Writing Systems. Southeast Asia Studies. Hangeul, the indigenous writing system of Korea, was promulgated in 1446. It is an ingenious system that utilizes modern and scientific linguistic theories and principles of Korean traditional culture to perfectly express the sounds of the Korean language. Crafted by some of the leading scholars of the age, including the brilliant King Sejong the Great, the alphabet has been widely lauded by scholars the world over for its advanced phonetic system and ease of use. This work examines the unique characteristics of the Hangeul writing system, its history, and its impact on Korean society and culture. "Whether or not it is ultimately the best of all conceivable scripts for Korean, Hangeul must unquestionably rank as one of the great intellectual achievements of humankind"—Geoffrey Sampson.