A Study on Korean Saenghwang (a Korean wind instrument)

Saenghwang is Korea's only harmony instrument. Historical records say that Korea's Saenghwang started to exist in the Three Kingdoms Period. Suseo describes Saeng for Goguryeo music, and U, a kind of Saeng, for Baekje music. Also, the illustration of Saenghwang can be easily found in Buddhist bells from the Unified Silla period. Further, the reason why Saenghwang appeared significantly in Joseon folklore painting is presumably because it was an easily accessible popular instrument. However, many instruments were destroyed in the process of Japanese invasion of Joseon and Qing's invasion of Joseon, and particularly, Saenghwang was neglected because its manufacturing and performance methods were difficult and demanding. Also, literary records on Saenhwnag are small compared with other archeological data. Musical books which describe Saenghwang include Akhakgwebeom compiled at King Seongjong's 24th year (1493), Yuyeji authored by Seo Yu-gyu (1764-1845) in late Joseon, Siakhwaseong compiled during the reign of King Jeongjo, Ojuyeonmunjangjeonsango authored by Yi Gyu-gyeong, and Bangsanhanssigeumbo, a musical score from the 19th century. Akhakgwebeom describes Hwa, U, and Saeng along with their manufacturing methods. Yuyeji runs Saenghwangjabo, the only ancient musical score of Saenghwang. Siakhwaseong describes the manufacturing and blowing methods of Saeng and U along with their shapes. Bangsanhanssigeumbo describes the shape and oral sounds of Saenghwang. Ojuyeonmunjangjeonsango records oral sounds of Saenghwang. Akhakgwebeom and Yuyeji are identical in terms of 12 melodies and 4 clear sounds or the order of melodies. However, Siakhwaseong was changed to have 7 melodies and 2 clear sounds, and Bansanhanssigeum was changed to have 12 melodies. Moreover, today, Saenghwang produces clear sounds such as Hwang (黃), Tae (太), Rae (夾), Go ( 姑), Jung (仲), Lim (林), Nam (南), Mu (無), and Eung (應), as well as Hwang (潢), Dae (汏), Hyeop (浹), Go (㴌,) Jung (㳞), Lim (淋), Nam (湳), and Mu (潕). For Korea's Saenhwang tuning method, there are two types; at least before Yuyeji was written, the tuning method expanded from Tang music tuning into Hyangak music tuning. This study on Korea's Saenghwang will not only serve as basic data, but aslo be instrumental in restoring Saenghwang.