거문고·비나 그리고 자케

The Kŏmun go, veena, and Jakhe

This paper will compare three string instruments of the zither category: the Korean Kŏmun go, the Indian veena, and the Thai jhake. If fretted zithers are classified according to the number of strings, from three to seven, the three-string category includes the jakhe and phinpia of Thailand and the migyaun of Miyanmar. Of these, the jakhe (meaning crocodile ) has eleven short rods as frets, and is played with a string wound round the index finger of the right hand. There are no four-stringed zithers today, though they appear in old wall paintings and literary references from Japan and China. The six-string Kŏmun go was developed by adding two strings to a four-string instrument, and the names of the six strings are: munhyȏn, yuhyȏn, taehyȏn, kwaesangch ȏng, kwaehach ȏng, and muhyȏn. In the seven-string category is the veena of India. If we compare the kŏmun go, veena, and jhake, there are several cmmon traits: the use of frets and drone strings, and the playing of the melody mainly on two strings. Comparing the number of strings, the jakhe has three, the Kŏmun go six, and the veena seven. The melody strings are, on the kŏmun go, the yuhyȏn and taehyȏn; on the jakhe, the second and third strings; and on the veena, the first and second strings. On all three instruments, the interval between the two melodic strings is a perfect fourth, and each instrument is capable of providing a drone. The drone strings are, on the veena, strings 5, 6, and 7; on the Kŏmun go, strings l , 4, 5, and 6; and on the jakhe, the first string. Eash instrument uses a form of plecturm: the Kŏmun go, a bamboo prod; the veena, a triangular wire plectrum attached to the index finger, and the jhakc, a stick 5-6cm in lenght. Eash instrument is associated symbolically with an animal: the Kŏmun go with the black crane; the veena with the dragon and phoenix; and the jakhe with the crocodile and peacock. In addition to this comparative study, a project that remains for the future is to look for historical connections among the three instruments.