Sugungga
Encyclopedia
Sugungga is one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori
storytelling tradition. The other stories are Simcheongga
, Heungbuga
, Jeokbyeokga
, and Chunhyangga
.
The Pansori Suggunga was made from story "a tale of rabbit and turtle".
This Pansori is exciting and farcical than any other Pansories, because it personified animals. The satire is more frank and humour is fantastic. Though Suggunga is funny, it has serious parts because there are the characters of king and loyal retainers. Therefore Suggunga regarded as "small Jeokbyeokga", so Pansori singers sang in earnest this part.
Sugung-ga is based on the story of the Dragon King
of the Southern Sea, a terrapin
, and a wily rabbit
. This story is believed to have stemmed from a tale about a terrapin and a rabbit in the early period of the Silla
Dynasty. The theme of this story is the relationship of subject to king.
The Dragon King of the Southern Sea is suffering from an ailment that can be cured only with the liver
of a rabbit. The King thereupon summons all the ministers to look for the liver of a rabbit on the ground. The terrapin volunteers his service to journey to a forest and return with a rabbit.
The terrapin succeeds in doing this by luring the rabbit with the wonderful prospects of living in the palace. The rabbit, after discovering his dangerous situation at the palace, coaxes the King to allow him to return to the forest by explaining that his liver was so much in demand that it finally became necessary to conceal it in a secret place and that he has, therefore, come without it.
Upon hearing this, the Dragon King of the Southern Sea grants the rabbit permission to go back to the forest with the terrapin after the rabbit promises that he will return with his liver. Once in the forest, the rabbit ridicules the King's and terrapin's stupidity and is never seen again. But the rabbit is actually quite moved by the terrapin's faithfulness to the King.
The highlight part is that rabit coaxing the king. This scene depicts confliction between prey and predator vividly, which make audience to extremely excited. After that the King deceived by rabbit, and the rabbit cursed terrapin out. This widely known part was Deoneum by the master singer of pansori, Yeumgyedal's. The rabbit overcome a crisis and relieved, and so do the audience. The common people who lived a hard life In the feudal system, might have got wisdom and grave from the rabbit.
Pansori
Pansori is a genre of Korean traditional music. It is a vocal and percussional music performed by one sorikkun and one gosu . The term pansori is derived from pan , and sori .- Overview :...
storytelling tradition. The other stories are Simcheongga
Simcheongga
Simcheongga is one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori storytelling tradition. The other stories are Chunhyangga, Heungbuga, Jeokbyeokga, and Sugungga.History=...
, Heungbuga
Heungbuga
Heungbuga is one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori storytelling tradition. It is also called Baktaryeong . The other stories are Simcheongga, Chunhyangga, Jeokbyeokga and Sugungga. It is about a story of Heungbu who was a poor but good man with many children.Heungbuga depicted...
, Jeokbyeokga
Jeokbyeokga
Jeokbyeokga is one of the five surviving stories of the Korean pansori storytelling tradition. The other stories are Simcheongga, Heungbuga, Chunhyangga and Sugungga.This story is a retelling of the Chinese historical legend of the Battle of Red Cliffs....
, and Chunhyangga
Chunhyangga
The Chunhyangga is the most famous Pansori in Korea. The Chunhyangga has delighted all Korean for a century. The Chunhyangga is the best Pansori as musically, literary, and a well-made play....
.
The Pansori Suggunga was made from story "a tale of rabbit and turtle".
This Pansori is exciting and farcical than any other Pansories, because it personified animals. The satire is more frank and humour is fantastic. Though Suggunga is funny, it has serious parts because there are the characters of king and loyal retainers. Therefore Suggunga regarded as "small Jeokbyeokga", so Pansori singers sang in earnest this part.
Sugung-ga is based on the story of the Dragon King
Dragon King
The four Dragon Kings are, in Chinese mythology, the divine rulers of the four seas . Although Dragon Kings appear in their true forms as dragons, they have the ability to shapeshift into human form...
of the Southern Sea, a terrapin
Terrapin
A terrapin is a turtle living in fresh or brackish water.Terrapin may also refer to:* Terrapin , a transport vehicle used for amphibious assault by the Allies during the Second World War...
, and a wily rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
. This story is believed to have stemmed from a tale about a terrapin and a rabbit in the early period of the Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
Dynasty. The theme of this story is the relationship of subject to king.
The Dragon King of the Southern Sea is suffering from an ailment that can be cured only with the liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
of a rabbit. The King thereupon summons all the ministers to look for the liver of a rabbit on the ground. The terrapin volunteers his service to journey to a forest and return with a rabbit.
The terrapin succeeds in doing this by luring the rabbit with the wonderful prospects of living in the palace. The rabbit, after discovering his dangerous situation at the palace, coaxes the King to allow him to return to the forest by explaining that his liver was so much in demand that it finally became necessary to conceal it in a secret place and that he has, therefore, come without it.
Upon hearing this, the Dragon King of the Southern Sea grants the rabbit permission to go back to the forest with the terrapin after the rabbit promises that he will return with his liver. Once in the forest, the rabbit ridicules the King's and terrapin's stupidity and is never seen again. But the rabbit is actually quite moved by the terrapin's faithfulness to the King.
The highlight part is that rabit coaxing the king. This scene depicts confliction between prey and predator vividly, which make audience to extremely excited. After that the King deceived by rabbit, and the rabbit cursed terrapin out. This widely known part was Deoneum by the master singer of pansori, Yeumgyedal's. The rabbit overcome a crisis and relieved, and so do the audience. The common people who lived a hard life In the feudal system, might have got wisdom and grave from the rabbit.