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The PassageWay to Understanding

Daemun Yeolgi

Song and Dance from Ganggangsullae

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Seoul City Wall

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Without a Wall, there is no gate, but

Why Would a City Need a wall?

  • The Seoul (Hanyang) City Wall was constructed in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty.
  • The wall went around the entire city and marked off the city limits.

Discuss:

Why would an ancient city need a wall?

  • The wall created a barrier to protect people from invaders and wild animals such as tigers and leopards.
  • The wall was the boundary between life and death since all people who passed away had to be buried outside the city limits.
  • The fortress wall was between 5-8m high and 18.6km long.

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the Gates

With a wall surrounding the city, the only way to enter or exit was through a gate!

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There were four main gates around the city of Hanyang (Seoul) and four smaller entryways.

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Bukdaemun

North Gate

Dongdaemun

East Gate

Seodaemun

West Gate

Namdaemun

South Gate

Also known as Seokjeongmun, Bukdaemun was in the north.

Also known as Heunginjimun, Dongdaemun is in east.

Also known as Donuimun, Seodaemun was in the west.

Also known as Sungnyemun, Seodaemun was in the south.

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The Lyrics

In Daemun Yeolgi, the song may be sung in call and response style to recognize the story in the song:

Citizen: “Gatekeeper, gatekeeper, open the gate.”

Gatekeeper: I can’t, I don’t have a key.

Citizen: What should we do to enter the gate?

Gatekeeper: Enter through the East Gate.

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楽しい事実

The Seoul Fortress Wall Today

  • Today, the ancient wall is interwoven between the mountains and city of Seoul. It is no longer used as a barrier, but rather a historical and cultural landmark.
  • Sections of the wall have been preserved, whereas other sections have been turned into hiking trails for people to enjoy.

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Seoul Wall

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日本

Daemun Yeolgi In Pop Culture: KDrama

*Check the Drama content if it is age appropriate for your students.

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Tale of the Nine Tailed Fox: The Premise

“This is a drama about a Gumiho [nine-tailed fox] who settles into the city and a producer who is after it. Once the guardian of the Baekdu mountain range, Lee Yun is a legendary nine-tailed fox, travelling back and forth between the mortal world and the afterlife killing demons. He takes human form and settles in the city, completely assimilating into human society. Meanwhile, Nam Ji Ah is a TV producer who specializes in supernatural investigative TV programs. When she hears of a genuine nine-tailed fox living in the city, she is determined to get him as a guest on her TV show.” -Amazon

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Daemun Yeolgi is used as a motif in the Kdrama

The Nine-Tailed Fox enters the other world.

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Discussion

  • From what you know about the drama, why did the producers use this the Daemun Yeolgi song as a theme in the story?
  • How are ancient fortress walls and gates relevant to people who live in Seoul today?
  • How does this information affect your view of the Ganggangsullae song, Daemun Yeolgi?
  • What other countries or cities have ancient walls?

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SEL

Discussion

  • Instead of putting up “walls,” how can you be a “gate” (or a bridge) to other people?
  • What would our world look like if people from different countries and backgrounds lived like an “open gate,” as opposed to a “closed off wall” ?
  • What actions can you take today to be a “gate”?

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RESOURCES

Choi, Jeong-Dong. 2021. Sungnyemun Gate. June 28, 2021. Korea JoongAng Daily. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/06/28/culture/koreanHeritage/Sungnyemun-gate-national-treasure-no1-namdaemun/20210628182800396.html

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014.View from Gokseong Lookout. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Karissa Van Liew. 2022. Daemun Yeolgi by a Seoul Gate. YouTube video, 0:14. September 25, 2022. https://youtu.be/ZZaqy2SfNNU.

“World Heritage and Hanyangdoseong.” 2018. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/content/53.do.

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. Hyehwamun Gate. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. Changuimun Gate. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. Sukjeongmun Gate. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

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RESOURCES

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. Night view from Beokbeom Square. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. View of outside of Observation Plaza 3 June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. Night view of Gwanghuimun. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2014. Night view of Heunginjimun. June 12, 2014. Seoul City Wall. https://seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr/en/board/B0011.do.

Amazon. 2020. Tale of the Nine Tailed. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12879418/plotsummary.

Zea’s Journal. 2020. The Gatekeeper Song - Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020). Youtube video, 1:03. Posted November 6, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7qk1DgcDQo.

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Xiaofae. 2020. Doorkeeper Doorkeeper Open the doorㅣThe Tale of the Nine Tailed. Youtube video, 2:21. Posted November 8, 2020. https://youtu.be/Y5AIjjVSGYQ.

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