Korean Pansori Epic Rap

Pansori is a traditional performance art of Korean nationality. To perform Pansori, there is a singer who displays the dramatic long story of Korea by singing, talking and using exaggerated movements to the beat of a drummer. Its ingenuity has been recognized by the world and it has been included in the World Incorporeal Heritage List by UNESCO.

The word “Pansori” is a combination of “Pan” and “Sori”. “Pan” means rallying point and “Sori” means the way to express a traditional folk song. So Pansori can be treated as a performing arts rallying point.

Pansori originated in southwest Korea in the 17th century and may have been a new form of the Shaman’s rap at that time. Not until 19th century did it become popular among the folk. After that, new literature was created and its content became even richer, making it strongly favored by many people.

The themes of Pansori include loyalty to family, sorrow of bereavement and love. The singers should be trained for a long time to master different timbre and recite complicated scripts. Many maestros have created their own way to perform and have become famous by singing special sections in their own style.

Translated by Gao Hanbo