| UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage | |
.jpg) AnArirang performance during theArirang Mass Games inNorth Korea  Song So-hee performingArirang inSouth Korea | |
| Arirang | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO regional groupings | Asia and the Pacific |
| UNESCO information (North Korea) | |
| Reference | 914 |
| Inscription history | 2014 (9th session) |
| UNESCO information (South Korea) | |
| Reference | 445 |
| Inscription history | 2012 (7th session) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 아리랑 |
| RR | Arirang |
| MR | Arirang |
| IPA | a.ɾi.ɾaŋ |
Arirang (Korean:아리랑;pronounced[a.ɾi.ɾaŋ]) is a Koreanfolk song.[1] There are about 3,600 variations of 60 different versions of the song, all of which include a refrain similar to "arirang, arirang, arariyo" ("아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요").[2] It is estimated that the song is more than 600 years old.[3]
"Arirang" is included twice on theUNESCOIntangible Cultural Heritage list, having been submitted for inclusion first bySouth Korea in 2012[3][2] and then byNorth Korea in 2014.[1][4] In 2015, the South KoreanCultural Heritage Administration added the song to itslist of important intangible cultural assets.[5]
The song is sung today in both North and South Korea and acts as a symbol of unity between the two nations, which are divided by theKorean War.
It is believed that "Arirang" originated inJeongseon, Gangwon Province. "Arirang" as a term today is ambiguous in meaning, but some linguists have hypothesized that "ari" (아리) meant "beautiful" and "rang" (랑) referred to a "beloved one" or "bridegroom" in the ancient native Korean language. With the two words together, the term arirang meant "my beloved one".[6] This theory, supported by scholars such asShin Yong-ha [ko],[7] bears the song's legend. According to the legend, the name is derived from the story of a bachelor and a maiden who fell in love while pickingcamellia blossoms near thewharf at Auraji (아우라지)—a body of water that derives its name from the Korean word "eoureojida" (어우러지다), which is closely translated to "be in harmony" or "to meet". For example, the body of water that connects the waters ofPyeongchang andSamcheok to the Han River is called Auraji.[8] Two versions of this story exist:
According toProfessor Keith Howard, Arirang originated in the mountainous regions ofJeongseon, Gangwon, and the first mention of the song was found in a 1756 manuscript.[10] TheAcademy of Korean Studies also shares the view that "Arirang" was originally a folk song of Jeongseon. Some Jeongseon locals trace the song further back, to the era ofGoryeo.[11]
Some believe that the song spread toSeoul and other regions of Korea when workers from Gangwon were sent to Seoul to rebuild theGyeongbok Palace under the order ofPrince Regent Heungseon of theJoseon period.[11] Others theorize that the words "arirang" and "arari" in the song's lyrics originate from the families of the workers during this period, who said "arirang" (아리랑;我離郞) or "ananri" (아난리;我亂離) to the officials taking the workers from their Gangwon homes to the palace construction in Seoul, phrases that meant they couldn't be separated from their lovers or families, respectively.[12][13] According to theMaecheonyarok (매천야록;梅泉野錄), recorded by Joseon scholarHwang Hyeon [ko], it seems the song was widespread in the country by this time.[11]
The South Korean literary scholarYang Ju-dong has theorized that the term "arirang" came from the combination of "ari" (아리), the old Korean indigenous word that also meant "long", and "ryeong" (Korean: 령;Hanja: 領;lit. hill).[14]
Some trace the term "arirang" to the name ofLady Aryeong, the wife of the first king ofSilla, as the song could have evolved from a poem praising her virtues. Others have speculated that the term is linked to theJurchen word "arin", meaning "hometown", or the name of an Indian god with a similar name.[15]
The first known recording of "Arirang" was made in 1896 by AmericanethnologistAlice C. Fletcher. At her home inWashington, D.C., Fletcher recorded three Korean students singing a song she called "Love Song: Ar-ra-rang".[16][17] One source suggests that the students belonged tonoble Korean families and were studying atHoward University during the period in which the recording was made.[18] Another source suggests that the singers were Korean workers who happened to be living in America during that time.[19] The recordings are currently housed in the U.S.Library of Congress.[20]
During theJapanese occupation of Korea, it became a criminal offense for anyone to sing patriotic songs, including Korea's national anthem, so "Arirang" became an unofficial resistance anthem againstImperial Japanese rule.[21][22] Korean protesters sang "Arirang" during theMarch First Movement, a Korean demonstration against the Japanese Empire, in 1919. Many variations of "Arirang" that were written during the occupation contain themes of injustice, the plight of labourers, and guerrilla warfare. It was also sung by mountain guerrillas who were fighting against the occupiers.[21]
The most well-known lyrics to "Arirang" first appeared in the 1926silent filmArirang, directed byNa Woon-gyu.Arirang is now considered alost film, but various accounts state it was about a Korean student who became mentally ill after being imprisoned and tortured by the Japanese. The film was a hit upon its release and is considered the first Korean nationalist film.[23][21][24]
During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Japan experienced a craze for Korean culture and for "Arirang" in particular. Over 50 Japanese versions of the song were released between 1931 and 1943, in genres includingpop,jazz, andmambo.[21] Some Japanese soldiers were familiar with "Arirang" from their service inJapanese Korea, or from their interactions with Korean women forced into prostitution (also calledcomfort women), labourers, and soldiers.
All versions of "Arirang" include arefrain similar to "Arirang, arirang, arariyo (아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요)".[2] The word "arirang" itself is nonsensical and does not have a precise meaning in Korean.[25] While the other lyrics vary from version to version, themes of sorrow, separation, reunion, and love appear in most versions.[4][26]
The table below includes the lyrics of "Standard Arirang" from Seoul. The first two lines are the refrain, which is followed by threeverses.
| Hangul | Hangul/Hanja | Revised Romanization | IPA transcription |
|---|---|---|---|
아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요... | 아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요... | Arirang, arirang, arariyo... | [a̠.ɾi.ɾa̠ŋ a̠.ɾi.ɾa̠ŋ a̠.ɾa̠.ɾi.jo̞] |
나를 버리고 가시는 님은 | 나를 버리고 가시는 님은 | Nareul beorigo gasineun nimeun | [na̠.ɾɯɭ pʌ̹.ɾi.go̞ ka̠.ɕi.nɯn nim.ɯn] |
청천하늘엔 잔별도 많고, | 晴天하늘엔 잔별도 많고, | Cheongcheonhaneuren janbyeoldo manko, | [tɕʰʌ̹ŋ.tɕʌ̹n.ɦa̠.nɯ.ɾe̞n tɕa̠n.bjʌ̹ɭ.do̞ ma̠n.ko̞] |
저기 저 산이 백두산이라지, | 저기 저 山이 白頭山이라지, | Jeogi jeo sani baekdusaniraji, | [tɕʌ̹.gi tɕʌ̹ sʰa̠n.i pe̞k̚.t͈u.sa̠n.i.ɾa̠.dʑi] |
There are an estimated 3,600 variations of 60 different versions of "Arirang";[2] their respective titles are usually prefixed by their place of origin.[15]
While "Jeongseon Arirang" is generally considered to be the original version of the song, "Bonjo Arirang" (literally: Standard Arirang) from Seoul is one of the most famous. This version was first made popular when it was used as the theme song of the 1926 filmArirang.[15]
Other famous variations include "Jindo Arirang" fromSouth Jeolla Province, a region known for being the birthplace of the Korean folk music genrespansori andsinawi; and "Miryang Arirang", fromSouth Gyeongsang Province.[28][29]
In 2011, Arirang was added to the third batch of the "List of Representative Items of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China".[30]
In 2023, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of theYanbian Korean Autonomous Region, ethnic Korean singer Cui Liling published the first "Arirang" variation aboutHeaven Lake onJangbaeksan.[31]
BothSouth andNorth Korea have successfully submitted "Arirang" to be included on theUNESCOIntangible Cultural Heritage list; South Korea in 2012[3][2] and North Korea in 2014.[1][4]
In 2015, the South KoreanCultural Heritage Administration added "Arirang" to its list of importantintangible cultural assets.[5]
TheU.S. Army's7th Infantry Division adopted "Arirang" as its official march song in May 1956, after receiving permission fromSyngman Rhee, the first president of South Korea. The division had been stationed in South Korea from 1950 to 1971, including during theKorean War period.[32]
