Culture and Customs of Korea

by Donald N. Clark

For centuries, although strongly influenced by the Chinese, Koreans have maintained a unique civilization with their own language, social organization, food, national costume, political institutions, and customs. The disruptions of the 20th century have included a long and difficult period of foreign rule and a devastating civil war. However, Koreans continue to prize their traditional culture, and the younger generations have embraced Koreanness with a determination to assert Korea's place in the world. Culture and Customs of Korea artfully depicts the past and present in North and South Korea with chapters on the story of the Korean people, thought and religion, arts and literature, performing arts, daily life and folkways, life in a Korean village, life in urban Korean, and gender, marriage, and the lives of Korean women. A chronology and glossary supplement the text.

Genres: Nonfiction

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lili Kyurkchiyska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Този кратък наръчник, писан за американската аудитория* във едни по-обнадеждаващи времена преди световната политика да се скапе съвсем, е нелошо въведение по теми, които живо ме интересуват (винете за това K-drama-та). Без да избягва неудобните въпроси, авторът потвърди много от моите впечатления, добити чрез източници, които не могат да се смятат за напълно достоверни (погледни по-горе). Помогна ми да се убедя, че критичното ми мислене си е на мястото и всичко му е наред. И че прекалявам със сериалите. И че страшно много ми се яде корейска храна. Уууаааааааа!


*Любопитно ми е доколко наистина е помогнал.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't completely finish this book before I had to take it back to the library. It was a good overview of Korean culture, interesting and well-written. I just wish that more of it had lodged in my brain. Everything's so unfamiliar that it's hard to remember!

['Izzat Radzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn''t expect the coverage of the country to be so profound.
Great partition of the topics covered.
Would recommend to anyone who'd wish to read about Korea