Notes on Things Korean

Notes on Things Korean offers an insightful look at the traditions and cultural heritage of the Korean people. A compilation of concise and informative notes on a wide range of topics, this book is for anyone interested in Korean life, thought, and culture. 


The notes, some illustrated with sketches and drawings, are presented alphabetically under such headings as Beliefs and Customs, Arts and Crafts, Music and Dance, Language and Letters, Historic Figures, Famous Places and Monuments, and Games and Sports. There are more than one hundred fifty entries which include, for example, descriptions of traditional arts, crafts, games, clothing, housing, and food, and explanations of customs and traditions and the significance of certain persons, places, and artifacts. Students of Korean studies, writers and translators should find this book very useful, especially the glossary which contains nearly four hundred entries suitable for use in footnotes.


In revising the book, some entries are deleted and a few new ones are added, because, for example, a building was demolished or a structure was restored. In regard to the Romanizing of Korean terms, the book has chosen to continue using a modified version of the McCune-Reischauer system, which is the preferred method of most academics.