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| HOME>CULTURE>Fork Games |
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History |
 In
ancient times, many fire-field farmers moved into
the deep mountains of Taebaek. In the course of
societal change from nomadic slash-and-burn agriculture
to a settled collective farming society, in the
absence of fertilizer compost became to sole method
for improving the fertility of the land. Taebaek
Galpulsseoli was held in the seventh month of the
lunar year, before the harvest season. During this
event, villagers collectively prepared compost,
visiting each house in turn. To this end, they brought
two- or three-year-old plants and made them compost
by cutting them with a straw cutter. In this process,
the leader of the villagers, known as the pulasi,
would make comic and humorous sounds to amuse the
workers, thereby increasing the harmony and unity
amongst the group, and in turn boosting productivity.
In time this became a folk game of this region.
Even though many people who hold this talent have
now passed away, but are still people who know how
to perform this game. |
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Details |
| Galpulsseoli games are usually held between the
sixth lunar month and the beginning of the harvest.
First, people cut gil plants, which grow alongside
village roads. Then they gather in front of the
seonghwangdang where they prayed for the wellbeing
and happiness of the villagers. After that they
set a date to cut the plants, and also decide which
house at start at. In general between 20 and 30
people work at each house in turn. Plants to be
cut are usually between two and three years old.
Mountainsides where plants are cut will be excluded
from this event for the next two or three years.
One person usually works seven or eight jims a day,
4 of them in the morning. When cutting galpul plants,
people are divided into two groups. For example,
if twenty people work together, to begin the work,
each of the twenty carries one jim of plants. Then
eight people cut those plants with a cutter, and
the remaining twelve collect plants until the afternoon,
thereby securing a total of 100 jim (8∥10 tons)
of compost. Another method is that twenty people
collect four jim in the morning, and in the afternoon,
sixteen people cut the plants using two cutters,
and the remaining four people still collect four
jim of plants. Regardless of which method is used,
the end result is that 100 jim of plants. If thirty
people can work in a group, this figure rises to
150 jim. In that case, thirty people each collect
two jim of plants in the morning. Then sixteen of
them cut the plants using two cutters, and the remaining
fourteen collect six more jim of plants until nightfall.
What is important here is that when cutting plants,
they sing songs. The words of the songs are very
humorous. These words are the key of the game of
galpulsseoli, and they also have high literature
value as functional working songs. These songs are
performed by everyone involved in the game, thereby
making the work harmonious and smooth. Here our
ancestors show their wisdom in finding ways to make
hard work light using humor and satire. They were
also very careful to divide workers up according
to their individual strengths. When pulasi (those
who carry plants) starts a song, jakdukkuns (those
who cut plants) know that plants are coming and
sing answering songs. In that case, they try not
to spare their energy, so they loosen their working
speed, which balances their strength. The pulasi's
songs are answered by jakdukkuns with laughter,
thereby making the event that much more fun. The
food on this day is lavishly provided. People get
together to drink and eat. Upon completing all the
hard work of galpulsseolgi, the strongest men in
the village engage in ssirum wrestling contests
to show that they still habe lots of energy. Villagers
add to fun by beating drums, jangos and kkoenggari.
The winner of the contest is then carried about
in a palanquin as a sign of everyone's appreciation
for his hard work |
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