The book introduces Korea's age-old feasting customs - their history, types and related games and other activities, with many pictures and illustrations. Particularly, court feasts are reviewed through the royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), illustrated with precise documentary paintings. They clearly differed from feasts of commoners. Regardless of social class, however, Koreans regarded good food, drinks, song and dance as essential for truly jubilant occasions.

<The Spirit of Korean Cultural Roots> Series

1.A Brief History of Korea

2.Norigae: Splendor of the Korean Costume

3.Roofs and Lines

4.Windows and Doors

5.Stone, Walls and Paths

6.The Traditional Space

7.Floral Lattices, Columns and Pavilions

8.Korean Dance

9.The Poetic World of Classic

Korean Women Writers

10.Korean Mask Dance

11.The Traditional Education of Korea

12.Folk-religion: The Customs in Korea

13.Money: Traditional Korean Society

14.Pottery: Korean Traditional Handicrafts

15.The Traditional Ships of Korea

16.Korean Travel Literature

17.Markets: Traditional Korean Society

18.Dining Tables: Korean Traditional Handicrafts

19.Interior Space and Furniture of

Joseon Upper-class Houses

20.Modes of Transportation:

Traditional Korean Society

21.Buddhism: Religion in Korea

22.Astronomy: Traditional Korean Science

23.Sippalgi: Traditional Korean Martial Arts

24.Festive Occasions: The Customs in Korea

Preface

I. The Origin of Feasts

The History of Feasts

II. Korean Feasts

Communal Feasts

Court Feasts

Rites of Passage

Holiday Feasts

III. Festivals and the Culture of Exhilaration

Feasting Venues

The Joy and Exhilaration of the Feast

Feasts and Food

Bibliography

Index

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The Spirit of Korean Cultural Roots

“The Spirit of Korean Cultural Roots” is a bilingual project aimed at explaining the origin and evolution of Korean culture in a series of compact books. The series, published in Korean and English, began in 2005. Among the topics covered so far are literature, history, music, fine arts, handicrafts, furniture, food, costumes, architecture and theater. A rich assortment of visual material accompanies each comprehensive survey, making the subjects more accessible to general readers. The English editions are significantly contributing to international understanding of Korean culture.