Wind Chimes and Korean Culture
Situated on a peninsula between China and
Japan, Korea has been a cultural cross roads since ancient times. The
style of Korean handicrafts is reflective the country's unique cultural
heritage and close ties with surrounding countries.
Traditional Korean wind chimes (풍경) are made of copper and bronze and are basically smaller versions of the multi-ton sounding bells found in Buddhist temples throughout the country. In fact, one of the easiest ways to find Korean wind chimes is by visiting a temple. Wind chimes and a common decorative element hung below the cascading eves, and are sold by temples as souvenirs to raise funds.
The sail used on traditional Korean wind chimes is usually a piece of copper fashioned into the shape of a fish. Fish never stop moving. A characteristic much revered by Buddhists as it symbolizes their constant earthly struggle to reach Nirvana.
Modern manufacturing techniques have given rise to an increasing assortment of wind chimes manufactured in Korea. They are sold alongside wind chimes imported from other countries at festivals and handicraft markets across the country. Insadong is the place to go in capital city of Seoul. An arts and entertainment district tucked up against the mountains, Insadong is a feast for the senses, and a veritable shopping paradise for the wind chime collector.
Those visiting the Korean port city of Incheon (about an hour drive from Seoul) will want to drop by the Word Ceramic Center, the fitting home of the world's largest ceramic wind chime.
© 2007 Asianwindchimes.com
AsianWindchimes.com provides information about wind chimes produced in Korea, China, and Japan, and other parts of Asia.