Hwarang were an elite warrior group of male youth in Silla,an ancient kingdom of the Korean Peninsula that originated from the mid 6th century and lasted until the early 10th century. There were educational institutions as well as social clubs where members gathered for all aspects of study,originally for arts and culture as well as religious teachings stemming mainly from Korean Buddhism. Chinese sources referred only to the physical beauty of the "Flower Youths". The history of the hwarang was not widely known until after the National Liberation Day of Korea in 1945,after which the hwarang became elevated to symbolic importance.
Silla,was a Korean kingdom that existed between 57 BCE –935 CE and located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. Silla,along with Baekje and Goguryeo,formed the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Silla had the lowest population of approximately 850,000 people,which was significantly smaller than those of Baekje and Goguryeo.
Namwon is a city in North Jeolla Province,South Korea. Namwon is about 50 minutes from the provincial capital of Jeonju,which is almost three hours away from Seoul. The official city flower is Royal Azalea (철쭉) while the city tree is the crape-myrtle (배롱나무) and the city bird is the swallow (제비). Namwon is a small city located just outside Jirisan National Park,which has the largest set of mountains on the South Korean Mainland. It also borders the Seomjin River,one of South Korea's more prominent rivers. It is 3 hours and 15 minutes from the Seoul Central City Bus Terminal and about one hour from both the U-Square Bus Terminal in Gwangju and the Jeonju Inter City Bus Terminal. It is called "the City of Love" because of the famous Korean love story of Chunhyang. Gwanghanlu Garden is a shrine to this love story.
Queen Seondeok of Silla reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea,from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler,and its first reigning queen. She was the second female sovereign in recorded East Asian history and encouraged a renaissance in thought,literature,and the arts in Silla. In Samguksagi,Queen Seondeok was described as "generous,benevolent,wise,and smart". According to the Legend of Jigwi,she was also beautiful. She developed Buddhist culture,selected great talent,and established diplomacy with the Tang Dynasty,laying the foundation for the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Queen Seondeok is known as a wise and kind monarch,making her one of the most prominent monarchs in Korean history.
A bhikkhu is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism. Male and female monastics are members of the Sangha.
Hwarang segi was a historical record of the Hwarang of the Silla kingdom in ancient Korea. It is said to have been written by Silla historian Kim Daemun 金大問in the reign of Seongdeok the Great.
Hwa Rang Do,also known as "The Way of the Flowering Knights",is a comprehensive Korean martial art that was developed in the 1960s by Joo Bang Lee and his brother Joo Sang Lee. It has multiple areas of focus,including stand-up fighting with open-hand striking,weapons,throws and takedowns;ground fighting;various types of meditative practices;intellectual and character development;and artistic and cultural pursuits.
Since the 1970s,there has been a revival of traditional or reconstructed methods of swordsmanship based on the Korean sword in the Republic of Korea,supplementing the practice of Kumdo. There are historical sources on which such reconstructions are based,dating to the 17th and 18th centuries,notably the Muyejebo of 1610,its 1759 revision Muyeshinbo,supplemented with 12 additional fighting methods by Prince Sado who originated the term Sip Pal Ki,and the renewed revision of 1790,Muyedobotongji.
Kisaeng,also called ginyeo,were enslaved women from outcast or enslaved families who were trained to be courtesans,providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class. First appearing in Goryeo,kisaeng were the government's legal entertainers,required to perform various functions for the state. Many were employed at court,but they were also spread throughout the country. They were carefully trained and frequently accomplished in the fine arts,poetry,and prose,and although they were of low social class,they were respected as educated artists. Aside from entertainment,their roles included medical care and needlework.
Jinpyeong was the 26th king of the Silla dynasty,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. King Jinpyeong followed in the footsteps of his predecessor,King Jinji,by reorganizing the central ruling system of Silla. Upon the onset of a multitude of conflicts between Baekje and Goguryeo,he sent emissaries to improve relations and strengthen ties between Silla and the Chinese dynasties Sui and Tang. He is also known for his promotion of Buddhism as a spiritual guide for the kingdom and encouraging Buddhist teachings. His 54 year long reign is the longest in Silla's history.
Beopheung of Silla was the 23rd monarch of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. He was preceded by King Jijeung and succeeded by King Jinheung.
Lee Sang-hwa is a South Korean retired speed skater who specialises in the sprint distances. She is a two-time Olympic champion in 500 metres and the 2010 World Sprint champion. She is the current world record holder in women's 500 metres with the time of 36.36 seconds set in Salt Lake City on 16 November 2013,and also holds the South Korean record on 1000 metres. She has also won three World Championships medals in 500 metres,and has placed in the top three in World Cup events four times in this distance. Her first World Cup victory,however,came on the non-Olympic distance 100 metres. On the 1000 metres,however,she has never placed higher than fifth in international events.
The Se Sok O-Gye,or just O-Gye,are the five secular rules of the Hwarang formulated by Buddhist monk Won Gwang consisting of five rules:
Queen Seondeok is a 2009 South Korean historical drama produced by MBC and Time Box Production for the former's 48th founding anniversary,starring Lee Yo-won,Go Hyun-jung,Uhm Tae-woong,Kim Nam-gil,and Park Ye-jin. It chronicles the life of Queen Seondeok of Silla. It aired on MBC from 25 May to 22 December 2009 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 62 episodes.
The Flower Girl is a North Korean revolutionary genre theatrical performance,which was written by the country's leader Kim Il Sung. The performance is considered one of the "Five Great Revolutionary Operas",a group of classical,revolution-themed opera repertoires well received within North Korea. It was also made into a novel. A film adaption of the opera starring Hong Yong Hee was made in 1972.
Kkonminam has been commonly used in South Korea since the late-1990s to refer to men who are especially concerned with personal style,grooming and fashion. This lifestyle also includes the significant usage of cosmetics. Although they are sometimes regarded as bishōnen (androgynous),generally gender or sexual orientation is unambiguous.
Princess Cheonmyeong was a princess of Silla,one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. She is known as Queen Seondeok's sister and King Taejong Muyeol's mother.
As One is a 2012 South Korean sports drama film starring Ha Ji-won and Bae Doona. It is a cinematic retelling of the first ever post-war Unified Korea sports team which won the women's team gold medal at the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba,Japan. Director Moon Hyun-sung used the foundation of true events to tell the story of a team that united a divided nation for the first time in its painful history.
Hwarang:The Poet Warrior Youth is a 2016 South Korean television series starring Park Seo-joon,Go Ara and Park Hyung-sik. It revolves around an elite group of young men called Hwarang,who discover their passion,friendship and love in the turmoil of the Silla Kingdom. The series aired every Monday and Tuesday at 22:00 (KST) on KBS2,from December 19,2016 to February 21,2017.
Flower Crew:Joseon Marriage Agency is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Kim Min-jae,Gong Seung-yeon,Seo Ji-hoon,Park Ji-hoon,Byeon Woo-seok,and Go Won-hee. It is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Kim Yi-rang who also wrote the series. It aired on JTBC's Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:30 (KST) from September 16 to November 5,2019.
