Kkaturi Taryeong
Unknown (Jeolla Oral Tradition)
Region
Jeolla Province
Genre
Usage
Namdo Folk Song
Recreational Song
Kkaturi Taryeong is a Jeolla folk song about a pheasant hunt that travels to the famous mountains of all eight provinces, from Jirisan in Jeolla to Baekdusan in Hamgyeong. Its tightly packed lyrics and fast jajinmori rhythm vividly capture the excitement of the chase. This record is archive material collected to organize and preserve the representative lyrics and the transmission context of Kkaturi Taryeong.
Commentary & Notes
Kkaturi: A hen pheasant. The male is called jangkki.
Maebangul: The small bell tied to a hunting hawk's tail; its jingle as the hawk takes off signals that the hunt has begun.
The song is strophic, with eight verses. The refrain comes first, then each verse, and the song closes with the refrain once more.
Cultural Background
Kkaturi Taryeong moves in a melodic style much like pansori's bold "hogeolje" (or seolleongje), and specialists sometimes call it by that name; its pitch structure differs from typical Jeolla folk songs. With densely packed words and complex rhythms, it is hard for anyone but trained singers, and it is paired with Namwon Sanseong to close a southern performance.
Lyrics
까투리 한 마리 푸두둥하니
매방울이 떨렁
후여 후여 후여
까투리 사냥을 나간다
전라도라 지리산으로
꿩 사냥을 나간다
지리산에 올라 무등산을 보고
나주 금성산에 당도하니
Up flutters a hen pheasant — whirr! —
and the hawk's bell jingles
Huyeo, huyeo, huyeo!
Off we go to hunt the pheasant
To Jirisan in Jeolla Province
we go out hunting pheasant
We climb Jirisan, gaze out at Mudeungsan,
and arrive at Geumseongsan in Naju
