I went to the National Folk Museum located inside of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The permanent exhibition halls are divided into three parts. The first exhibition hall shows the daily life of our Korean ancestors. The timeline this exhibition is based on is the 17^th~20^th century. The second one shows the four seasons and how our ancestors adapted to the climate and the distinct weather conditions of a particular season. The last exhibition shows the important rituals and the stages of our ancestor¡¯s life.

          In the first hall I looked at the daily lifestyle of our ancestors especially farmers, they in the morning since they did not have any alarm clocks to wake them up, they worked with mother nature and woke up to the rooster¡¯s sound and finished work at dusk. But since mother nature was not precise people needed something to check the time a bit more accurately. So, with the sundial created by Jang Young-sil that the government placed outside of Jongmyo everyone who wanted to check the time could use it. However, entering the 19^th century portable sundials were made with the development of technology. Speaking of sundials another important thing is the wells. They provided water for washing and cooking. Wells were put in public places where everyone can use them freely. However, some rich people had their own wells in their homes for personal use. The daytime was the time for work for almost everyone. The Yangban spent their times studying and working in the government office. Artisans worked in their shops, and the farmers worked in the fields, or collected firewood. Some of their daily jobs were sowing, cultivating, harvesting, and storing away harvested crops. Women took care of children, prepared meals and used spinning wheels to make cloths. In winter they had more time. Men caught fish in frozen rivers and children flew kites. Kites were enjoyed by all people during holidays such as chuseok and the full moon festival as well. In the evening there was an official curfew. One of the ways our ancestors spent the evening was cooking chestnuts and sweet potatoes in a brazier. But on special holidays people were allowed outside to enjoy the celebrations. The night of Joseon, this was a very important time for Joseon people because people thought back then that plentiful harvest, fortune telling, and bad weather can be predicted through astronomy.

              The second Hall I went to look at our ancestor¡¯s lifestyles during the four seasons. When spring comes farmers prepare for planting crops. Farmers plow the soil the soil for planting and added fertilizer later flowers and trees started to blossom. During the summer, the rice plants began to grow farmers needed to take breaks from time to time. The farmers made summer clothes using ramie and hemp. People wanted to make these clothes colorful, so they dyed the cloths with natural colors from the indigo and gardenia plants. Autumn was harvest time for the farmers they harvested their crops and celebrated together. Later they hold a memorial service or their ancestors with the first harvest crops. they also repair the house to prepare for the winter. Because during the winter it is hard to find fresh vegetables woman prepared kimchi for the entire winter. we in Korea called this kimjang. Kimchi is made of vegetable mixed with various ingredients such as cat Chinese cabbage, radish, cucumber, leek, and sesame leaves. There are 200 different kinds of kimchi in Korea today. have in the winter kimchi is stored in giant clay pots called jangdok. Jangdok is used for storing fermented food. It functions far better than a plastic vessel because it has a ventilation system. A particular type of clay is used in a jangdok which has tiny holes. Water and dirt cannot get past these holes while air can this helps with fermentation. Woman also makes quilted and padded clothes for the family.

              The last hall I went to you explain the important rituals and the stages of our ancestor¡¯s life. (BIRTH) When a baby was born a strong rope called geumjul was hung over the gate. People hung these ropes to protect the house from evil spirits and warn people not to enter the house. If a baby boy was born charcoal and red peppers were tied to the rope However, if a baby girl was born charcoal and pine branches were used.(BAEKIL) In the past any babies died at an early age so a family had an important celebration at the 100th day following their birth people share rice cakes with many people because they believe that if they share rice cakes the baby will ever live long. (DOL) on the baby first birthday different objects are placed on a table in front of the child. According to the objects the baby picks up their future is chosen according to that object this is believed by many people in the past. (GWALLYE/GYERYE) coming of age is the transition from a children two adult this ceremony was held in between age 15 to 20. Boys tie their hair into a topknot and wore a horsehair hat. Girls rolled their hair at the back of their head and fixed it with a long hairpin. (HOLLYE) In the past, most people got married before the age of 20. Marriages were erased by the parents. And the couple did not meet until the day of the wedding. The wedding ceremony was held at the bride's house. (HWANGAB/HOEGAB) Also, in the past many people did not live up to the age of 60. The 61st birthday people Had a big ceremony. People put many foods on a big table. Sons and daughters both bowed to their parents and offered wine.  (JESA) There are many kinds of memorial services in Korea. One of them is charye and another kind is gije. Both memorial procedures are complicated and follow a strict order. A charye is held on the morning of holidays, such as the New Year and Thanksgiving Day. The gije is a memorial service held on the anniversary date of a person¡¯s death.

This was a very meaningful class this time for me because of many reasons and I will highly recommend this trip to the museum to know more about the Korean culture and its history. I will visit this place again on a late date because it was very interesting.