Korea Tibetan Songs Of Cross-cultural Comparative Study

The basic tenet and focus of this thesis paper deals mainly with the subject of traditional folk literature and the study of folk songs. It has also drawn reference from studies of Folklore and Cultural Anthropology, and using tools of documentary methods, field studies and comparative methodology, it has confined its fields of research locations to the counties of Tianjun, Gonghe and Tongren of Qinghai Province, with much emphasis on field participation observations to the areas concerned.The author also used many documents and papers related to Korean folk song and Tibetan Layi. These documents were translated and reorganized in this thesis. Through comparison and contrast between Korean and Tibetan love songs' phrase, structure, and singing style, the author attempts to find out the profound meaning of love songs in each culture. There is also much effort to draw out the connotations of love song in each culture from their lifestyle, oral tradition, religion, and history etc...Tibetan Layi is mainly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and by their half-agriculture, half-nomadic culture. The love songs of the Amdo Tibetan culture stresses greatly on rhythm and contrast, and often than not, items and matters related to Tibetan daily living become symbols and pledges of love.As they serenade the beauty and lifestyle of grassland's people through their songs, they consider their expression of love as sacred and the exchange of emotions as a form of art. The theme of the songs mainly highlights the love between young men and women and the necessity to respect their pursuit for freedom of love. At the same time, their songs reflect severe and harsh criticism of parental or other forms of interference with this pursuit of freedom of loveIn comparison, Korean love songs are influenced by agricultural background and Confucian ideology. Hence, among Korean folk songs, many reflect hard work and labor. It is in the process of manual labor that thoughts and longings for their lover are expressed. As such, the lyrics are more implicit and intrinsic, and its melody is usually persuasive, fluent, smooth, and sentimental. Thus, most of the songs are not fastidious about rhyme and contrast.Although, Tibetan Layi and Korean folk songs are different from each other owing to its differences in history, nationality, background, and language, folk songs are oral expressions that is transmitted and preserved by the community and often regarded as a literary form of folk performing arts. Both genres of folk songs are oral expressions that seek either to convey some form of lovesickness or to lessen the monotony of manual labor. Through songs, they express and articulate their thoughts and feelings. In fact, this form of "oral transmission- heart reception" has allowed folk songs to survive and further developed. It is also through such face-to-face exchange of singing that folk songs are passed down and further popularized, so much so that it has become a common means of expressing love.In view of the fact that Korean folksong is on the decline, it needs to be protected and also to learn from its model counterpart, the Tibetan Layi, which despite the process of modernization, has weathered and survived through the generations.This thesis is divided into 5 parts, introduction, three chapters and conclusion; 42,000 characters altogether.