The saenghwang (Korean: 생황) is a traditional Korean wind instrument. It is a type of instrument with reeds that came from the Chinese sheng. It is also connected to the Japanese instrument shō, which also came from the sheng.
During the Goryeo period, the instrument was called saeng (생; 笙) or u (우).
History
The instrument is recorded in Korea during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period. The sheng was regularly brought to Korea, with the Goryeo court receiving it from the Song dynasty in 1116. In 1406, the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty gave the Joseon court a sheng. During the rule of King Sejong the Great, the instrument was made in Korea.
During the 1592–1598 Japanese invasions of Korea, the instrument was temporarily stopped from being made in Korea. People continued to play the instrument during the Japanese colonial period, and artists later joined the National Gugak Center after South Korea was established. The South Korean government has supported some artists who play the instrument.
Description
The saenghwang is made from 17 bamboo pipes, each with a metal-free reed. These pipes are placed vertically inside a windchest. In the past, the windchest was made from a dried gourd, but today it is more often made of metal or wood.
The instrument's range spans from hwangjong (E♭) to cheongnam-ryo (C). Excluding the ui-gwan, the 16 pipes produce 12-yul and 4 auditory sounds. However, when used for hyangak, the range becomes broader. The saenghwang is the only Korean traditional instrument that can play multiple notes at the same time. Typically, three notes are played together: two notes are octaves apart, and one note is four or five degrees lower.
In old Korean paintings, gisaeng (Korean female entertainers) are often shown playing the saenghwang.
Compared to other Korean traditional instruments, the saenghwang is not widely known today, even in Korea. Few musicians can play it. It is mainly used in chamber music, often played with instruments like the danso (vertical flute) and yanggeum (hammered dulcimer).