The haegeum (Korean: 해금) is a traditional Korean string instrument that looks like a vertical fiddle with two strings. It was developed from the ancient Chinese xiqin. The instrument has a long neck, a hollow wooden body, and two silk strings. It is held vertically on the performer’s knee and played with a bow. It is also known by other names, such as kkangkkang-i (깡깡이), kkaengkkaeng-i ( 깽깽이), or aeng-geum (앵금).

The haegeum is one of the most commonly used instruments in Korean music. It is played in court music and in madangnori, which is music performed by ordinary people. Even though it has only two strings, the haegeum can produce a wide range of sounds, from sad and sorrowful to cheerful and humorous. It is made from eight materials: metal, stone, silk, bamboo, gourd, clay, leather, and wood. Because of these materials, it is called paleum, which means "eight sounds."

The sohaegeum (소해금) is a modern version of the haegeum with four strings. It is used only in North Korea and in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China.

The haegeum is played by drawing a wooden bow between its two strings. It stands upright on a large wooden box. It is classified as a string instrument because it has two strings made of silk. However, it is also considered a wind instrument because it can produce continuous sound using the bow. The haegeum has a unique tone that does not match the sounds of other wind or string instruments.

History

There are no records that show exactly when the haegeum first appeared in Korea. Some sources mention the haegeum in writings by royal scholars from the Goryeo dynasty, which suggests that the instrument was played at least from that time.

During the Joseon Dynasty, the haegeum was used in many types of music, including music for royal ancestor ceremonies, parades, festivals, and hyangak (traditional Korean music).

The way the haegeum was played changed greatly after the Joseon Dynasty. Before the middle period of the Joseon Dynasty, musicians pressed the strings without pulling them, similar to how some Western string instruments are played. However, after that time, musicians began to pull the strings. This change allowed for a wider range of sounds because the haegeum does not have a fingerboard.

To improve the haegeum’s sound, changes were made starting in the 1960s. In 1965, Park Hun-bong and Kim Bun-gi created a low-tuned version of the haegeum. In 1967, Kim Gisu made a smaller version of the instrument.