Sujech’ŏn

Korean music

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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Sujech'ŏn is a piece of Korean court music, specifically a type of hyang'ak (native Korean music). It translates to "Long Life as Immeasurable as the Sky". This instrumental genre is characterized by a combination of native Korean instruments, including the hourglass drum (changgo), oboes (p'iri), flutes (taegŭm), fiddles (haegŭm), and bowed zithers (ajaeng).1

Korean music, in general, has a rich indigenous tradition influenced by Chinese and Mongol cultures. Early Korean music was associated with agricultural festivals and shamanistic rituals. Over centuries, court music developed, incorporating Chinese instruments and musical theories, but also retaining unique Korean elements. A notable traditional Korean narrative song genre is pansori, performed by a vocalist and a drummer, combining song, narration, and gesture to tell a story.12

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Korean music
Court instrumental music
…(hyang’ak) plays pieces such as Sujech’ŏn (“Long Life as Immeasurable as the Sky”), one hears a more indigenous combination of the hourglass drum, oboes, flutes, fiddles, and the special bowed zithers (ajaeng).
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…(hyang’ak) plays pieces such as Sujech’ŏn (“Long Life as Immeasurable as the Sky”), one hears a more indigenous combination of the hourglass drum, oboes, flutes, fiddles, and the special bowed zithers (ajaeng).
Read More