The ''gyobang'' () were the principal buildings associated with

kisaeng ''Kisaeng'' (), also called ''ginyeo'' (), were enslaved women from outcast or enslaved families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men of upper class. First emerging in Goryeo dynasty. were ...

during the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

and Joseon Dynasties. They provided instruction in music including

Hyangak ''Hyangak'', literally "indigenous/native music, folks music" is a traditional form of Korean court music with origins in the Three Kingdoms of Korea, Three Kingdoms period (57 BC – 668 AD). It is often accompanied by traditional folk dances o ...

(lit. "village music) and dance, and by the late Joseon dynasty they were also the administrative center of kisaeng society. ''Gyobang'' first appear in historical records in the early 11th century, in the reign of King Hyeonjong. However, since that record describes the king releasing 1,000 kisaeng from the ''gyobang'', it is likely that they date to the 10th century and the formation of the kisaeng class. When Korea came under Japanese rule in the early 20th century, the ''gyobang'' were replaced by ''

gwonbeon ''Gwonbeon'' () were institutions set up for the training and oversight of '' kisaeng'' and other entertainers in the early 20th century. They were the successors of the '' gyobang'', government-supported institutions which had provided such edu ...

''. No ''gyobang'' survive today, although a handful of pictorial depictions do.

References

{{Reflist Buildings and structures of Goryeo Buildings and structures of Joseon Kisaeng Education in Goryeo Education in Joseon

See also

References