18 replies to this topic

[★ WaGGy]

CTS 2 - SAGEUK RELATED TERMS for Historical Dramas
The terms are categorized for better reference.

Legend:
Romanized Word Word in Korean English Translation (Extra information/examples)


Sageuk 사극 – Korean Historical dramas
Arirang아리랑 – best known Korean folksong about lovers parting over a hill.
Hanbok한복 – traditional Korean clothing
Poseokjeong 포석정 – Pavilion of Stone Abalone
Sura sanggung 수라상궁 – three palace women servants who remove bowl covers and offer foods to the king and queen after ensuring that the dishes are not poisoned
Gisaeng 기생– female Korean entertainer. They were artists who worked to entertain others
Sanggung 상궁 – court lady, a supervisor amongst the female palace servants.
Kungnyo 궁뇨– palace girl, example a maidservant at the palace.
Gayageum가야금 The gayageum is a twelve-stringed zither, also called the gayatgo, dated to the 8th to 9th century. Gayageum have twelve silk strings supported by twelve movable bridges; the strings are plucked with the fingers to produce a clear sound.
Gongbok 공복 - A formal attire worn when officers/officials have an audience with the King.
Gung 공 – palace.
Wanggung 왕궁 – Royal Palace
Jae 재– mansion.
Jon 존 – hall.
Jongmyo 종묘 – Royal ancestral shrine.
Hongyongpo 홍용포 – the King's red official robes.
Myunyugwan 문유관 – ceremonial motarboard hat with colored beads, back and front, indicating rank: twelve for the Emperor, nine for the King, seven for the Heir Apparent, five for his son, three for officials.
Juksuk 죽숙 – the King's red silk ceremonial shoes.
Jobok 조복– official court attire worn by officials above the third rank.
Baji 바지 – Korean baggy pants
Hwa 화 – tradiational Korean boots

During the Joseon Dynasty and Goryeo Dynasty & the Social Classes
Gwageo 과거 – National Civil Service Exam. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects. Gwageo served as the primary route to secure positions in the government or military. The examinations fell under three broad categories:
• mungwa 문과 – The literary examinations
• mugwa 무과 – military examinations
• japgwa 쟢과 – miscellaneous examinations covering topics such as medicine, geography, astronomy, and translation.
Yangban 양반 – part of the traditional ruling class or nobles. Literally means "two ranks" which refers to two different kinds of bureaucrats: munban 문반 – the literary and scholarly rank and muban 무반 – the martial rank
jungin 중인 – the petite bourgeoisie of the Joseon Dynasty. The name "chungin" literally means "middle people". This privileged class of commoners consisted of a small group of petty bureaucrats and other skilled workers whose technical and administrative skills enabled the yangban and the wangjok to rule the lower classes.
Sangmin 상인– the common people of Joseon Korea. About 75% of all Koreans at that time were sangmin. The sangmin consisted of peasants, laborers, fishermen, some craftsmen and merchants. The sangmin were considered "clean workers" but had little social status. Generally they were poor.
Cheonmin 천민 - vulgar commoners," were the lowest caste of commoners in dynastical Korea
Baekjeong 백정– “untouchable” outcast group


ROYALTIES
There are 2 sets: During the Kingdom and during the Empire, but with only slight difference, mostly spelling.
Guide Suffixes/prefixes
Nim 님– suffix that indicates honorific title, example Wangjanim.
Bi 비– suffix used for the senior wives (consort) of the King/Monarch.
Bin 빈– the suffix used in the titles of the second highest rank of the King's wives or concubine, usually those who had borne a child by him.
Tae or Dae 대 – refers to great or grand.

TERMS used for Royalties (from oldest to youngest and their rank)
Taesangwang 태상왕 – Former Grand King
Daewangdaebi 대왕대비 – Grand Royal Queen Dowager, the current king's great-grandmother
Wangdaebi 왕대비 – Royal Queen Dowager, the current king’s grandmother, mother or aunt who was married to a Sangwang This term is used when a Daebi is serving as regent if the king is still very young to rule.
Sangwang 상왕 – Former King. They still remain influential even after they have voluntarily transferred their power to their son or abdicated.
Daebi 대비 – Queen Dowager, the current king’s mother.

Wang 왕 – the current king
Seondaewang 선대왕 – Great Predecessor King, for references to late Monarch
Daewang 대왕 – Great King, for references to late Monarch
Gugwang 국왕 – State King, for foreign envoys
Wangbi 왕비 – the current queen, the Wang’s first wife
Wanghu 왕후 – title consisting of two Hanja in front plus the customary suffix Queen. Used for queen consorts that remained married to the king until their death
Kwibin 귀빈 – Royal concubine, first order
Kwi-in 귀인 – Precious person or noble lady, title used as a prefix for the second rank of concubines, usually those who had borne a child and received a certificate of status.

Gun 군 – Prince, sons of the King's secondary wives; eldest sons and eldest grandsons of Taegun, borne by principal wives; all sons of a Crown Prince; and meritorious subjects of the first and second class.
Daegun 대군 – Grand Prince, son of the Wang and Wangbi. A title that is not inherited, his sons are mere princes.
Gunbuin 군부인 – Princess Consort, wife of a Gun
Bubuin 부부인 – Grand Princess Consort, wife of a Daegun
Wangja 왕자 – Royal Prince before being crowned as heir to the throne.
Wonja 원자 – Primary prince, the title of the first born son of a Wangbi
Wangseja 왕세자 – Crown Prince
Seja 세자 – Prince Successor, simplified Wangseja
Wangnyo 왕뇨– Princess, daughter of the Wang
Wangsejabin 왕세자빈 – Crown Princess, wife of Wangseja
Sejabin 세자빈 - Princess Successor, simplified Wangsejabin
Wangseson 왕세손 – Heir Presumptive, heir in succession to the Wangseja or grandson of Wang
Wangson 왕손 – Prince, grandson of a Wang, descended in the male line from a junior wife.
Gongju 공주 – Princess, daughter of Wang and Wangbi
Ongju 옹주 – Princess, daughter of Wang and Kwibin or Kwi-in
Gunju 군주 – Princess, daughter of a Wangseja and Wangsejabin
Wangseje 왕세제 – Prince, younger brother of the Wangseja

How to address them (others are used as suffix):
Mama 마마 – His/Her Royal Highness or His/Her Majesty. Sometimes Choha. Addressed to the Taesangwang, Daewangdaebi, Wangdaebi, Daebi, Wang, Wangbi, Wonja, Wangseja (not common). Example: Daebimama
Jeonha 전하 – His Majesty. Sometimes Chonho. Addressed to the Wang, Sangwang, Taesangwang, Hwangtaeja, Wangseja
**Old terms used before Jeonha:
Naratnim 나랏님
Imgeum 임금
**Formal terms used in the court to refer to the king when he is not present or when an old king or queen address the crown prince
Geumsang 금상 – current king
Jusang 주상 or Sanggam 상감 – sovereign (or Sanggammama)
Agissi 아기씨 – His/Her Young Highness. Addressed to a Gun, Daegun before marriage, Gongju before marriage, Ongju before marriage
Daegam 대감 – His Excellency. Addressed to a married Gun, Daegun
Jaga 자가 – Her Excellency. Addressed to a married Gongju, married Ongju
Manura 마노라 or Manura 마누라 – Her Royal Consort Highness. Addressed to the Wangsejabin
Abamama 아바마마 – used by Prince and Princess when calling their father (Wang)
Omamama 오마마마 – used by Prince and Princess when calling their mother (Wangbi)
Halmamama 할마마마 – used by the prince/princess to their grandmother (Daewangdaebi, Wangdeabi, Daebi)
Halbamama 할바마마 – used by the prince/princess to their grandfather (Taesangwang, Sangwang, Wang)
Jungjeonmama 중전마마 – Her Majesty, used by the people when they call the queen
Mamanim 마마님– used to call palace ladies with higher rank



MORE TERMS WILL BE ADDED.

[♔ milkyway]

Great job! You've worked hard.

[hellochloe]

Mind blowing *is dizzy*

How do ppl manaage to sub sageuks

[sosohe]

awesome compilation. thanks!

[MFGR]

thank you very much! ive been wanting to learn about the saguek drama terms. this is a jem! thank you again!

[imouto]

wow thanks a lot

I love historical dramas, and it´s very nice to know the meanings.

greetings

[MaMaN]

Thank you very much for sharing...

[Vivek]

Nice Work. I love Saeguks They are so interesting and awesome.

[chara_aia]

I'm seeing stars now after reading this
thanks for sharing, this would come in handy

[femalia]

I am watching TWDR. And this info is useful. Thank you.

[femalia]

I am watching TWDR. And this info is useful. Thank you.

[linntan]

Hi,
I notice that a number of people like The Moon That Embraces the Sun (2012) but faces difficulty in translating it.
These are some of the websites that may help you.

(1) Korean History Glossary (With Chinese to English Translations)
- RE-UPDATE (It's a Word Document)
http://www.google.com.sg/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=korean%20history%20glossary%20&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fisites.harvard.edu%2Ffs%2Fdocs%2Ficb.topic640659.files%2FKorean%2520History%2520Glossory.doc&ei=Mz8WT82FFdHHrQfOncBp&usg=AFQjCNF8t24c3i5IOFWhBdHZsuCFLoSVMg

(2) Gungnyeo/Sanggung (Translation for Palace ladies/ladies in waiting)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gungnyeo

(3) Joseon Dynasty (A brief history. Especially useful when you want to understand the central government then)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseon_Dynasty

(4) Useful to check out the 5 palaces wiki websites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Grand_Palaces#Historical_architecture
But I think the most useful one could be Gyeongbokgung.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeongbokgung

(5) Selection procedure for Queen Consort/Princess Consort (Added on: 21 Jan 2012)
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5d5e74340100kkpc.html
I will translate some parts to it for your info:
(i) "拣择" refers to a ceremony where the royal family will select the queen or princess consort. When the King or Crown Prince reaches a suitable age for marriage, the Court will pass the "禁婚令: Marriage prohibition order", and order all the eligible ladies to submit "处女单子: personal document". In this document, it contains the girl's birth date and time, her residence address, her father and grandfather's background, family ancestor history.
(ii) There are 3 stages to the selection process. In the first stage, 初拣择: preliminary selection, the royal family will chose 5-6 girls. They will then go through a second stage called 再拣择 where they will narrow down to just 2-3 girls. The final stage is 三拣择 which is to select the final one. The selection criteria includes the girl's character, appearance, family background, etc.
(iii) The selected princess/queen consort will receive education at her temporary dwelling. This includes movement, posture, poise and other proprieties and etiquette required of a consort. She also needs to be familiar with <小学: Basic Knowledge/Primary education> and <孝经: Filial piety manual> and other confucian materials. These are all the key qualities of a queen/princess consort.
(I will cover the marriage ceremony later on.)

I will add more when I come across them.
Cheers.

[★ WaGGy]

Thanks for sharing linntan

[mars1234]

whew! that's a lot of titles. thanks for sharing!

[empresslilo28]

every time i watch historical dramas ive been wanting to know the meaning of the names such as queen dowager. Though i could kinda guess what it meant i was never sure, now i can just come here and check thanks!!

[ayerasa]

Gracias por la información, siempre es bueno conocer más sobre la hermosa historia Coreana. Saludos desde México.

[iessicalee]

For the period dramas, they tend to address family members more formally, like eg, instead of oppa, girls call their elder brothers a different name (which I can't really catch OTL). Are the translators supposed to put that in as well?

[∞ jamiepeach]

Time is divided into 2-hour intervals ("double-hours"), named after the 12 Earthly Branches (地支/十二支/십이지), and may be referred to by the corresponding zodiac sign.

子 zǐ   자 ja   Rat    11pm to 1am (midnight)
丑 chǒu 축 chuk Ox      1am to 3am
寅 yín  인 in   Tiger   3am to 5am
卯 mǎo  묘 myo  Rabbit  5am to 7am
辰 chén 진 jin  Dragon  7am to 9 am
巳 sì   사 sa   Snake   9am to 11am
午 wǔ   오 o    Horse  11am to 1pm (noon)
未 wèi  미 mi   Goat    1pm to 3pm
申 shēn 신 sin  Monkey  3pm to 5pm
酉 yǒu  유 yu   Rooster 5pm to 7pm
戌 xū   술 sul  Dog     7pm to 9pm
亥 hài  해 hae  Pig     9pm to 11pm

[shiinji]

very nice waggy 

 

 

how come i just found and read this now....