Doraji taryeong

Doraji taryeong (Korean: 도라지타령) is a Korean folk song which originated from Eunyul in Hwanghae Province. However, the currently sung version is classified as a Gyeonggi minyo (Gyeonggi Province folk song), as the rhythm and the melody have changed to acquire the characteristics of it.[1]

The song is sung with semachi (fast ⁶
₄ or ⁹
₈) jangdan (rhythmic structure), with occasional switch to jungmori (¹²
₄) jangdan. Like other traditional songs from Korea, it uses the pentatonic scale of jung (G), im (A), mu (C), hwang (D), and tae (E).

Doraji is the Korean name for the plant Platycodon grandiflorus (known as "balloon flower" in English) as well as its root.

Doraji taryeong is one of the most popular folk songs in both North and South Korea, and in China among the ethnic Koreans. It is also a well known song in Japan, by the name Toraji (Japanese: トラジ).[2]

Lyrics

Hangul 도라지 도라지 도라지 심심산천의 백도라지 한두 뿌리만 캐어도 대바구니로 반실만 되누나 Refrain: 에헤요 에헤요 에헤애야 어여라난다 지화자 좋다 저기 저 산 밑에 도라지가 한들한들 도라지 도라지 도라지 은율 금산포 백도라지 한 뿌리 두 뿌리 받으니 산골에 도라지 풍년일세 Refrain 도라지 도라지 도라지 강원도 금강산 백도라지 도라지 캐는 아가씨들 손맵시도 멋들어졌네 Refrain

Revised Romanization doraji doraji doraji simsimsancheonui baekdoraji handu ppuriman kaeeodo daebaguniro bansilman doenuna Refrain: eheyo eheyo eheaeya eoyeorananda jihwaja jota jeogi jeo san mite dorajiga handeulhandeul doraji doraji doraji Eunyul Geumsanpo baekdoraji han ppuri du ppuri badeuni sangore doraji pungnyeonilse Refrain doraji doraji doraji Gangwondo Geumgangsan baekdoraji doraji kaeneun agassideul sonmaepsido meotdeureojyeonne Refrain

English translation Doraji, doraji, doraji! In the depths of the mountains is white doraji! Though one or two roots only I pull, my bamboo basket grows full. Refrain: Eheyo! Eheyo! Eheaeya! Eoyeorananda! Jihwaja, good! There at the foot of the mountains, doraji is moving to and fro Doraji, doraji, doraji! Eunyul Geumsanpo's white doraji! A root, two roots that I picked up, in the mountain valley having bumper doraji crop Refrain Doraji, doraji, doraji! Gangwondo Geumgangsan's white doraji! Damsels pulling doraji have such an elegant hand pose. Refrain

References

1. Han, Manyǒng. "도라지타령" [Doraji taryeong]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
2. Atkins, E. Taylor (2010). Primitive Selves: Koreana in the Japanese Colonial Gaze, 1910‒1945. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 9780520266742. well-known Korean folk melody, "Toraji T'aryŏng" (known simply as "Toraji" in Japanese)