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

^ Han, Manyǒng. "도라지타령" [Doraji taryeong]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Academy of Korean Studies. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
^ 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)

[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)

[1]

[2]