The Lifetime of Ureuk

Ureuk, who was originally a man of Daegayaguk, found favor with King Gasil. Following the order of the king, he made the Gaya harp with 12 strings and composed 12 tunes for it. He was exiled to Silla for a period around 550. He lived in the Nangseong with his pupil, Yimun.

In 551 (the twelfth year of the reign of King Jinheung), Ureuk and Yimun played a new tune before King Jinheung when the king dropped into the Harimgung in Chungju. The king, who was moved by Ureuk’s playing, ordered him to teach the Gaya harp, song and dance to Daenama Gyego, Beopji and Daesa

Mandeok, respectively. After that, King Jinheung changed the tunes for the Gaya harp into court music. Hence, the Harim tone and the Nunjuk tone were created and the total number of the tunes for the Gaya harp came to reach 185.

The twelve tunes composed by Ureuk include: Sangarado, Hagarado, Bogi, Dalgi, Samul, Murye, Sanggimul, Hagimul, Sajagi, Geoyeol, Saparye and Isa.

The majority of the names of the tunes followed those of gun and hyeon of those days. Hence, the twelve tunes have become a vital source for the study of folk song. It is said that the names of Geumhyupo in Chungju and Tangeumdae were originated from Ureuk.