Korea
Korean

Brass, wood, fiber rope
Mid 20th century
Diameter: 7.75 in, Back diameter: 7.25 in, Rim width: 1.625 in
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Gongs

The kkwaenggwari is a small flat gong with a lipped edge and an open back, so that the left hand can block and control the volume and tone.  It is used in folk performing arts in Korea, primarily pungmul (includes farming/rural ritual music, dancing, drumming, singing) and in samul nori (a genre of percussion music). It is made of brass and is played with a mallet, producing a distinctively high-pitched, metallic tone. In Nongak (Korean folk music traditions of the community band) the person who beats a kkwaenggwari is called sangsoe or busoe.  They are responsible for directing the entire flow of the music and performance.