Aak
Aak (鞎勳晠, 'elegant music') is a genre of Korean court music originating from the importation of Chinese yayue ritual music in the 12th century Goryeo Dynasty. Its sonic character is defined by extreme solemnity and slowness, with each tone sustained to create a meditative, expansive soundscape. The instrumentation is highly specific, built around tuned stone chimes (pyeongyeong) and bronze bells (pyeonjong) that produce its distinctive timbre. Performed exclusively for state sacrifices and Confucian ceremonies, Aak embodies principles of cosmic harmony and political order. Its legacy is one of careful preservation, maintained as a national intangible cultural property.