The traditional culture of Korea before the division of Korea in 1945 is the shared cultural and historical heritage of Korea and southern Manchuria. As one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, Koreans have passed down their traditional narratives in a variety of ways. Since the mid-20th century, Korea has been split between the North Korean and South Korean states, resulting today in a number of cultural differences. Before the Joseon dynasty, the practice of Korean shamanism was deeply rooted in Korean culture.