Traditional korean masks, or tal, were originally used in shamanist rituals. This drama form originally came from sonangje, as part of a village shrine ceremony, about 200 years ago. Mask dance dramas of korea a lecture by cedarbough saeji. This dance was popular among village people in the joseon period 921910. An explanation of kyogen, the comic spoken dialogue plays performed between noh plays or independently, is included, along with a list of sources for further reading. Although the term talchum is usually taken to mean all mask dance dramas. Mask were used in theatrical plays that were means of expressing criticism against everything that was considered wrong, like powerful aristocracy, buddhist hierarchy, corruption, drunkards, gossips and flirts.
While it is difficult to trace the origin of talchum, it is believed that talchum began as a part of shaman ritual which was used to please the gods and exorcise the evil spirits and later became a village ritual to pray for an abundant harvest, peace and prosperity. Although the term talchum is usually taken to mean all mask dance dramas by most koreans, it is strictly speaking a regional term originally only properly applied to dances of hwanghae province in presentday north korea. Ceremonies and plays with masks have been many different kinds, but now, mask plays as intangible cultural assets are haesuh talchum west coasts mask dance, sandaenori mask dance dramas, ogwangdaefiveclown play,yaryufield play, suhnanangshinjai talchum mask dance with rites for a tutelary deity. It is not just a dance performed by masked dancers but also a drama with masked characters portraying persons, animals or supernatural beings. Mar 01, 2010 end page 102 it was still early in my language training, but i understood enough to know that he gave a history of hahoe talchum and the preservation efforts that are taking place through the hahoe mask dance drama preservation society and the andong mask museum.
Wearing masks or watching the dance, the commoners sangmin expressed their collective sentiment and emotion in specific expressive styles of. The bawdy, brawling, boisterous world of korean mask dance. Jungkooks dance is called talchum, meaning mask dance. This chapter considers elements of talchum that are common across the thirteen preserved styles of the masked dancedrama and details an extended. A graduate class in asian theatre had brought talchum, koreas masked dance drama, to my attention, and the lack of information in english eventually led me to apply for a fulbright research grant to learn more. Jul 27, 2017 black actors were literally and figuratively wearing a mask, both while performing in blackface, and in society to survive. Oct 21, 20 issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Sep 05, 2017 these talchum, accorded national intangible cultural heritage status, are three of the most famous mask dances and are still performed to packed venues in south korea today. On the basis of this history, that the moros y cristianos came first and the other dances later, 20th century north american mask collectors have assumed that the older masks could only be from the moros y cristianos dance. There is a theory that says that name tal for mask comes from chinese language where it meant to be free.
Sejong cultural society bongsan talchum by byungman son. Bongsan talchum is a type of korean traditional mask dance that originated in hwanghae province, north korea. Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. Their history and structural principles jeon kyungwook, eur doseon on. A trip to andong early in my grant period led me to the hahoe mask dance drama preservation society. Park explains that talchum is a mask dance, geurimjageuk is a shadow drama, and inhyeonggeuk is a puppet show.
Different features in mask designs represented different social classes. Talchum korean collections ohio state university libraries. Some of the talchum, or plays performed through dance, also mock stereotyped versions of annoying. To further simplify, every older mask of an archaic style has simply been called a moro. The tradition of mask dance is found throughout the korean peninsula and each regional variation displays distinctive characteristics. Park explains that talchum is a mask dance, geurimjageuk is a shadow drama, and. Korean maskdance dramas, which still are performed in. Who would have thought a dance with scary masks could represent so much of korean history and. Introduction to bongsan talchum korean traditional mask dance bongsan mask dance drama video produced by bongsan mask dance drama preservation society in. Traditional korean theater has a rich and diverse history.
Comedy, tragedy, and social commentary meld with energetic dance, distinctive masks, and lively music. Early history the first talchum performances probably took place during the three kingdoms period, from 18 bce to 935 ce. With her tiny, fixed mouth, smiling eyes, and applecheeks, bune represents beauty and good humor her character is a bit shady and. Koreas cultural and artistic achievements through the ages are now leading many of its young talents to the worlds most prestigious music and dance competitions, while its literary works are being translated into many different languages for global readers. Talchum or talchum could be characterized as a korean dance performed while wearing a mask, mimicry, miming, speaking and even sometimes singing. Covers the history and characteristics of theatre in ancient greece. With that in mind, a book like yangsook chois, behind the mask comes across as a breath of fresh air in the midst of all this garbage. The main text deals with the masks of korea and other countries, examines the functions and meanings of the masks and looks into the distribution and features of korean mask dramas, the performers and the history. It is the story of a korean boy, kimin, right before halloween. Gives the history and a description of noh, the highly refined japanese theater form combining drama, dance, music, and poetry. This book consists of ten chapters and contains the script of bongsan talchum, a korean mask drama, and photographs of performances.
The meaning of the word talchum is the mask dance but we might call it a korean traditional musical drama because it has music and drama as well as dance people love the drama because of the artistic touch of masks, the beautiful color combination of the costumes, the dynamic movement of dance, the dramatic music and satire of dialogues of interesting charact. A graduate class in asian theatre had brought talchum, koreas masked dancedrama, to my attention, and the lack of information in english eventually led me to apply for a fulbright research grant to learn more. Jun 16, 2017 there are many kinds of traditional korean dances and talchum is one of them. A note about talchum, korean mask dance, follows the story. Korea information culture and the arts korean cultural. Apr 04, 2020 talchum mask dance korea shadow theatre taiwan, china hun lakhon lek puppetry thailand. Intangible cultural property south korea wikipedia. Gangnyeong talchum mask dance drama of gangneung is a type of sandae dogamgeuk, which was performed at the royal palace.
Talchum is a form of drama featuring the wearing of masks, singing and dancing. A new vision of korean dance through a comparative study of. Many korean mask dance dramas, which still are performed in. Easily share your publications and get them in front of issuus. Characteristics of korean maskdance drama scholarworks. Talchum is a korean dance performed while wearing a mask and singing. Hahoe byeolsin gut tal nori created in hahoe, the birthplace of talchum, this mask dance is about 800 years old. Mask dances were accompanied with narrative and song. All the boys and girls are excited discussing what they will be for halloween. Project muse the bawdy, brawling, boisterous world of. I came across a book by mel watkins called on the real side, which uses the lens of humor to talk about inside and outside perception of black entertainers through time. Bune represents a flirty young woman in many plays, she appears either as the concubine of yangban, the aristocrat, or of sonbi, the scholar. It was originally a regional term only applied to mask dances traditional to hwanghae province. Traditional korean mask dance drama is investigated through its history, the common subjects treated by the plays, and religious background of the plays.
Choi tells a measured tale of a boys wish to have the best and scariest costume for halloween and throws in a good measure of korean history and culture along the way. After the mask dance drama came to be no longer performed there by 1634 the 12th year of king injos reign, it was still enjoyed as a pastime by ordinary people. Korean mask dance dramas, which still are performed in. This essay is a companion piece to korean mask dance dramas, a photo essay also published in the september 2012 issue of the crosscurrents ejournal.
Talchum is a mask dance accompanied by songs and dramas. Talchum literally meaning mask dance is not just a. In the blog post about korean dano festival, i mentioned that one of the key events of the gangneung dano festival is the gangneung gwanno mask dance drama. At the present time, korean arts and culture are attracting many enthusiasts around the world. Oct 29, 2015 this factual and descriptive lecture, illustrated by original video clips, draws on more than ten years of active research on koreas mask dance dramas, and nearly two decades of as an. Bongsan tal chum bongsan mask dance is one of the mask dances passed. This is a broad term for the dance since there are 12 version all with unique dances and masks based on region. They appealed to commoner, but more importantly consisted of shamanistic elements.
The korean mask is a unique dichotomous symbol, embodying the significance of tradition while allowing the wearer to realize full selfexpression and liberation. Talchum is a mask dance accompanied by songs and dramas, delivering the wisdom of old people who overcome the tiredness of reality through dance. Traditional folk game series talchum mask dance go 60th anniversary of the republic of korea go traditional folk game series ganggangsullae korean circle dances go. Books in korean about traditional korean theater in osul. Apr 23, 2015 there were several different styles of theater, including talchum, pansori. These dramas are often colloquially and incorrectly referred to as talchum mask dance in koreanin fact, talchum is one of the major variants of mask dance drama from hwanghae province in presentday north korea. Oct 17, 2019 in any case, traditional korean masks have been used for funerals, curing ceremonies, satirical plays and pure entertainment for centuries. Korean maskdance and aristotles poetics digital scholarship. This dance was a form of drama when performed that featured masks, singing, and dancing. Pansori, one of the more popular forms of traditional korean theater, is an epic song performance. The history of the mask dance dramas has been admirably researched.
For instance, the mask dance talchum, one of the representative theatre forms in the chosun period, is regarded as minjung theatre since it was performed and received by the common people. Videos ib theatre research presentation libguides at. Introduction to bongsan mask dance drama in english. Merging aspects of ancient shaman rituals with dancing and. Kallie szczepanski is a history teacher specializing in asian history and culture. Behind the mask by yangsook choi goodreads share book. Behind the mask is a koreanbased picture book by yangsook choi. Korean mask dance talchum doesnt necessarily mix well with the. Read the history of korean face masks and why koreans wear face masks. The bawdy, brawling, boisterous world of korean mask dance dramas. Introduction to bongsan talchum korean traditional mask dance bongsan mask dance drama video produced by bongsan mask dance drama preservation society in seoul, korea.
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