Arts

Andong Chajeon Nori

The Andong Chajeon Nori is a mock chariot battle performed as a folk play and as a rite to pray for a good harvest. It is said to have its origins in battles between a Later Baekje period rebel leader and a Goryeo Dynasty king, which would date it to the tenth century. First, trees would be selected and felled, and a sacrificial rite would take place. Much later and after the trees had been transformed into the desired structure, the battle would take place, with the whole village being involved and taking one of two sides. The two leaders would stand on the wooden structures that had been made with the felled trees and the battle would commence with the winner and loser being decided based on whose wooden frame had or had not fallen to the ground.

Arirang

Arirang is a lyrical folk song that has been passed down through the generations, but its beginnings remain unclear other than the fact that it seems to have originated from a Gangwon-do folk song named Arari. Arirang consists of just a few lyrics, including the word Arirang, but there are many regional variations which maintain the title Arirang but incorporate the region name into the title. In fact, any song with the word Arirang in the chorus is known as Arirang, which means that there is potentially an ever growing number of Arirang. Both the South Korean and North Korean Arirang are inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Baltal

Baltal, or foot mask theatre, is in a way similar to puppet shows in that a person will remain hidden whilst controlling a puppet. In this case, the puppet is actually a face mask that is placed on the foot whilst the puppet arms are controlled by string. The performance involves singing, dancing and making jokes. Another person works in harmony with the mask puppeteer, but in full view of the audience and the performance is also accompanied by musicians. Photograph reproduced courtesy of the Korea Heritage Service website. 

Bongsan Talchum

Bongsan Talchum is one of the better known mask dance dramas. There are actually two different types of Bongsan Talchum, which are location dependent, and each has its own masks, costumes and dance moves. The Bongsan Talchum has seven acts and a close and has 36 different characters, making it quite large compared to some of the other mask dance dramas. Despite these differences, it does share similarities, including character type. Bongsan Talchum characters include monks and noblemen and as well as a lion, a dancer, an old woman and an old man. Most of the Bongsan Talchum acts focus on dancing, although as with other talchum, it is a combination of dance, dialogue, music and ritual.

Bukcheong Saja Noreum

Bukcheong Saja Noreum is the lion mask dance of Bukcheong.

Bulhwajang (Buddhist painting)

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Cheoyongmu (dance of Cheoyong)

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Daegeum Jeongak (classical daegeum solo music)

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Daegeum Sanjo (freestyle daegeum solo music)

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Dancheongjang (decorative painting)

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Dongnae Yaryu (mask dance drama of Dongnae)

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Eunyul Talchum (mask dance drama of Eunyul)

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Gagok (lyric song cycles accompanied by an orchestra)

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Ganggangsullae (circle dance)

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Gangneung Nongak (farmers’ performance of Gangneung)

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Gangnyeong Talchum (mask dance drama of Gangnyeong)

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Gasa (narrative song)

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Gasan Ogwangdae (mask dance drama of Gasan)

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Gayageum Sanjo and Byeongchang (freestyle gayageum solo music and singing)

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Geomungo Sanjo (freestyle geomungo solo music)

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Gimcheon Geumneung Binnae Nongak (farmers' performance of Binnae Village, Gimcheon

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Goseong Nongyo (farmers’ song of Goseong)

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Goseong Ogwangdae (mask dance drama of Goseong)

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Gurye Hyangje Julpungnyu (string ensemble of Gurye)

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Gurye Jansu Nongak (farmers’ performance of Jansu, Gurye)

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Gyeonggi Minyo (folk song of Gyeonggi area)

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Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori (mask dance drama of Hahoe)

The Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori is a post Lunar New Year mask dance performed to the village guardian for peace and a good crop. It is made up of eight different acts or madang: boy dancer, head monk, butcher, old woman, depraved monk, nobleman and scholar, wedding and first night - and throughout, the performance is accompanied by a farmer's band playing traditional instruments. The Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori has been performed for around 500 years and is listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, whilst the masks used in the ritual are designated as National Treasures. Today, you can see some of these acts performed at the Hahoe Mask Dance Performance Hall, just on the outskirts of Hahoe Village.

Hak Yeonhwadae Hapseolmu (crane dance and lotus flower dance)

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Hwanghae-do Pyeongsan Sonoreumgut (shamanic ox performance of Pyeongsan, Hwanghae-do)

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Imsil Pilbong Nongak (farmers’ performance of Pilbong, Imsil)

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Iri Hyangje Julpungnyu (string ensemble of Iri)

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Iri Nongak (farmers’ performance of Iri)

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Jeju Minyo (folk song of Jeju)

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Jindo Dasiraegi (dasiraegi play of Jindo)

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Jinju Geommu (sword dance of Jinju)

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Jinju Samcheonpo Nongak (farmers’ performance of Samcheonpo, Jinju)

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Jultagi (tightrope walking)

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Nakhwajang (pyrography)

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Nakjukjang (bamboo pyrography)

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Namdo Deullorae (farmers’ song of Jeollanam-do)

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Namsadang Nori (itinerant troupe performance)

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Namwon Nongak (farmers' performance of Namwon)

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Pansori (epic chant)

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Piri Jeongak and Daechwita (classical piri solo and military band music)

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Pyeongtaek Nongak (farmers’ performance of Pyeongtaek)

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Seodo Sori (folk song of the western provinces)

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Seonsori Santaryeong (folk song of the mountain performed whilst standing)

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Seungjeonmu (victory dance)

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Seungmu (monk's dance)

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Songpa Sandae Nori (mask dance drama of Songpa)

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Suyeong Yaryu (mask dance drama of Suyeong)

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Taepyeongmu (dance of peace)

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Tongyeong Ogwangdae (mask dance drama of Tongyeong)

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Yangju Byeolsandae Nori (mask dance drama ofYangju)

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Yecheon Tongmyeong Nongyo (farmers’ song of Tongmyeong, Yecheon)

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Yeongsan Soemeori Daegi (wooden bullfight of Yeongsan)

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References/Further Reading

Cultural Heritage Administration (2014) Nongak: Community Bank Music, Dance, and Rituals in the Republic of Korea. Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Cultural Heritage Administration (2019) Talchum: Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea. Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Cultural Heritage Administration (2021) Arirang: Lyrical Folk Song in the Republic of Korea. Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Encyclopaedia of Korean Folk Culture (n.d.) Bongsan Talchum. https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/1313

Encyclopaedia of Korean Folk Culture (n.d.) Hahoe Byeolsin Mask Dance Performance. https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/5226

Korea Heritage Service (2006) Andong Chajeon Nori (Chariot Battle of Andong). english.khs.go.kr/chaen/search/

Korea Heritage Service (2006) Baltal (Foot Mask Theater). https://english.cha.go.kr/chaen/search/baltal

Korea Heritage Service (2006) Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori (Mask Dance Drama of Hahoe). english.cha.go.kr

Korea Heritage Service (2006) Heritage Classification. english.khs.go.kr/classification

Korea Heritage Service (2006) Heritage Search. english.khs.go.kr/chaen/search/

All photographs taken by the site owner unless otherwise stated.