The purpose of this study was to examine the artistic value and historical background of transmission of Jaeincheng (a governmental agency for entertainers and performers) Dances in Hwaseong, which would be favorably assessed by next generation artist...
The purpose of this study was to examine the artistic value and historical background of transmission of Jaeincheng (a governmental agency for entertainers and performers) Dances in Hwaseong, which would be favorably assessed by next generation artists, focusing on the characteristic of Dodaebang (Master Dancer) Lee Dong-an's Jinsoe Dance.
For this, this study examined history books and documents about traditional performances, and dissertations and academic journals on Hwaseong Jaeincheng and Lee Dong-an. In addition, via interviews with successors of Jaein style dances, the characteristic of Jaeincheng Dances was looked into in-depth. Preceding studies on Jaeincheng Dances were diversely carried out focusing on the history, performer and modality of the dance, but studies on the true nature of Jinsoe Dance have been rarely carried out. In this study, the author examined the characteristic of Jinsoe Dance intensively and took part in its dance steps firsthand.
Jaeincheng was established in 1832 in the period of King Sunjo of Joseon Dynasty and forcibly dismantled in 1921 in Japanese colonial era. During this period, it played the role of establishing the foundation and origin of domestic traditional culture, and accommodated many best civil performers at that time who belonged to it or had relationship with the agency directly or indirectly. It administratively handled the activity of all the civil entertainers and performers, such as hwaraengi, gwangdae, jaein and yein, in addition to shamans, and was placed in Gyeonggi, Chungcheong and Jeolla. Among them, Hwaseong Jaeincheng in Gyeonggi lasted longest and its size was most big.
The last Dodaebang Unhak Lee Dong-an (1906~1995) was the holder of No. 79 important intangible cultural property of Baltal and a best performer of traditional performances, such as about 30 kinds of Jaeincheng Dances, tightrope walking and tumbling, in addition to 'Jinsoe Dance', 'Sinkaldaesin Dance' and 'Buddhist dance.'
Among many dances of Lee Dong-an, Jinsoe Dance is a male dance performed to Jinsoe jangdan's accompaniment, one of Gyeonggi Dodanggut jangdans, and transmitted by the gwangdae of Jaeincheng. Although it is not clear due to the shortage of correct documents, oral tradition explains that Jinsoe Dance was performed when happy events took place in court or the country had a bumper year. In that event, king invited local governors for himself to a banquet he held and made performers dance for it. This Jinsoe Dance was performed in Gyeonggi Dodanggut too and the gwangdae of Jaeincheong transmitted/developed it into a folk dance of Gyeonggi-do. The performer of Jinsoe Dance performs it with the right hand holding a ggwaenggwari stick of five-colored threads and with the left hand holding a ggwaenggwari, thus performing its jangdans for himself. In this regard, it combines dance and performance, and seems to be the only one in that kind.
Since the dancing instrument of ggwaenggwari has the flavor of the masses or ordinary people in addition to its fun and joy, Jinsoe Dance has the flavor of noblemen and ordinary people alike.
The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristic and value of Jaeincheng Dances from the perspective of a valuable traditional/cultural heritage, focusing on the artistry and historical nature of Jinsoe Dance, one of Hwaseong Jaeincheng's last Dodaebang Lee Dong-an's dances that combines dance and performance.
In order to prevent the damage, spoil and extinction of traditional cultural heritages that contain the excellent artistry and national spirit of Korea, scholars and dancers who carry out researches on traditional dances and perform it must discover traditional dances which have been neglected so far, preserve its original forms, and transmit/develop it.
The author hopes many dancers will discover/preserve/transmit other traditional dances actively, in addition to Jinsoe Dance, thus making traditional dances develop into such dances that satisfy the tastes of people in the present society.