The purpose of this study is to research the basic meaning of Cheoyongmu that is possessed of historical and artistic values in terms of the origin and form of dance in Korean court dances. In addition, by reviewing the Cheoyongmu's value in the histo...
The purpose of this study is to research the basic meaning of Cheoyongmu that is possessed of historical and artistic values in terms of the origin and form of dance in Korean court dances. In addition, by reviewing the Cheoyongmu's value in the history of dances, this study is not only to figure out the value of Cheoyongmu in the royal court dance, but also to understand the implicit meaning and the role of Cheoyong masks by studying its material quality, which is used for hat and facial mask of Cheyoung Mask.
Cheoyongmu appeared in the reference for the first time at the reign of Heongang, the 49th King of the Silla Kingdom, systematically formed and became a representative dance of Hyangak jeongjae (traditional folk dances of Korea) from the thousand years ago and up to this day.
Cheoyongmu is a work of great cultural value designated as an Import Intangible Culture Asset No. 39 and inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Among court dances handed down to date, Cheoyongmu is unique in that it is the only form of a court dance that is performed using human masks. Cheoyongmu had has shamanistic characters and had been carried out the purpose of overcoming a national crisis.
It began with the form of ‘one-man Cheoyongmu’ in the period of Silla Kingdom and had been changed into ‘two-men Cheoyongmu’ throughout Goryeo era and Joseon Dynasty. Especially, at the reign of King Sejong of Jeoson Dynasty, Cheoyongmu was reformed as ‘Five men Cheoyongmu (Obang Cheoyongmu)’ influenced by the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements Theory and the form has maintained until today.
However, Cheoyongmu was performed in the form of ‘Hak-yeonhwadae-cheoyongmu-hapseol’ during the reign of King Sejong in Jeseon Dynasty and was played ‘Nine-men Cheoyongmu’ during the reign of King Sunjo in Joseon Dynasty.
As Cheoyongmu changed its forms according to the historical situation, Cheoyong masks could be seen the variety with the stream of times. Cheyong masks had tough and horrible looking to drive off the goodness of small pox in the early days of the Silla Kingdom. Then, it became a similar face to a human's due to the improvement of culture and spirit level of the Silla Kingdom, and it had a virtuous, generous and benevolent looking in the late Silla Kingdom. Cheoyong Mask faced the crisis of suspension of its production during the Japanese colonial era, but a performance was given to celebrate the 50th birth anniversary of King Sunjong using the masks manufactured by Leewangga Art Factory belonging to the Leewangjik Craft Workshop where placed in the Deoksugung Palace. The masks let to the exist of Cheoyong Mask upto this day. Its size has been adjusted to suit modern Koreans, so it is still with us.
In the Cheoyong Tale of the Silla Kingdom, Cheoyong was deified as the god of a door and described as a national guardian who had the magic power to drive out diseases and evil spirits. Cheoyongmu also had such power to expel evil spirits and Cheoyong Mask played a role in exerting its supernatural power to avert misfortunes in religious rites. They had religious characteristics, served as symbols of ethnic community, and reflected the sentiments of Korean people.
Cheoyong Mask is 47 cm in high and 27 cm in wide with a mask attached to its hat. It is decorated with peony blossoms symbolic of wealth, fame and power, peaches and peach tree branches to drive off evil spirits, and tin rings and lead beads as earrings on two ears symbolic of power. All these accessaries imply that Cheoyong Mask drives away evil spirits, and each has its own significance.
As stated above, Cheoyong Mask derived from having shamanistic characteristics and went so far as to drive away evil spirits and invite blessings. Cheoyongmu has established itself as a representative Hyangak court dance of Korea over the long period of a thousand years because it implies driving away evil spirits and inviting blessings. Byeoksajingyeong (referred to as driving away evil spirits and inviting blessings) is the cause of presence and continuity of Cheoyongmu because it started as a national exorcism in the Silla Kingdom, and developed into a dance for national rites in the Joseon Dynasty.
This study of Cheoyong Mask and Byeoksajingyeong, which are core factors of Cheoyongmu, will serve as a good material to support the importance and preservation value of Cheoyongmu.