This study aims to illustrate the formations of the Tongyeong Drum Dance, and to examine the dance's divination principles with a view to defining the unique symbolic meaning of the dance.
The Tongyeong Drum Dance is a dance wherein four dancers perf...
This study aims to illustrate the formations of the Tongyeong Drum Dance, and to examine the dance's divination principles with a view to defining the unique symbolic meaning of the dance.
The Tongyeong Drum Dance is a dance wherein four dancers perform dance as they turn around and beat a big drum at the center. The four dancers, wearing attires with colors symbolizing four directions - east, south, west and north - which represent Five Elements. It is a group dance wherein performers play the instrument, sing, and dance.
This study, based on historical literature, confirmed the authentic tradition and valuable intangible heritage of the Tongyeong Drum Dance, and examined the four stages of the dance movement, namely, introduction, development, turn and conclusion. Dance formations were examined from the viewpoint of the science of divination, and their symbolic meaning was explored.
The four stages of the Tongyeong Drum Dance were examined as follows. The introduction stage shows the movement of taegeuk (taiji, the principle of yin and yang, or comma-shaped elements). The development stage shows the division of yin and yang and Five Elements. The turn stage shows the four images and eight diagrams that are created as the performers turn clockwise around and beat the drum. The conclusion stage shows a taegeuk formation that is created as the performers return in a line.
The formations created in the above four stages of the Tongyeong Drum Dance were found to involve the following divination principles.
First, the dance formation of looking up to the heaven and looking down to the earth is based on the symbolism of the unity of Man with the heaven in which principle the heaven, the earth, and man are harmoniously united and keep their respective order.
Second, regular movements of turning to right then to left are related to the principles of yin and yang, and the creation of all things through continuous change.
Third, the four-direction formation is divided into a standstill movement and a circling dance formation. In the standstill movement, dancers' attire colors expressed number four. The four was interpreted to mean the four seasons or the four virtues, namely, the creation, growth, fulfillment and reaping of all things in terms of the heavenly way, as well as four virtues, namely, generosity, righteousness, courteousness and wisdom in terms of the human way. Northward formations represent the relations between five sounds (gung, sang, gak, chi and u) and five elements (the king, subjects, commoners, events, and things), symbolizing the peaceful reigning by the king. The right-turn dance formations express the Acquired Eight Diagrams, a principle by which all things of the universe, after being created, follow the principle of their predetermined changes. These circling dance formations, as a circulation of the four seasons, symbolize the prayers for ample harvest and peaceful times.
Fourth, the dance formations returning to the starting point mean that all things belong to the heaven, and that humans originate in their forefathers. This symbolizes the principle by which all things are indebted to the fundamental thing and return to their original places.
The Tongyeong Drum Dance was found to accommodate the taegeuk form as the medium of movement. The progress of the dance followed formations of the principles of nature through gradual changes. The dance encompassed humans' essential virtues, and divination thoughts and principles that prayed for political stability and economic prosperity. Thus, the Tongyeong Drum Dance was found to be a valuable Korean cultural heritage with historical tradition and authenticity. More in-depth research into the dance is hoped to be conducted so as to transfer it to Korean offspring.