All About The Traditional Korean Masks

You whitethorn beryllium acquainted pinch nan masks worn astatine Halloween aliases astatine masquerades, but do you cognize astir traditional Korean masks? If you want to find retired what they are and their history, don’t miss this article!

The history of accepted Korean masks

The history of accepted Korean masks stems from an aged legend. It is said that 1 day, during nan reign of Goryeo (918-1392) successful nan colony of Hahoe (하회), a craftsman was commissioned by nan gods themselves to carve 12 masks retired of wood that represented various personalities. The masks had to beryllium carved successful awesome secrecy. Until he had vanished nan work, nan craftsman was forbidden to person interaction pinch different people, connected reward of death. However, erstwhile he was astir to complete nan twelfth mask, a woman who was successful emotion pinch him peeked into nan workshop, unaware of nan consequences it would have. At that nonstop moment, nan man suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died, leaving nan twelfth disguise unfinished. The twelfth disguise is nan 1 that represents nan fool and has nary jaw for this very reason.

What are nan accepted Korean masks?

Of nan 12 accepted Korean masks mentioned successful nan legend, only nine are still preserved coming successful nan colony of Hahoe successful nan Sonang-tang shrine. They are:

•         Yangban, 양반, nan aristocrat;
•         Gaksi, 각시, nan young woman;
•         Jung, 중, nan Buddhist monk;
•         Choraengi, 초랭이, nan Yangban servant;
•         Seonbi, 선비, nan scholar;
•         Imae, 이매, nan fool and servant of Sonpi;
•         Bune, 부네, nan concubine;
•         Baekjeong, 백정, nan butcher;
•         Halmi, 할미, nan aged woman.

The three missing ones, connected nan different hand, are expected to person been stolen – 1 is presently located successful Japan (Byeolchae, 별채, nan taxation collector) and nan different 2 successful Pyongsan, North Korea (Chonggak, 총각, nan bachelor, and Tteokdari, 떡다리, nan aged man). In particular, nan Byeolchae disguise successful Japan is said to person been stolen betwixt 1592 and 1598 by General Konishi Yukinaga arsenic spoils of war.

These accepted Korean masks, called tal (탈), were agelong utilized for shamanic rituals and people dances for nan people. They were believed to person magical powers which helped thrust distant evil spirits, frankincense protecting nan village. All different masks were ever burnt astatine nan extremity of nan capacity arsenic an offering, replaced by caller ones for nan adjacent performance. However, these tal masks were religiously kept wrong a shrine without being burnt.

These are nan best-known accepted Korean masks, but too nan Hahoe tal (하회탈) – nan masks created successful Hahoe – location are besides other types. These see nan ogwangdae (오광대) and yayu (야유), which person coarser and simpler features and are utilized to correspond beardown emotions. Bongsan (봉산) is utilized to correspond and separate betwixt various aristocrats. Tongyeong (통영) is utilized to correspond supernatural figures.

The talchum, aliases masked dance

Performances successful tal masks are called talchum (탈춤), which virtually intends masked dance. Talchum is considered South Korea’s intangible taste heritage and is some a creation and a theatrical performance. The capacity was carried retired successful nan unfastened aerial of colony squares, to pass pinch nan deities and inquire them to ward disconnected evil spirits. It was a spectacle for nan people, very different from nan dances staged for nan nobility, which progressive much delicate movements. In summation to ample masks, talchum dancers besides wore brightly coloured clothes. Today, it is imaginable to spot talchum performances at traditional festivals.

We dream you enjoyed this article connected accepted Korean masks! For much accusation connected Korean connection and culture, support pursuing the Go! Go! Hanguk blog and do not hesitate to contact us astir surviving and studying successful Korea.