media art, spring, 2011: 3월 2011

2011년 3월 26일 토요일

Korean Traditional Mask History

Hand Carved Wood Korean Hahoe Mask, Yangban-Tal

Hahoe Tal is Koreas the best mask work of art while at the same time, it is evaluated as a worldwide masterpiece of work. Among they many Korean masks, only Hahoe masks were designated as a National Treasure (No. 121, Byeongsan Mask included). They are a precious cultural heritage and world masterpiece. The Hahoe Tal currently has nine selections as the Yangban Tal (nobleman mask) , Sonbi Tal (scholar mask) , Chung Tal (Buddhist monk mask) , Paekchong Tal (butcher mask) , Choraengi Tal (busyboy mask) , Halmi Tal (old widow mask) , Imae Tal (fool mask) , Pune Tal (flirtatious young woman mask) , and Kakshi Tal (bride mask), along with two selections of the animal masks of which the Yangban Tal is considered as an acme of the mask art. It represents the Korean smile and hospitality.

Hahoe masks exhibit characteristics of social status humorously by unique facial expressions using facial bone structures and muscle movements. The Yangban (nobleman), Seonbi (classical scholar), Monk and Beijing (butcher) masks, in particular, have detached jaws attached to the face by strings. By moving the jaws separately from the face, these masks maximize the creation of their different facial expressions.

Hahoe masks have been used in Hahoe Tal Chum (Hahoe Mask Dance Drama), one of Korea's most traditional folk plays featuring various allegorical characters, such as Yangan (an arrogant aristocrat), Sonbi (a pedantic scholar), Bune (a flirtatious young woman), Chung (a depraved Buddist monk), Imae (a foolish servant), Baekjung (a coarse butcher), Halmi (an old widow) and more. Hahoe Tal Chum has been performed as a village ritual in Andong area of Gyeongsang-do province since Goryeo Dinasty. The story is about social satire and humor of the nobleman and the buddist monk. It is also a kind of performing an exorcism.

unexpectedly, however, Nadanghee mask in Guizhou Province, China and No-o mask in Japan have many points in common with Hahoe masks. These should be examined in the future.

All masks have an asymmetrical face with the nose in the center, so their facial expressions look different depending on where they are seen. From the Hahoe Village, there comes a saying that, Hahoe Tal laughs if the performer wears it and laughs, and it, too, becomes anger if the performer becomes angry. There is a legend that the Hahoe Tal was made by Ho do-ryung, an unmarried young man, as he received a revelation from the village god to drive away a woe of the village. The Hahoe Tal made back then is currently kept at Korean National Museum in Seoul as a Koreas national treasure number 121. In addition, the Hahoe Tal has been developed as a tourism craftwork and is beloved by many foreign visitors to Korea.