Goseong Ogwangdae (Mask Dance Drama of Goseong)

Ogwangdae refers to the mask dance of the southern region, west of the Nakdonggang River, said to have originated with troupes of performers who played at the market in Chorye Bammari village. The name "Ogwangdae" is said either to derive from the meaning "five clowns" or "a play made up of five acts," or to come from the "five" (五) of the theory of the five elements (Ohaengseol), with the latter view considered the more likely. Goseong Ogwangdae consists of five acts: the leper drum-dance act, the ogwangdae act, the bibi act, the seungmu (monk's dance) act, and the jemilju act. Nineteen characters appear, including a leper, Malttugi, the head yangban (Wonyangban), the eldest son of the main family, a bibi (mythical monster), a monk, a young bride, a yeonggam (old man) and Jemilju Madangsoe. Its content depicts the life of ordinary people, satirizing the yangban and a monk who has broken his vows, and the conflict between wife and concubine. Compared with ogwangdae traditions elsewhere, Goseong Ogwangdae lacks the exorcistic ritual dances, such as the Obang Sinjang dance or lion dance, that usually open and close the performance. Its main dance movements are the deotboegi (mask dance) steps, accompanied by percussion instruments including the kkwaenggwari, jing (large gong), janggu (hourglass drum) and buk (drum).

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Where it is

Region

Goseong, Gyeongnam

Designation

National Intangible Heritage · 국가무형유산