Anseong Hyangdangmu

The Anseong Hyangdangmu is a traditional dance that originated at a teaching academy for music, song and dance in the Anseong region of Gyeonggi Province, known as the Hyangdang. Several theories surround its origin, one holding that it began when the descendants of Beodeul-aegi - a court gisaeng at the Geukjeokru pavilion, built to commemorate victory after the suppression of the Red Turban Rebellion in the reign of King Gongmin of Goryeo - danced in memory of her spirit. It can also be seen as a continuation of the village rites, dongje (village guardian-deity rites), sadangpae (itinerant performing troupe) shows, and dances performed by court and private gisaeng in the Anseong and Jincheon areas. The dancers were mainly jaein (professional entertainers), gisaeng, and commoners, but the Chinese-character terms used for the dance movements and the place-name allusions suggest that educated, literate groups were involved alongside the jaein performers. About 40 dances have been passed down as part of the Anseong Hyangdangmu, divided by character into masculine and feminine dances. Thirteen dances belong to the masculine hwarangmu (knight-dance) tradition, including the Gyeongcheonbaeryemu, a rite performed in worship of heaven; the Bonghwanggeumnanmu, praying for the king's long life and the prosperity of the royal family; and the Janggeommu (long-sword dance), Gungmusamu (archer-warrior dance) and Dosanmuryeongmu. Fifteen further dances, passed down among the gisaeng of the Anseong region as feminine dances, include the Hakchum (crane dance), performed holding a white handkerchief before casting it aside; the Hongae sugeonchum (handkerchief dance), expressing a woman's sorrow; the Chaeseonhyang, danced with a single fan through an ever-changing variety of techniques to sanjo music; and the Seungmu and Gomyeongchum. The accompanying music for the Anseong Hyangdangmu is drawn from court music, folk music, sanjo (solo instrumental music) and military music, and its dance movements are varied and highly demanding. Many of the dances make use of props, and because they were handed down by people of widely different backgrounds, both the content and the artistry of the dances vary according to social status. The Hyangdangmu, rediscovered in 1990 by the Anseong Cultural Center and local residents, was designated an intangible cultural heritage in 2000, with Lee Seok-dong named holder and Yu Cheong-ja assistant instructor. Following Lee Seok-dong's death, Yu Cheong-ja has served as head of the preservation society, working to pass on the Anseong Hyangdangmu.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Anseong, Gyeonggi

Designation

Provincial Intangible Heritage · 시도무형유산