Users' questions

What is the purpose of talchum?

What is the purpose of talchum?

Talchum is a mask dance accompanied by songs and dramas, delivering the wisdom of old people who overcome the tiredness of reality through dance. This dance was popular among village people in the Joseon period (1392-1910).

When did talchum?

Early History. The first talchum performances probably took place during the Three Kingdoms Period, from 18 BCE to 935 CE. The Silla Kingdom—which existed from 57 BCE to 935 CE—had a traditional sword dance called “kommu” wherein the dancers may have also worn masks.

When did the Korean Tal and Talchum mask disappear?

The mask was taken to Japan as war booty by General Konishi Yukinaga between 1592 and 1598, and then it disappeared for 400 years. Other Varieties of Tal and Talchum Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images Hahoe talchum is just one of dozens of styles of Korean masks and associated dances.

When did the first talchum dance take place?

The first talchum performances probably took place during the Three Kingdoms Period, from 18 BCE to 935 CE. The Silla Kingdom —which existed from 57 BCE to 935 CE—had a traditional sword dance called “kommu” wherein the dancers may have also worn masks.

What does the term talchum mean in Korean?

Talchum (탈춤) or t’alch’um could be characterized as a Korean dance performed while wearing a mask, mimicry, miming, speaking and even sometimes singing. Although the term talchum is usually taken to mean all mask dance dramas by most Koreans, it is strictly speaking a regional term originally only properly applied to dances…

What’s the name of the South Korean mask dance?

Dances from the Seoul or Gyeonggi Province region are known as sandae noli, whereas the dances from the southern coast are known as yayu (야유) which means field play or Obangsinjang which means dance of five gods. However, Talchum is nowadays accepted as a general term for mask dance drama.