Talchum came from the combination of Tal which means mask and chum which means dance, is a dance performed by dancers wearing masks; the materials from which the masks are made can be wood, specifically alder tree, or paper mache. However, talchum is much more than a dance, it can also include mime, plays, or dramas. The origin of these dances, which can also be called Talnoreum or Gamyeon-geuk, is connected with the village shaman rituals and developed into mask dance dramas full of entertainment.
The dramas performed were often satirical in nature because allowed oppressed people to criticize the exploiting upper-class noblemen and ridiculed them. In fact, they, not having freedom of expression, could take pleasure in criticizing society, but not only that, through talchum they could also express their human desires. The representation through masks was a cathartic experience for the villagers, an opportunity to escape from their harships. Wealthy merchants usually finacially sponsored the professional mask players.
There are many types of mask dance-dramas that have come down to us, all of them belong to the Sandae Dogam family with the exception of Hahoe Byeolsingut and Bukcheong Saja Noreum. Costumes, masks, dance movements, songs, musical accompaniment, dialogue of mask dance-dramas change in according to the area that they come from, but they all maintain the homorous satire as a common element. These dances collect and pass to the present the wisdom of the ancestors, thanks to them daily dramas are faced and overcome. The masks protect the identity of those who make fun of the nobles and criticize the inequalities of society, the privileges of the upper classes are somewhat suspended so rich and poor find themselves on equal footing, enjoying the drama together. The scenario setting the drama performed varies according to the region where it takes places but something are still the same: ritual dance for driving away evil spirits, antipaty toward the aristocratic class, satire, antagonism caused by love triangle and Lion dance to pray for protection.
The mask dance drama as "Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea” was registered in 2022 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity thanks to its interaction with audiences and the focus on social criticism but not only thanks also to its promotion and reinforcement of local cultural identity through the use of local dialects and folksongs. It is also an exemplary case to describe the social function and cultural meaning of an intangible cultural heritage.
In Korea there are some festivals dedicated to Talchum dance, the Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi festival that take place in the Gyeonggi-do province, this festival in 2006 was designated an official festival of the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts; and the most representative Korean mask festival the Andong Maskdance Festival that take place in the Gyeongsangbuk-do province because it is based on the Hahoe Mask Dance Drama Performance from Hahoe village a Unesco World Heritage, that bring to the village one million visitors every year.
I was able to attend one of these mask dances, a representation with five characters: three women and a man, one of them dance with fan, the other with cloth ribbons. The show was performed by a corean dance company the Seoul dance company, on the stage of the festival dell’oriente, an oriental culture festival that takes place in various cities of Italy, in front of a large audience that passionately followed the story represented. Attending this show for me and for the audience present was a unique, beautiful and exciting experience; because it made us travel through time and space. Seeing these professional masks players dance and interact so elegantly with the sound of traditional music was very emotional for me, because I was able to experience an aspect of traditional Korean culture in my country.
Credits: K-Culture Travel Events 100 pdf guide
Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival: 안성맞춤남사당 바우덕이 축제
Andong Maskdance Festival 안동국제탈춤페스티벌
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