Hahoe Mask Museum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Life in Korea rating: 4 | Average member rating: N/A (0 ratings) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the way to the Hahoe Folk Village, stop and visit
the Hahoe Mask Museum. The museum is dedicated to the mask culture centered around the
surrounding Hahoe area, but it also has representations of all the major mask cultures in
Korea. It contains dozens of masks from other areas of the world as well. A small souvenir
shop sells reproductions of the masks, as well as other trinkets and tourism books about
Andong and the local culture.
At the heart of the museum is the collection of masks and costumes used for Hahoe
Pyeolshingut T'alnori. A combination mask dance, drama, and shaman rituals consisting of
9 different acts, it has been performed every January from as early as the 12th century. It makes fun of
the ruling class using humor and satire, and tries to ease tensions among the different social classes.
In addition, the shaman rituals performed pray for a prosperous year and are supposed to prevent natural
disasters.In 1964, the government declared Hahoe Pyeolshingut T'alnori Important Intangible Cultural Property #69. The cosumes used are modest compared to other ceremonial mask dances, and the movements very natural. Although originally 12 in number, only 9 masks are currently used.
The Yangju Pyeolsandae Nori is also very popular in Korean history. These eight masks represent the major characters. Altogether, 22 masks are used to represent 32 characters.
These masks of Yech'eon Ch'eongdan Norum T'al, from the Yech'eon
region of Korea, represent the different seasons (from left to right): Kyeoul (winter), Kaeul
(autumn), Yeorum (summer), and Pom (spring).
These two example masks from Ch'eoyong T'al represent how
Koreans envisioned foreigners who were thought to be the son of the Eastern Sea Dragon King.
Hours: 09:30 ~ 18:00 Closed: Lunar New Year, Harvest Moon Festival (Chuseok) Admission: Adults: 1,500 won (Groups: 1,000 won) Youths, Children, Soldiers: 1,000 won (Groups: 600 won) * Group: 30 people or more * Free: Children 6 or under with guardian, National Patriots, handicapped, 65 or older Directions: Take bus #46 across from Andong Station or Andong Long Distance Bus Terminal. See related tour(s). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
