Cheoyongmu
Korean dance of Cheoyong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cheoyongmu (Korean: 처용무) is a Korean mask dance based on the legend of Cheoyong (처용; 處容), a son of the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.[1] It is also the oldest surviving Korean court dance created during the Unified Silla period. Cheoyongmu has also been considered as a shamanistic dance because it was performed to drive off evil spirits at the end of the year.[1]
The dancer's movements are usually majesty and vigour. It also depends on the style & tempo of music, which punctuated by various lyrical song recitations.[2] The dance is always performed by five dancers, and its costumes and masks are noteworthy.[3]
It is inscribed in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List from 2009 and enlisted as South Korean Intangible Cultural Property from 1971.
