History and Characteristics of Hahoe Masks Dance

Abstract

Hahoe Mask Dance Drama is the oldest of Korea traditional folk plays, handed down in Hahoe village, Andong city, Gyeongsang province in Korea. The custom of this drama is one that dates back to prehistoric times and they were traditionally used in shamanistic worship to cleanse the audiences, to please local deities and to ward off evil spirits from the villages. During the Joseon Dynasty they also became a form of social satire, which gave commoners the opportunity to mock those in authority such as the ruling classes, or depraved Buddhist monks.

Hahoe masks, the masks used in Hahoe Mask Dance Drama, were the wooden masks selected as Korean national treasure No. 121, and made around the 12th century. It has become a legendary masterpiece in the world of mask arts due to its unique carving techniques and effectiveness to expresse the emotion of the characters in the Drama. Originally, 14 masks were used in a performance. Currently, 11 Hahoe masks are in existence, and they are preserved in the Korea National Museum.