19.30 - 21.30 - Department of Music, Palace Green
Wednesday 27 May: a lecture-concert exploring the thrilling song, dance and rhythms of South Korea’s East Coast hereditary shaman tradition, featuring two leading ritualists (officially recognised as Cultural Assets 82-1) together with Prof. Simon Mills.
Still today, some of the fishing communities scattered along South Korea’s eastern coastline maintain their tradition of hiring a hereditary shaman troupe to perform Byeolshin Gut (literally, “Special God Shaman Ritual”). Over the course of several days – or, sometimes, even longer – the ritualists perform a rich array of songs, dances, stories, prayers, and ritual actions, accompanied by janggu (hourglass drum), kkwaenggwari (small handheld gong), and jing (large gong). At the core of their activities lies an ambitious goal: reestablishing a state of harmony between all gods and all people.
One of the most important ritual sections in Byeolshin Gut is that addressing the community’s guardian deity, Golmegi. For this section, the shaman troupe performs beneath the community’s sacred tree – the Seonghwang Tree – detailing how the gods created the seas, mountains, animals, and more during the mythical times, and praying for a return to harmony. Here, the tree itself serves as the central axis of communication between gods and humans, a place of shelter for all, and the community’s living heart, where memories and hopes are gathered.
This lecture-concert explores the thrilling music of the East Coast shaman tradition and investigates the worldview running through the “Songs beneath the Sacred Tree”. The event centres on performances by two senior ritualists from the tradition (both officially recognised as Cultural Assets 82-1). In line with tradition, they are a wife-and-husband pair – Hong Hyojin singing, dancing and playing hand-gong, while Jung Younrak accompanies her on drum. Prof. Simon Mills, who has studied this tradition for over 25 years, provides explanation.
Please note: from 1pm to 3pm on Thursday 28 May, Hong and Jung will be leading a FREE workshop in the Oriental Museum, showing how to make the beautiful paper flowers that adorn the ritual space – another celebrated aspect of their tradition. (Prior booking is essential: please visit the Musuem’s website for details.)
