Understanding the Court Dance Tradition and its Transmission in Korea and Japan: The Meaning of Siyong

• Published in: THE HALLYM JOURNAL OF JAPANESE STUDIES Vol. 28; pp. 33 - 56
• Main Author: SEO, Jung-rook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 일본학연구소 25.05.2016
• Subjects: 일본어와문학
• ISSN: 1738-5334; 2466-1015
• DOI: 10.18238/HALLYM.28.2

This study has delved into the different attitudes toward court dance transmission in Korea and Japan and tried to explain the reasons for them. To justify reformation, Korean rulers have often used the idea of the Five Virtues Cycle, specifically, the idea of generating. The application of this idea has created the notion that predecessors were considered producers, supporters and creators of the subsequent dynasties. The court dance transmission has been strongly influenced by this same idea. On the other hand, although the Japanese emperor was a nominal ruler, the Japanese believe they have had no experience of overthrowing any dynasty for more than 1000 years. This belief would have been decisive in influencing the conservative and passive attitude toward transmission in the Japanese court. The different attitudes are found in various ways, such as in the aims involved in the writing of performance theory books, terminology, and changes in the repertoires according to the period. While most old Japanese books of dance were written to preserve and transmit traditions and techniques, most Korean books like Akhak kwebŏm were written to serve purposes of innovation and re-creation. The main motivation to write Kyōkunshyō was to preserve gagaku performances. It may manifest the conservative tendency. In contrast, in Korean court dance the term siyong, ‘using by surrounding circumstances’, is commonly found. When we analyse changes in dance repertoires through the ages, we find a number of newly created and innovative pieces in the Korean court, reflecting the demands of the times, but it is hard to find new dance pieces in Japan after the Heian period. It suggests that attitudes toward court dance transmission in Korean and Japanese court dance are different. KCI Citation Count: 1