"Holgi", a Precious Heritage of the Joseon Royal Court Dance
Get to know about "Holgi", a record of Korean court dances, and enjoy the performances that has been passed down from the Joseon Dynasty to the present day
Holgi, a record of Joseon court dance (2022-07-01) by The Gugak Museum of the National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Learn about the meaning and the value of Holgi in the video before getting more into details
Jeong Jae-mudo Holgi by The Academy of Korean Studies (Jangseogak)National Gugak Center
Jeong Jae-mudo Holgi
Jeong Jae-mudo Holgi is the recording of court dance(Jeongjae) and music. Jeong Jae-mudo Holgis are written either in Korean or Chinese characters according to the transcription method. It is also divided into two types according to the number of Jeongjaes recorded in Holgis: 'small Holgi' for the record of a single dance and 'large Holgi' for a collection of various dances.
Holgi written in Korean
Holgi written in Chinese
The Akhak gwebeom Holgi by unknowNational Gugak Center
Holgi
Holgi is a foldable tablet in the shape of a hol that can be held in one hand. Holgis contain various court rituals of the late Joseon Dynasty, including the ceremonial order and arrangement for court meetings, royal ancestral rites, and feasts.
Jongmyo Jeryeak (2015-09) by National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Hol
The Hol from Holgi refers to ivory or wooden sticks that are used by the court attendants to report to the king or attend meetings.
The Holgi of the National Gugak Center by UnknownNational Gugak Center
The Holgi of the National Gugak Center
Holgi, a collection of the National Gugak Center, is a book that records Joseon court dances. Its composition and form tell us that it was approximately created from the 19th to early 20th century. It's 7cm wide and 23.4cm height.
The Holgi of the National Gugak Center by unknownNational Gugak Center
Court dances recorded in Holgi
26 royal court dances are recorded in the Holgi of National Gugak Center, including Bongllaeui, Monggeumcheok, Gyeongpungdo, Heonseondo, Heoncheonhwa, and Mansumu.
A scene from the video titled 'Holgi, a record of Joseon court dance, blooming in the present' by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Joseon court dance performances are passed down to the present day thanks to the precious documentary heritage, Holgi. What kind of dances are actually recorded in the Holgi of the National Gugak Center? Take a closer look at the records of 6 out of 26 royal dances and enjoy recreated performances of them.
Bongllaeui
Bongraeui is a dance composed mainly of Yongbieocheonga meaning Song of Dragons Flying in Heaven which was created in the 24th year of King Sejong's reign (1445), and was completed as a royal dance during the reign of King Seongjong (1493).
In the Bongllaeui part of the Holgi, there are two Jukganzas holding red rod dance tools, eight dancers, and music and song lyrics played in the dance.
Bongllaeui by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Monggeumcheok
Monggeumcheok is a royal court dance to celebrate the founding of Joseon, praise the development of the country and pray for the king's long life.
Monggeumcheock features two Juckganzas holding red wooden poles, 12 dancers, one person holding a gold stick , one person holding a scroll with letters, and music and song lyrics played in the dance.
Monggeumcheok by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Heonseondo
Heonseondo is a royal court dance passed down from Goryeo Dynasty. It includes a story that Wangmo, a goddess who had a medicine of immortality, descended from heaven to give a king a mysterious peach.
In the Holgi, Heonseondo records two Jukganzas, two dancers, one mother who plays the role of a king mother, and one Bongban who brings peaches from the sky.
Heonseondo by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Bosangmu
Bosangmu is a game-style dance in which players / dancers throw a red ball into Bosangban. They receive flowers if they manage to put the ball, whereas they should put ink on their faces if they fail.
One Bonghwa with flowers, one Bongpil with a brush, and six dancers are recorded in the Bosangmu part of the Holgi.
Bosangmu by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Pogurak
Pogurak is a court dance similar to Bosangmu. It is based on a game that players receive flowers if they manage to put a ball in a round hole in the middle of a door. If they fail, they should put ink on their face as a game punishment.
In the Holgi, Pogurak features two Jukganzas, 12 dancers, one Bonghwa with flowers, and one Bongpil with a brush.
Pogurak by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Yeonhwadaemu
Yeonhwadaemu is a royal court dance that two girls come out of a lotus flower dance wearing pretty clothes and hats with iron bobbles.
Yeonhwadaemu features two Jukganzas and four dancers.
Yeonhwadaem by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Court dances (Jeongjaes) in the Joseon dynasty are not only recorded in letters but also paintings. Explore more about the Joseon court dance depicted in a court documentary painting, here.
Produced by the Gugak Research Division, National Gugak Center
Executive director: Kim Young Woon (Director-General of the National Gugak Center)
Planning director: Kim Myung Seok (Director of the Gugak Research Division)
Planning and progress Manager: Kim So RI (Research Officer)
Planning and operation / Editing: Hong Se Ah (Researcher)
References
National Gugak Center (1989). 궁중무용무보 제4집. Seoul: National Gugak Center
National Gugak Center (1994). 궁중무용무보 제4집. Seoul: National Gugak Center
The Academy of Korean Studies (1994). 呈才舞圖笏記 . Sungnam: Korea Research Institute of Psychiatry
Kim Young-woon (2000) 국립국악원 소장 "정재무도홀기"의 재검토 Seoul: 은하출판사
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