"Siyongmubo", the transcription of the dance for the Royal Ancestral Shrine Ritual
Learn about ilmu, the line dance performed in Royal Ancestral Shrine Ritual, and Siyongmubo, the score notating its dance movements
Introduction of SiyongmuboNational Gugak Center
Siyongmubo, a collection of the National Gugak Center
The word “Siyong” means current or existing and refers to a thing which is in use of the day. Look at the video clip first to see what is Siyongmubo and its significance in documenting the dance of Royal Ancestral Shrine Ritual during the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910).
Ilmu (2015-09-18) by National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Jongmyojeryeak, the royal memorial rite for ancestors in the Joseon Dynasty
Jongmyojeryeak comprehensively refers to the ritual music, songs, and dances performed in the Royal Ancestral Shrine during the Joseon Dynasty. Specifically, the dance is called “Ilmu,” meaning the lined group dance in rows.
JongmyoOriginal Source: CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION
The ritual and its music both have international renown, as they are enlisted to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage. Siyongmubo is a dance score documenting the movements and procedure of Botaepyeongjimu and Jeongdaeeopjimu, the two dances for Royal Ancestral Shrine Ritual, and thus plays a pivotal role for its preservation and transmission.
SiyoungMuboCoverNational Gugak Center
Siyongmubo, the Transcription of Dance
“Mubo” means the scores or documents transcribing the dance movements, such as Jeongjaemudoholgi and Siyongmubo. While Jeongjaemudoholgi writes about the dance describing the motions in written words using Chinese characters and Korean language, on the other hand, Siyongmubo shows the illustrations of ilmu performed in the Royal Shrine during the late Joseon Dynasty.
Huimun DanceNational Gugak Center
In the notation system, one square box has one beat value, and six beats completes a phrase. The dance movements are illustrated in large-sized boxes with annotated terms, while the accompanying melodies are notated in small boxes in gungsanghabo system.
SiyoungBotaepyeongjimuNational Gugak Center
Siyongbotaepyeongjimu
Siyongbotaepyeongjimu is munmu (civil dance), which is performed to praise the academic achievements of former kings and to pray for the prosperity of the nation. It is comprised of eleven dance pieces that are accompanied by different musics including Huimun, Gimyeong, Gwiin, Hyeongga, Jipnyeong, Yunghwa, Hyeonmi, Yonggwang, Jeongmyeong, Daeyu, Yeokseong.
HuimunNational Gugak Center
Enjoy Huimun in Botaepyeongjimu that the National Gugak Center restored and reenacted.
The dancers put jinhyeongwan hat, and hold yak in left hand and jeok in right hand.
Jeok is a dragon head shaped stick decorated with pheasant feathers and wooden beads symbolizing peace. Yak is a type of flute and symbolizes harmony. According to the illustration in Siyongmubo, munmu dancers wear blue robe and red belt.
SiyoungJeongdaeeopjimuNational Gugak Center
Siyongjeongdaeeopjimu
Siyongjeongdaeeopjimu is mumu (military dance), which is choreographed and performed to praise the kings’ contribution in building a new nation. The notation of nine dance pieces in Siyongjeongdaeeopjimu, including Dokgyeong, Takjeong, Seonwi, Sinjeong, Bunung, Suneung, Chongyu, Jeongse, and Hyeokjeong, is documented.
Dokgyeong videoNational Gugak Center
Enjoy Dokgyeong in Jeongdaeeopjimu that the National Gugak Center restored and reenacted
The mumu dancers put a pibyeon hat and hold a sword in right hand.
The sword symbolizes the military officials. According to the illustration in Siyongmubo, Mumu dancers wear blue robes and red belts, just like the Munmu dancers.
Jongmyo Jeryeak by The National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Siyongmubo and Jongmyojeryeak
Siyongmubo is an invaluable document filing 306 dance movements for Botaepyeongjimu and 360 movements for Jeongdaeeopjimu, and enables the music and dance of Jongmyojeryeak to transmit until today. Please visit the National Gugak Center and see the revival of Royal Ancestral Shrine Ritual.
Production: Research Division, the National Gugak Center
Executive Producer: Kim Young-woon (Director General)
Program Director: Kim Myeong-seok (Acting Director of Research Division)
Program Producer: Kim So-ri
Manager / Editor: Hong Se-ah
Reference
The National Gugak Center, Hangukeumakhakjaryochongseo [Korean Music Research Series] 4: Siyongmubo·Jeongjaemudoholgi, Seoul: the National Gugak Center, 1981.
