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February 24, 2013

Classification Essay
ICCM104, Section11
Ajarn Julien Hardy
Korean Buddhist Dances
Internal Expression, the feelings and joy are the most important part of the Korean
Dances. The Buddhist dances are performed in religious ceremonies. All dancers dedicate
their times and all their hard working to the dances. Because their beliefs, dancers need to be
very concentrate in order to show their movement correctly for the audience to get into the
teachings. The ritual Buddhist dance will teach all about Buddha; karma, being peace and
harmony through their movement and choreographies. In Korean, the most religious and
important dance is the Buddhist dance. There are three types of Buddhist Dances in Korea
which are the Butterfly, the Cymbal, and Drum dance.
The Butterfly dance is the first category of the Buddhist dance. Nabichum or the
Butterfly dance is named after the costume which represents the illustration of a butterfly.
The importance of this dance is to bring all Gods together as a whole. People in Korea
believe that Butterfly dance represent for people who are conscious to ask for forgiveness of
all their sins and bad karma (Jeong, 2004). In the performance, the dancers wear the clothes
that resemble butterflies. Also, the dances perform by a monk which holds a lotus in their
hands with white clothes costumes (Malborg, 2005). The choreography in the dance is the
dance around in a circle which signifies the integrity and harmony. Naming the dance
Nabichum or the Butterfly Dance is the category of the Buddhist Dance.
Among the three Buddhist dances, another form is the Cymbal dance. In Korea, the
Cymbal dance is called Barachum. It is a temple dance that uses the clasping of fists.
Cymbal dance symbolize that Korean people will live in harmony and accept the teaching
and understanding of the Buddha (Korean Dance Studies Society of Canada, n.d). Most of the
Cymbal dance performance; dancers perform with a large brass cymbal in both hands. The
dance also uses loud songs, gong, a Korean instrumental, and drum (Zile, 2001). Every
movement in the performance signify everything, for example, clasp and unclasp the hands
signify the love and compassion (The Korea Temple, 2005). In the other words, holding
hands means the cooperation and their teamwork of the dancers. So, the other classification
of the Buddhist dance is the Cymbal Dance.
Furthermore, the Hour-glass Drum dance is also one of the kinds in Buddhist dances.
Another name for the dance is Changgochum. Unlike the other two Buddhist dances, the
teachings of Buddha teach through the performance. However, the Hour-glass Drum dance
teaches though the beatings of the drum. They symbolize the Nirvana or attaining salvation
in Buddhist Philosophy (The Korean Dance Studies Society, n.d). In the dance, it includes
the hour glass drum which has a very beautiful music and unique. Sometimes people in Korea
not only called the Hour-glass drum, but also The Janggo (Lee, n.d). Its shape is like a
double-head or the figure of an Hourglass. In addition, the dancers in the performance are
mostly women, which wear a white jacket with light red full-length skirt. Dancers hold their
drums by a shoulder strap or fasten around their waist (World Art West, 2005). The music of
the dance is usually loud with a fun rhythm. Using the sound and beat of the drum shows
another category of the Buddhist dance which is the Hour-glass Drum dance.
In conclusion, the Butterfly Dance, the Cymbal Dance, and Hour-glass Drum dance
are the ritual Buddhist Dances which classified into three important categories. All of the
three Buddhist Dances give teachings, understandings, and beliefs about Buddha. Each of the
dances choreography indicates meanings. Even the beating of the drum or music shows
enlightenment and attaining the salvation. In addition, the performance costume also
represents the dance and what is the dance is all about. The Buddhist dances are very
important to all Korean people. It is a different way to express the understanding of their
cultures and arts.























References
Jeong, H. Lee. (2004). A Dance for Every Myth and Moment. Retrieved from February 23,
2013, from Koguryo Pround History of Korea: http://www.mygoguryeo.com/news-
view.htm?p=&n=26
Korean Dance Studies Society of Canana. (n.d). Buddhist Dances. Retrieved from February
23, 2013, from Korean Dance Studies Society of Canada:
http://www.koreandance.net/buddhist_dance.html
Korean Dance Studies Society of Canana. (n.d). Folk Dances. Retrieved from February 23,
2013, from Korean Dance Studies Society of Canada:
http://www.koreandance.net/folk_dances.html
Korea Temple. (2005). Origins of the Nabichum The Butterfly Dance. Retrieved from
February 24, 2013, from Korea Temple:
http://eng.koreatemple.net/culture/default.asp?cat_id=8&page=2
Lee, Heoak. (n.d). Traditional Korean Dance. Retreived from February 23, 2013, from
Traditional Korean Dance Group:
http://www.unc.edu/world/2010Seminars/Heoak%20Lee%20PPT.pdf
Malborg, Kim. (2005, 5 July). Korean Dance. Seoul, Korea: Ewha Women University Press.
World Art West. (2005). Korean Dance. Retrieved from February 24, 2013, from World Arts
West: http://www.worldartswest.org/plm/guide/printablepages/korean.pdf
Zile, V. Judy. (2001). Perspective of Korean Dance. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University
Press.