Inspired by a fascinating legend from the Silla kingdom (57 BCE–935 CE), Cheoyongmu takes us into a story more than a thousand years old, where dance, song, and folk beliefs come together.
This theatrical and choreographic tradition originates in the legend of Cheoyong, son of the dragon king Yongwang, who came to live among humans in the ninth century. According to the story, Cheoyong returned home one evening and discovered a mysterious being beside his wife. Although he believed he had been betrayed, he began to sing and dance. The being was actually a smallpox spirit who, moved by his response, chose not to harm him and promised never to enter a home displaying Cheoyong’s face. This episode gave rise to an enduring folk belief: an image of Cheoyong placed on doors was believed to protect households from disease and malevolent forces. Born from the folk beliefs of the Silla era, Cheoyongmu evolved over the centuries, gradually incorporating the conventions and values of court culture, particularly under the Joseon dynasty. It thus reflects both the evolution and the remarkable continuity of Korean choreographic traditions through the centuries. Inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2009, this tradition, passed down for more than 1,100 years, was historically performed during exorcism rituals or royal banquets. Today, it is reinterpreted on stage, where its symbolic and aesthetic power continues to shine. The performance brings together five dancers dressed in Korea’s five fundamental colors (white, blue, black, red, and yellow), symbolizing the harmony and balance of the world. Wearing masks and ritual attributes, they perform expansive and majestic codified movements, accompanied by songs and changes in tempo. This performance is presented in collaboration with the Cheoyongmu Preservation Association, with support from the Korea Heritage Agency (KHA) and the Centre national du patrimoine immatériel.
Admission: Online booking will open two weeks before the event date on the Centre Culturel Coréen website.
Source: paris.fr — photo: Centre Culturel Coréen