Andong, Mask Dancing, and Joseon Culture

This weekend, our students here at CIEE Seoul will go on a 1 night, 2 day excursion to the city of Andong which in recent years has become a cultural and tourism center. But what are some things that Andong is known for?

One of the many places our students will travel to is Hahoe Village, where a plethora of Joseon era artifacts and architecture has been preserved. Listed by the South Korean government as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it reflects much of the aristocratic Confucian culture of the period. One of the things Hahoe Village is most known for, however, is their Hahoe Mask Dance.

Dating back to the 12th century, Hahoe masks, or Hahoetal, represented stock characters needed to perform a ritual dance drama. The original ceremony functioned to honor local deities and perform the rites of exorcism over evil spirits; besides the original purpose, however, it functioned as a way to allow for the lower classes to gather and enjoy comedic performances surrounding their life.

Another area our students are visiting is Dosan Seowon, a Confucian academy built in the later 16th century in honor of Confucian scholar Yi Hwang. Seowons first appeared in the Joseon Dynasty as private institutions underneath a scholar, functioning as both a Confucian shrine and Confucian school. Dosan Seowon in particular was well known in Joseon as a leading academy, as well as having the Toegye school of thought, which followed Yi Hwang’s teachings.

Travelling to Andong can be an incredibly culture enriching experience, and so we hope that our students enjoy it as well!