The Life and Artistic World of Joseon's Last Mudong... Publication of Donated Materials Collection

Photo of the Late Kim Cheonheung of Iwangjik Aakbu, Including Handwritten Music Scores

A collection of materials showcasing the life and artistic world of Kim Cheonheung (1909?2007), known as the last Mudong (舞童; children who danced and sang at royal banquets) of Joseon, has been published.

The National Intangible Heritage Center announced on the 16th that it has published the 'Cultural Heritage Donation Collection' after receiving materials from the family of Kim Cheonheung, an honorary holder of the Jongmyo Jeryeak and Cheoyongmu, both designated as National Intangible Cultural Properties.

Holder Kim Cheonheung was an artist who led the preservation and revival of traditional court music and dance (Mugak, 舞樂). At the age of thirteen in 1922, he entered the Royal Music Institution, the predecessor of the National Gugak Center, specifically the Royal Music Department’s Aak Division Training Institute, where he learned court music and dance such as haegeum and yanggeum. Recognized for his outstanding court jeongjae (a comprehensive art performed at royal banquets), he participated as a Mudong in the 50th birthday celebration banquet of Emperor Sunjong.

After leaving the Aak Division Training Institute, he mastered folk dances such as Seungmu and Salpuri, and researched and investigated regional mask dances from across the country. He also created several works based on tradition, preserving Korean traditional dance and gugak (traditional Korean music).

The collection presents various perspectives on a life devoted to music and dance. It introduces 1,186 items, including photographs from the 1920s and 1930s when he was active in the Royal Music Department, handwritten dance scores (Mubo, 舞譜) with illustrations of instruments and dance movements he personally used, and costumes worn during performances.

Included are also the script and promotional materials for 'Cheoyongrang,' which he wrote and choreographed himself and premiered in 1959. The National Intangible Heritage Center evaluated, "This attempt to present a new dance drama different from existing ones based on traditional music and dance is of great value." The collection can be viewed on the Intangible Heritage Digital Archive website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.