 *
Explanation : For the useful references which recorded
the words of ‘Kasanogwangdae’ mask play, see as follows.
- 'Kukogukmunhak' (Korean and the Korean literature) 56-57,
(1972, see Kasnaogwangdae Daesa, )
- the investigation by student of 'Society of Folk Culture
Study' , Sogang University, (1974, November)
- Yee Du-hyon, 'Hangukyonguk' (The Korean Drama),
(1977, Jenuary)
The native place of 'Kasanogwangdae' mask play was Kasanri,
Ch'ukdongmyon, Sach'onsi in the Choson dynasty. It is
supposed that the mask play had around 200-300 years history.
But the verification of it is so difficult because we
can not find any related historical records and documents
till now. In Kasanri, there were port and 'Choch'ang'
(the house to collect and storage tax), which has been
in the Kasanri up to the last period of the Ch'oson dynasty.
Therefore, 'Segok' (the grains offered for tax payment)
were collected from neighboring seven districts to this
area and transported to Jemulpo through the port. Kasanri
was big inhabited place of 300 houses and had huge market
at that time. Through the market and port, the people
of Kasanri used to have lots of interrelation with other
provinces. That's why the 'Kasanogwangdae' was known as
' 'Choch'angogwangdae' in the Choson period. Besides,
the 'Han' clan, who had lived in Kasanri for eleven generations,
indirectly represents the long history of the village.
The residents of the village offer 'Ch'onyongje' (it
is 'Tongje' i.e. village ritual for the fertility and
welfare of the village people) to 'Songhwangsin', 'Sokjangsung'
in Sangshinjang and Hasinjang and 'Banggalsaemi' on
the new year's day according to the Korean lunar calendar.
After 'Ch'onyongje', Jishinbapgi (literally means step
on the divinity of the earth) is continuously played
up to 15th, January and joins with 'Ogwangdae' mask
play.
 Compared
with any other area's mask play, 'Kasanogwangdae' has
been handed down till the most recent. The last performance
was held in 1960 and then it was over. After that, Professor
Kang Young-gwon uncovered this mask play and helped
to re-perform it in 1971. In 1974, it was designated
as 'Kyongsangnamdo Provincial Intangible Cultural Property
no. 1'. The words of this mask play were recorded in
'Kukokukmunhak' (Korean and the Korean literature) 56-57,
(1972) by Prof. Kang yong-gwon, the investigation by
student of 'Society of Folk Culture Study', Sogang University,
(1974, November) and 'Hangukyonguk' (The Korean Drama),
(1977, January) by Prof. Yee Du-hyon. Since the restoration
of performance, this mask play has been played every
year. It took the first prize from 'The 9th Kyongsangnamdo
Folk Performing Arts Contest' on March, 1977. The Minister
of Culture and Information designated it as Important
Intangible Cultural Property no. 73 and choose Han Wo-song
and Han Wo-un as performing artists of the mask play.
They have initiated thirteen scholarship students into
the mask play.
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