Cheoyong Dance (처용무). Image by Sotiale (Wikimedia Commons). CC-BY-SA-3.0
Shamanism was the native belief of Korean people long before Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity came to Korea.
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), Shamanism was degraded by the government. In the modern era, it is regarded as superstitious. No matter what, there are some aspects of Shamanism influence that is remained strong in Korean society until now especially in the field of arts and culture.
There is a form of shamanistic dance preserved by Confucianist Joseon court, called Cheoyong Dance (처용무).
Cheoyong's popularity was passed down to the court of the Joseon Dynasty, whose movements were immortalized as the dance against evil. His face was carved into a large wooden mask. Yeonsan-gun (연산군), the most cursed king in Korean history, is known to be highly skilled and passionate about the Cheoyong Dance.
It is the only mask dance cultivated in the palace. Ironically, its root may come from Shamanism, and the dynasty that once protects it has collapsed. This dance knowledge was passed down from the last court dancer in Korea called Kim Cheon-heung (김천흥).
According to the historical record of legends and mystical stories from the Three Kingdoms, Samguk Yusa, it is written that Cheoyong was the son of a sea dragon king who transformed into a human to help the King Heon-gang (헌강왕) of Unified Silla and also heal the people from illness. In ancient times many Korean people believed by pasting a Cheoyong talisman in front of their house could ward off evil and diseases.
The Cheoyong dance, which originated from the legendary Sillan shaman, is now inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
References:
1. https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/cheoyongmu-00189 (UNESCO)
2. https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/5672 (Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Literature)
3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cheoyongmu-1.jpg (Wikmedia Commons)
4. (Adapted from my writing in Quora)
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