Talchum - Masks of Korea (Hahoe)

These hahoe masks were used for many diverse purposes. They were used to entertain; each mask attained a certain character and storyline. They were used to reveal; the characters often delineated within their simple storylines issues of corruption and pain around their society. And they were used for a very spiritual purpose. Every time the performers would dance for the audience, they would descend from the mountain. The bride would stand on a man's soldiers praising the Gods and the 'good spirits' to rid their village of the lurking evil spirits. They acted as shamans to purify their village. They would come from a higher place to a lower place to 'dance' with the spirits and bring them down to the town.

Corruption, despair, emptiness.
In our village lurks
the hidden, the invisible,
the evil.

They travel in heaps
inflicting our lives with pain and
misfortune.
The poor
suffer from hunger.
The rich
cannot reach fulfillment.

Oh spirits, oh spirits,
descend from your high place
in the skies to help restore the lives
to that we once had.

Oh spirits, oh spirits,
come dance with us,
come chant with us,
come rid our village of the
powerful evils that run freely amongst
our people.