Mysterious Murals Brought to Life through Dance

By Han Sang-hee

Staff Reporter

Dancer and choreographer Chung Seung-hee is bringing the dark and mysterious murals engraved inside the walls of ancient Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668) tombs located in Jiban, China, into an energetic dance performance. With hopes to bring the traditional engravings closer to the public, Chung has upgraded her ``Images- The Dance of the Four Flying Gods in the Sky'' from its first debut back in 2003.

``I visited the tomb seven years ago. After looking at the murals, I was mesmerized. I could feel the spirit and energy of the Goguryeo Kingdom and instantly thought I had to make a piece. I came back and immediately worked on it, and that's how I came up with `Images.' It was based on my own experience,'' Chung told The Korea Times at an interview at the Korean National University of Arts.

Divided into six sections, the work offers dramatic movements, settings and costumes, which was obviously inspired by the four engravings: the Hyun-moo or black tortoise god, the Baek-ho or white tiger god, the Cheong-ryong or blue dragon god, and the Joo-jak or red peacock god. The dance of Hyun-moo represents the energy of water, with its heavy and slow movements, while Baek-ho will bring the power of unity. Cheong-ryong will represent the power of creation and finally Joo-jak will present movements inspired by the warmth of the sun.

``Of course, the colors have faded away, but I could still feel the energy of the movements. I felt a new type of energy, which was translated into the reincarnation belief in the past,'' she said.

According to folklore, the four engravings represent the reincarnation of death. When a coffin is placed into the tomb, the four engravings of each god will produce the energy of life and allow the dead spirit to be reborn. Chung explained that she combined the godly images with her unique choreography, presenting a serene, yet energetic performance.

``Many cultures focus on their guardian symbols and for Korea, the four gods are one of them. I believe it will not only fascinate foreign guests, but also offer an opportunity for local viewers to discover the beauty of our ancestor's culture and spirit,'' Chung said.

Another interesting factor of the performance is the music, which Chung said was a miraculous coincidence.

``I was considering different music for the piece, but I wanted something that would perfectly match with it. Then I was told that Isang Yun already worked on a piece inspired by the exact same engravings called `Images,''' she said.

The late Isang Yun is one of Korea's best-known composers, who gained strong reputation in the international avant-garde scene while pursuing a musical career in Berlin during the 1950s and 60s. But in 1967, his life took a turn as the South Korean government accused him of high treason and banned him from returning to his homeland.

Yun managed to bring four instruments that match the overall images of the gods: the flute for the Hyun-moo, the oboe for the Cheong-ryong, the violin for the Joo-jak and the cello for the Baek-ho.