ALL
sword
ICH Elements 4
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Traditional martial arts of Bình Định
The heritage originates from Bình Định - a place famous for traditional martial arts and famous historical figure King Quang Trung in the resistance war against foreign invaders. Binh Dinh traditional martial arts has many sects covering all provinces and cities across the country. This heritage has also been introduced abroad. Its practice became popular as a sport in many countries. Vo Bình Định has a high performance and combat ability, expressed in the forms of movement with bare hands, sticks, swords and spears, great knives, axes and shields. The combination of hand and stone techniques makes it a delicate, unique art form. The typical forms of Bình Định martial arts include Ngoc Tran Phap, Bach Dieu Thao Phap, Quyen Tu Hai, Thao Truc Chi, etc. Although it used to be a tool to fight foreign invaders, the people who do traditional martial arts in Bình Định always uphold the spirit of sport and its benefits to the lives of Vietnamese people.
Viet Nam -
Gar-zo: Blacksmith of Woochu
Gar-zo (Blacksmith/iron craft) is one of the Bhutan's 13 traditional crafts and is considered as one of the earliest crafts/arts of the Bhutanese people. It is believed that it was introduced by a Tibetan saint known as Dupthob Thangtong Gyalpo in the 14th Century. He is revered by the Bhutanese people as a master engineer for his skill in casting iron chains and erecting them as bridges over gorges. He is supposed to have built eight suspension bridges in Bhutan. One can still see one of the bridges crossing over the Paro Chu, on the road from Paro to Thimphu, and linking the highway to the famous Tachog lhakhang (temple). The remains of another bridge can be viewed at the National Museum in Paro. However, J. LaRocca,D (2006) in his book mentioned that Dupthob Thangthong Gyalpo came to Bhutan for the first time in 1433-44 to gather the iron ore to build bridges in Tibet. The iron he collected was forged into 7000 links by a team of 18 blacksmiths from five villages near Paro, one of the village was Woochu where the art is still practiced today. It was believed that Thangthong Gyalpo distributed 18 anvils as a token of gratitude among the blacksmiths gathered and blessed them to earn their livelihood and flourish the craft. The donation of iron chain links to Dupthob was an evidence that the people of Woochu practiced the iron craft way before Thangthong Gyalpo’s visit. Unfortunately there are no records and even the oldest living master blacksmith had nothing to substantiate on this matter. There were many places in Bhutan that manufactured iron handicrafts before but with passing time the art and skills faded and only few places are still practicing it today, one of it being Woochu. The origin of black smithy in Woochu is lost in antiquity. There are no records or documents to trace the origin of the art. However, oral accounts of some elderly people posits that the art might have started out of necessity. Before Woochu was known for its famous blades, it manufactured agricultural tools that were used by the locals. Moreover, recent findings showed that a large forging took place near the place where the iron formation was found. Gaw (Blacksmith) Phajo also believes that the founding of black smithy will not be possible without the iron ore. So he supports the idea of the foundation of black smithy due to the iron ore that was found in the area. The blacksmiths of Woochu manufactured and repaired agriculture tools for the locals before it became known for the famous Woochu blades. Woochu blades are very popular and are known for their tensile strength and durability. There were only three iron craftsmen with traditional knowledge and skills before, all are officially retired now. Blacksmithing, a traditional craftsmanship handed down for several hundred years, was on the verge of extinction. With not many blacksmiths remaining and even lesser apprentices showing interest in learning the skill. Those who used to practice the trade has died and some were retired. The younger generations seemed disinterested in taking up the art. Initially the blacksmiths in the area took up the art as part of earning daily wage. It was like any other job that fetched money. Moreover, the job of a blacksmith was physically tiring, and the social stigma that the trade carried was perhaps another reason why it has failed to attract the attention of the younger generations in the community. The blacksmiths were looked down in the community. The art of crafting fine Bhutanese swords was on the decline. In 2016, His Majesty the King commanded for a training center to be set up in Woochu to revive the dying art. Reviving the centuries-old trade was challenging but not impossible. Royal Metal Craft Center (RMCC) was an intervention aimed at reviving and promoting dying crafts and reinstating it as a source of livelihood. The center is now established and works are underway to further develop it.
Bhutan -
Seungjeonmu (Victory Dance)
National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea As a drum dance handed down in Tongyeong (Chungmu), Gyeongsangnam-do, it was performed by barmaids and boys. During the Japanese Invasion of Korea (1592-1598), Admiral Yi Sun-sin had this dance played to boost the morale of his troops or celebrate the victory of battles. Many dances performed in Tongyeong, a naval town, were called Seungjeonmu (Victory Dance). Only the Mugo (Drum Dance) was designated as important intangible cultural heritage under the name Seungjeonmu in 1968. Nine years later, Geommu (Sword Dance) was included in said designation. Looking at how a victory dance is performed, four dancing women in ceremonial dress with long white cuffs make movements, gathering in the direction of the drum placed at the center and then scattering in four directions with soft steps after beating the drum; thus creating a grand, joyous atmosphere. Samhyeon dodeuri (dodeuri rhythm music by three strings) and taryeong (Korean folk song) were used as accompaniment in music. The overall dance movements are simple and antiquated, carrying unique local characteristics. Dancers performing a sword dance wear white jacket, red skirt, black sleeveless coat, military official’s hat, red belt, and jacket with long, multicolor-striped undershirts while holding a sword in each hand. The tools used and dancers’ movements in Seungjeonmu are similar to the Mugo performed at the Royal Palace. The elegant dance movements, melodies of music, and overall exquisite arrangement make it a dance with high artistic and traditional value.
South Korea -
Jinju Geommu (Sword Dance of Jinju)
National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea Jinju Geommu is a sword dance performed by women and handed down in Jinju. Also called Geomgimu or Kalchum, it was one of the dances performed during a party held at the Royal Palace. There are two theories about its origin, i.e., one about the Silla people who started dancing in memory of a boy who sacrificed his life for the country and the other about gisaeng (female entertainer) of Jinju engaging in dancing to console the spirit of Nongae, a gisaeng who jumped into the river clasping a Japanese officer during a party held at a pavilion on a riverside cliff during the Japanese invasion in the late 16th Century. Jinju Geommu is played by a group of eight dancers in warrior’s uniform to the rhythms of dodeuri, slow taryeong (Korean folk song), and fast taryeong. Two rows of four people on each side dance facing each other, holding a sword and a piece of rainbow-striped cloth in their hands. Dancers’ movements include turning around with bent knees, sitting on the floor, bending forward and then backward, and stretching out the arms with the sword placed on the floor. The dance is accompanied by the playing of piri (flute), jeo (bamboo flute), haegeum (two-stringed fiddle), janggo (hourglass-shaped drum), and buk (drum). Jinju Geommu as we see today is one that was handed down among gisaeng who belonged to the local government of Jinju. The old ones were presumed to have served previously at the Royal Palace but returned home and taught the dance to the locals. Jinju Geommu have artistic value as one that maintains the prototype of the sword dance performed at the Royal Palace in terms of style of performance, movements, and way the swords are handled.
South Korea
ICH Materials 5
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Traditional martial arts of Bình Định
The heritage originates from Binh Dinh - a place famous for traditional martial arts and famous historical figure King Quang Trung in the resistance war against foreign invaders. Binh Dinh traditional martial arts has many sects covering all provinces and cities across the country. This heritage has also been introduced abroad. Its practice became popular as a sport in many countries. Vo Binh Dinh has a high performance and combat ability, expressed in the forms of movement with bare hands, sticks, swords and spears, great knives, axes and shields. The combination of hand and stone techniques makes it a delicate, unique art form. The typical forms of Binh Dinh martial arts include Ngoc Tran Phap, Bach Dieu Thao Phap, Quyen Tu Hai, Thao Truc Chi, etc. Although it used to be a tool to fight foreign invaders, the people who do traditional martial arts in Binh Dinh always uphold the spirit of sport and its benefits to the lives of Vietnamese people.
Viet Nam -
Traditional martial arts of Bình Định
The heritage originates from Binh Dinh - a place famous for traditional martial arts and famous historical figure King Quang Trung in the resistance war against foreign invaders. Binh Dinh traditional martial arts has many sects covering all provinces and cities across the country. This heritage has also been introduced abroad. Its practice became popular as a sport in many countries. Vo Binh Dinh has a high performance and combat ability, expressed in the forms of movement with bare hands, sticks, swords and spears, great knives, axes and shields. The combination of hand and stone techniques makes it a delicate, unique art form. The typical forms of Binh Dinh martial arts include Ngoc Tran Phap, Bach Dieu Thao Phap, Quyen Tu Hai, Thao Truc Chi, etc. Although it used to be a tool to fight foreign invaders, the people who do traditional martial arts in Binh Dinh always uphold the spirit of sport and its benefits to the lives of Vietnamese people.
Viet Nam