Significance of Seungmu

A modern master of seungmu, Korea’s Jeong Je-Man said the following in regards to the dance’s overall symbolism: 

“I believe seungmu transcends the boundaries set by religious or cultural traditions. I think the overall flow of the acts, as it ascends to a climax and then regains a sense of calm, is a lot like life.  You start out as a helpless child then grow into an energetic youth, and then things slow down as you age.”  Jeong even went on to create his own rendition of seungmu called, “108 seungmu.”  Jeong and 108 other seungmu performers performed the dance outside of Seoul’s olmpic park to raise awareness for the dance.  The 108 symbolizes the 108 bows one performs to Buddha and those 108 bows symbolize the 108 periods of anguish that man goes through in a lifetime.

            The outstanding reason for seungmu’s importance to Korean culture seems to lie in the fact that it incorporates the most important aspects of Korean dance into one art form.  Jeong states that the dance is to be performed with the great seriousness reflected in traditional Korean dance, and that each step must be performed with exactness and care.  Despite the serious nature of the dance, it can be entrancing, and is considered a form of “seon” (선) or meditation.  When Jeong was being trained in the art of seungmu, he spoke of his master and the calming effect of this dance on the soul, “My teacher (Han Young-suk) was a very devout Buddhist. She frequented the temple very often. Seungmu is a form of seon (meditation.)  You try to purge yourself of your sins and worries through dance.”  In addition to reflecting the most important aspects of Korean dance, culture, music, as well as Buddhism, seungmu provides an escape for those who undertake learning and performing this intricate dance.  Just as the five stages of the dance represent our movement through this life, those performing the dance can see the grander picture of life through the diversity of the varying stages of this dance.