Hahoe Folk Village

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List

Hahoe Village
Type Cultural
Criteria iii, iv
Reference 1324
UNESCO region Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 2010 (34th Session)
Hahoe Folk Village
Hangul 안동하회마을
Hanja 安東河回마을
Revised Romanization Andong Hahoe Ma-eul
McCune–Reischauer Andong Hahoe Maŭl

The Hahoe Folk Village (Korean: 안동하회마을) is a traditional village from the Joseon Dynasty. The 'Ha' is short for river and 'hoe' means to 'turn around, return, come back." In English, one might call the village 'Swirling River Village', Wandering River Village', 'Round River Village' or 'Snake River Village' or perhaps simply, 'Riverbend' or 'Ouroboros' or 'Kundalini'. The technical term from geology of such a topographic feature is a 'meander' The village is a valuable part of Korean culture because it preserves Joseon period-style architecture, folk traditions, valuable books, and an old tradition of clan-based villages.

The village is located in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. To the north of the village is Buyongdae Cliff while Mt. Namsan lies to the south. The village is organized around the geomantic guidelines of pungsu (Korean feng shui) and so the village has the shape of a lotus flower or two interlocking comma shapes.

The village is listed by the South Korean government with UNESCO as a World Heritage site with Yangdong Folk Village in 2010.

History

The Ryu (or Yu in some transcriptions) clan of Pungsan established the Hahae Folk Village in the 16th century during the Joseon Dynasty and has been a one-clan community since that time. The village is notable because it has preserved many of its original structures, such as the village Confucian school and other buildings, and maintains folk arts such as the Hahae Mask Dance Drama ('Byeonlsin-gut') which is a shamanist rite honoring the communal spirits of the village.

The village today is divided into Namchon (South Village) and Pukchon (North Village) with the main branch of the Pungsan Ryu clan, the Gyeomampa, in the Namchon side and the secondary branch, the Seoaepa, descended from Ryu Seong-ryong a noted prime minister during the reign of King Seonjo of Joseon in the Bukchon side. The north village contains Yangjindang Manor, designated as Treasure No. 306, and Pikchondaek House, designated Important Folklore Material No. 84. The south village contains Chunghyodang Manor, designated as Treasure No. 414 and Namchondaek House, an Important Folklore Material No. 90. While each branch of the Pungsan Ryu clan used lived in their respective manor homes and sides, today both branches live throughout the village.

The village maintains old architectural styles that have been lost because of rapid modernization and development in South Korea. Aristocratic tile-roofed residences and thatched-roof servants' homes preserve the architectural styles of the Joseon Dynasty. Wonjijeongsa Pavilion and Byeongsan Confucian School are two notable structures in the village. The village has preserved the shamanist rite of Byeolsin-gut and preserved Hahae masks used in the Hahae Mask Dance. Another rite still practiced is the Jeulbul Nori which uses strings of fireworks fired at the base of the Buyongdae Cliff. Yongmogak Shrine houses Ryu Seong-ryong's collection of books and includes South Korean National Treasure No. 132, the Jingbirok, a book which records the Imjin War of Korea in 1592. Treasure No. 160, Kunmundungok, is a record of the military encampments. Chunghyodang also holds 231 royal writs of appointment.

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Coordinates: 36°32′17″N 128°31′14″E / 36.53806°N 128.52056°E / 36.53806; 128.52056

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