Cha Hyung-won

Cha Hyung-won (Hangul: 차형원; Hanja: 車亨元; September 5, 1890 – July 2, 1972), was designated as Ingan-munhwage on 16 January 1967 for the Gangneung Danoje festival, which is one of the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea. He was specialized in Gwanno-Masque playing, a kind of pantomime. It was a satire of the caste system by members of the gwanno class.

Cha was born on 5 September 1890 in Gangneung, Korea. His father, Cha In-sil (Hangul: 차인실; Hanja: 車仁實), lived in 132 dong Gangneung Seongnamdong. When he was 17 years old, he saw the last gwanno-Masque playing at the Gangneung Danoje festival in 1907 before it disappeared in the latter era of the Choson Dynasty. As the gwanno-Masque playing was performed by gwanno, a man slave in government employ, Cha denied that he was gwanno. After the Gwanno-Masque playing was designated as the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea on 16 January 1967, it was reconstructed by researchers. Cha was one of the masters who participated in organizing all of the information about Gwanno-Masque playing from the appearance of masque to performance. He died in on 2 July 1972.

He actually worked as gwanno at the gwannocheong in Gangneung province until the latter era of Joseon Dynasty and he made the masquw and had performance in the Gangneung Danohje. He participated historical research about Gwanno-Masque playing since 1966 for restoration of the masque and organization of playing.

Korean Cultural Heritage Association

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