Historical Origin and Characteristic Feature of Folk Dance “Pongjuk Dance”

Pongjuk is made in a ring-shaped pad and put it on the top of a long bamboo stick which is over twice the height of a man. The end of it is decorated with dozens of long pheasant feathers. Then, hang with 8~12 strips of long cloth. Five-colored string or white cloth was used as Pongjuk strip. Thin and fluttering cloth like silk or ramie cloth was used.

Pongjuk plays were held on the occasion of lunar January 15th and other folk holidays, hoping that they would harvest a bumper crop and catch a lot of fishes all year round. The conspicuous thing in the plays is the " Pongjuk Dance" reflecting the minds of fishermen who wanted or celebrated a good haul of fish.

The Pongjuk play on the lunar January 15th took place on a sandy beach. In the early evening, when the musical instruments were played, the people in the fishing villages in their holiday clothes came together. When people got together, cantor jumped into the middle of the dance court with the Pongjuk stick in the center and boasted the "Pongjuk tune".

The clear voice of the cantor was followed by the people, and the fishermen danced cheerfully. When the song and dance plays were going on, young fishermen gathered around the Pongjuk stick in the middle of the dance court, took the Pongjuk strips and danced to add to the atmosphere of the play. The “Pongjuk Dance” means that fishermen dance, taking the Pongjuk strips in their hands and throwing them.

Dancers, at first, dance to the tunes for an exorcism in a fascinating way. When the speed of music is increased with frequent tunes for an exorcism, they dance, gradually throwing the Pongjuk strips vigorously and moving around in a circle.

Then when the tune is turned into the rhythm of Korean folk-songs, dancers bend deep down and jump up, throwing the Pongjuk strips higher or move around turning in pairs, and giving a zest to the play. When the music is getting quicker with quick rhythm, dancers jump and dance by leaps and bounds vigorously, reflecting the strong will of the fishermen.