This study aims to study characteristics of Yi Maebang’s Honam Sword Dance. Literature research, image analysis, and the researcher’s own experience of the dance were used as research methods in this study. Through the investigation of Yi Maebang and his Honam Sword Dance components, the characteristics of Yi Maebang’s Honam Sword Dance can be classified into three categories. The first characteristic of Yi Maebang’s Honam Sword Dance is related to breathing circulation. This cycle of breathing appears in the harmony of yin and yang through the flow of Daesam and Sosam and in the movements of Jeong, Jung, and Dong. The second characteristic of his Honam Sword Dance is an aesthetic expressed through the dance’s tendency and form. In other words, the aesthetic of his dance is based on femininity and naturalness created by curved and circular movements. The third characteristic is the harmony of time and space, which can be found in the formation of “Gasaemulrigi.”

Political stability and economic surplus in the late Joseon Dynasty accelerated the negotiation of traditional dances in the context of the demand of popular culture, increase in the desire to make art, and awareness of popular art. Such negotiation aspects became more distinct with the revitalization of the Seonsanggi system and stronger roles of the middle class. Particularly, the middle class was changed into the manager, enjoyer, and doer of dance culture with the movement of elevation of social status in the 18th century. They were the actant that laid foundation for dancers to meet their dances. The principal media of transformation in the dance culture formed between the court and the people, between surface and substratum, and between upper and lower classes were Gyoang and government-sponsored gisaengs. They created their own dances with such an axis as the center, which increased the number of each dance and gave birth to the advancement of dance history. What offered the core channel to the cultural diversity of traditional dances in the late Joseon Dynasty are the Seonsanggi system and the middle class. Gobang contributed to the birth of various dances as well as gisaengs of great dances. 18th century was the time for preparation of negotiation for others’ dances due to cultural diversity phenomena in the late Joseon Dynasty. 19th century was the zenith of desire for expression of dances in which the aspects of negotiation started in earnest.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the aesthetic characteristics of traditional dances by Im Ijo, especially analyzing his use of coquetry. Im not only trained in traditional dances such as seungmu (monk’s dance) and salpuri (shamanic mourning dance), but is also a significant choreographer who developed gyobang salpuri, hwaseonmu, and hallyangmu. His dances may be regarded as neo-traditional Korean dances because they share the same aesthetic characteristics and show the beauty of coquetry and moderation. The basis of the beauty of coquetry in the Im’s dances can be seen as a reproduction of gyobang. His dance expresses the image of gyobang as performance art, aiming to create an open space for communication with the audience. Im’s dances reveal coquetry via costumes or various objects; in gyobang salpuri for example, he focused on gyobang rather than salpuri to create a coquettish image by contrasting complementary colors in the skirt and jeogori. His curvy skirt emphasizes the beauty of curves to shift the dancing style and directions naturally in life with the costume. The traditional skirt, jeogori, and small shapely Korean socks in hwaseonmu express a figure of a prim and proper woman. His beauty of coquetry was transformed from the experience of inner structure taught by Yi Maebang, and the acquisition of the ideational images of Eun Bangcho. Im’s dances are gentle without excessiveness and bright and gorgeous without overflow; this property was achieved through harmonizing the splendid expression of Eun Bangcho and the calmness of Yi Maebang with the breathing, discipline, and intelligence of Kim Sukja.

This study aimed to examine the transmission pattern of Kim Su-ak’s Traditional Dance and its artistic significance. Jinju Gyobang Dance refers to the dance handed down mainly through unique culture and Gyobang of the Jinju region. Representative Jinju Gyobang Dances include the Gutgeori Dance of Jinju Gyobang, Gueum Geommu, and Nongae Salpuri Dance. These dances were compiled by Kim Su-ak and then handed down mainly through Gyobang of Jinju and Seoul. This study examined the transmission pattern of Kim Su-ak’s Traditional Dance. In particular, it summarized three dance notations based on Seoul gyobang and looked into its expanding process through interviews with Kim Gyeong-ran, the assistant instructor of Kim Su-ak's dances. Jinju Gyobang Dance has not remained traditional. It has expanded from its traditional form, constantly giving pleasure to the public. This has been possible because it has increased its artistic value by creating a narrative structure through the perception of theater and space while retaining its original cultural form. This study showed that the value of Kim Su-ak’s Traditional Dance has been created by the transformation into the genre, which actively communicates with reality while faithfully keeping its original aesthetics and significance, and by the work to seek and build various methodologies. This can be explained by the specification of the original form and expansion into various themes through on the spot performances. This transformation into performing arts constitutes an important opportunity to explain works while presenting the direction of life to the public.

Hwangchangmu (黃昌舞) is a type of sword dance, which is based on a legend about Hwangchang Rang (黃昌郞), a member of the Silla Dynasty. The legend states that Hwangchang Rang (黃昌郞) bravely went to Baekje to slay the king with a sword. The dance is performed in commemoration of Hwangchang (黃昌 or 黃倡), who fought to the death for his country, Silla. During the Joseon Dynasty, Hwangchangmu was dance indigenous to the Gyeongju region. In the late Joseon period, Park Jong (朴琮 1735-1793) stated that Hwangchangmu had been passed down from the Silla Dynasty for nearly 1,000 years and people at that time thought that it was the best dance in the East. The dance, which had been performed at Gyeongju Gyobang during the Joseon Dynasty, was suspended during the period of Japanese colonization. The objective of this research is to establish a basic theoretical background that can be used to restore Hwangchangmu in a contemporary context. Particularly, it is part of an effort to restore Hwangchangmu, which is described as one of the ten dances from the Silla Dynasty (新羅十舞) in Donggyeongyurok (東京遊錄) written by Park Jong. Since its sentences are brief and the contents are rough, related materials are collected and analyzed from the Akbusi (樂府詩), which is a literary anthology that was written by many literary figures and originated during the Joseon Dynasty. The research suggests that the past dance culture of Gyeongju Gyobang should be examined. Also, the study of Hwangchangmu is expected to contribute to a newly illuminating and understanding of native art and culture in provincial regions.