This study aims to understand the dance culture of the Joseon Dynasty through ‘dance paintings of imagined space’ and ‘dance paintings of folk space’. I used the methods of iconography and literature research. The results of the study are as follows. First, the performers of the dance were diverse, ranging from fairies to religious monks and shamans, entertainers such as gisaeng and sadangpae, dancers, noblemen, and farmers. Second, the background of the dance was mainly a feast. Third, the dance stage was set up outdoors with mats. Fourth, the types of dance were diverse. Fifth, the dance formation was mainly a duet. Sixth, the reason why the dance paintings were abundant is because the Joseon people enjoyed dancing, and dance was a very useful symbol when expressing exciting moments in life. The significance of the study is that the rich dance culture of the Joseon people was confirmed through paintings.

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.

This study extracted the literary figuration of the Sleeve Dance (袖舞) from the literature collections of Joseon Dynasty, and explored its meaning and style. As a result, the study extracted not only ‘Jangsu (長袖)’ and ‘Chuisu (翠袖)’ with connotative meanings, but also ‘Bun (飜: Bunyeon 飜然: Yeombun 艶飜)’ and ‘Pyeonpyeon (翩翩)’ the specific descriptions for fluttering sleeves, and ‘Pasa (婆娑)’ the description for non-conventional dance. After exploring the meanings of their origins and exemplary standards, the study emphasized that ‘Jangsu’ should be considered not only the shape of a long sleeve but also a gorgeous sleeve dance of a beautiful dancer, and ‘Chuisu’ should be considered not only the color of a green sleeve but also an excellent sleeve dance of a pitiable dancer. The study also confirmed that ‘Bun’ was a general description for a fluttering sleeve, ‘Bunyeon’ was a description for a sleeve fluttering high enough to touch the sky and changing very quickly, ‘Yeombun’ was a complex description for the combination of a beautiful dancer and beautiful sleeve, ‘Pyeonpyeon’ was a description for a very thin and light silk sleeve fluttering like a butterfly, and ‘Pasa’ was a description for a sleeve movement which was more rough and non-conventional than an ordinary sleeve dance which generally moved light and swift. Those descriptions were confirmed to be based on the standards from the Classic of Poetry (詩經) and Tang Poetry (唐詩), and these phenomenons were confirmed to be the part of Classicism (擬古主義). This study has significance to bring ‘Sumu’ in the center of discussion for the first time in Korea

This study examines the court and private versions of Yukhwadae (六花隊, Formation of six flowers) of the Joseon Dynasty in order to identify the pattern of coexistent and exchange of different cultures such as the royal court and the private sector. The development and changes of Yukhwadae illustrate a way of cultural transformation of dance.

To clarify the cultural transformation of Yukhwadae, this study analyzes the court's documentary records centering on Akhak Gyebum (Canon of Traditional Music) and the civilian literature records centering on the records of Gyobang Gayo (Song of Gyobang).

In Yukhwadae, which was transferred to the public from the courts revealed through literature, all ritual articles of Dangakjeongjae, such as jukganja (pole bearer), uimul (instrument), and changsa (song or chant), were eliminated, and the overall format was simplified. In addition, the content of dance was selectively accepted and reinterpreted, and costumes and music were transformed to be suitable for the private sector. Therefore, through this study, it was found that the strict form of the royal court Yukhwadae was exchanged with the private sector and transformed into a popular and diverse form suitable for civilian performances.

As such, it was found through the results of this study that different cultures were exchanged between the royal court and the private sector during the Joseon Dynasty. I suggest to consider dance from a perspective of cultural exchange, researching various dance cultural exchanges, and contributing to the development of dance.