Hahoe Folk Village facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Hahoe Village
|
|
| Location | Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea |
| Part of | Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
| Inscription | 2010 (34th Session) |
| Area | 500 ha (1,200 acres) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
안동하회마을
|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Andong Hahoe Ma-eul |
| McCune–Reischauer | Andong Hahoe Maŭl |
The Hahoe Folk Village (Hangul: 안동하회마을) is a very old and special village in South Korea. It was built during the Joseon Dynasty, a long time ago. You can find it in Andong, in the Gyeongsangbuk-do area. The name 'Ha' means river, and 'hoe' means to 'turn around' or 'come back'. This name fits because the village is shaped by the nearby river.
Hahoe Village is super important for Korean culture. It helps us remember how people lived during the Joseon period. It has old buildings, special traditions, and valuable books. It also shows how villages were often built around one main family group. In 2010, the South Korean government and UNESCO listed Hahoe Village as a World Heritage Site, along with Yangdong Folk Village. About one million people visit Hahoe Village every year!
Contents
What Makes Hahoe Village Special?
Hahoe Village was started between the 14th and 15th centuries. It's known as one of the best examples of historic villages in South Korea. These villages were often built around families who were closely related.
The village has many types of buildings:
- Homes where families lived.
- Pavilions, which are open buildings for relaxing.
- Confucian academies, which were schools for learning.
- Study pavilions, smaller places for quiet study.
These buildings show the rich culture of the early Joseon era. Out of 124 houses in the village, six are so important they are called National Treasures.
The village is built in a special way, following old Korean ideas about nature and energy called pungsu (like feng shui). Because of this, the village looks like a lotus flower or two comma shapes linked together. To the north, there's a big cliff called Buyongdae. To the south, you'll find Mt. Namsan.
A Look Back at Hahoe's History
The Ryu clan (a family group) from Pungsan started Hahoe Folk Village in the 15th century. It has been a village for this one family ever since. The village is special because it has kept many of its original buildings. These include the village school and other important structures.
Hahoe also keeps old folk arts alive. One famous example is the Hahoe Mask Dance Drama. This dance is part of a special ceremony to honor the village spirits.
Today, the village is split into two parts: Namchon (South Village) and Pukchon (North Village). The main part of the Ryu family, called the Gyeomampa, lives in Namchon. Another part of the family, the Seoaepa, lives in Bukchon. This group came from Ryu Seong-ryong, who was an important leader during the time of King Seonjo.
- The North Village has the Yangjindang Manor and Pikchondaek House.
- The South Village has the Chunghyodang Manor and Namchondaek House.
Even though these family groups used to live in their own areas, now both branches live all over the village.
The village has kept old building styles that are hard to find elsewhere in South Korea. Many modern changes have caused these styles to disappear. You can see fancy tile-roofed homes for important families. There are also simpler thatched-roof homes where servants lived. These buildings show how people built things during the Joseon Dynasty.
Two important buildings are Wonjijeongsa Pavilion and Byeongsan Confucian School. The village also still performs the Byeolsin-gut ceremony and uses the special Hahoe masks for the Mask Dance. Another fun tradition is the Jeulbul Nori. This involves strings of fireworks lit at the bottom of the Buyongdae Cliff.
The Yongmogak Shrine holds a collection of books that belonged to Ryu Seong-ryong. One of these books is the Jingbirok, which is a South Korean National Treasure. It tells the story of the Imjin War in 1592. Another book, Kunmundungok, records military camps. The Chunghyodang also has 231 special royal papers.
Inside the village, there's a very old zelkova tree, about 650 years old. It's called Samsindan. People believe the goddess Samsin lives in this tree. Visitors often write their wishes on paper and hang them near the tree.
In 1999, Queen Elizabeth II visited Hahoe Village. The local people even threw a party to celebrate her 73rd birthday!
Special Cultural Performances
Hahoe Byeolsingut Mask Play
This mask play is a very old performance from Hahoe Village. It's so important that it's listed as National Intangible Cultural Treasure No. 69. This mask play is part of a special village ceremony. It mixes ritual, folk opera, and pantomime (acting without words). It's a unique and lively show!
Sunyu Line Fire
'Sunyu Line Fire' is a fun folk game. People hang a bag full of charcoal powder on a long string high in the air. Then, they light it up! Flames leap through the air, creating a spectacular show. Long ago, important people in Hahoe Village would go out on the river. They would sing poems under the full moon in July. At the same time, they would enjoy lighting up eggshells or small pieces of wood with oil and wicks. They would also drop lit pine tree stems from Buyongdae Cliff.
Visiting Hahoe Village
Hahoe Folk Village has been a World Heritage Site since 2010. More than 1 million people visit it every year. It's a popular place to see traditional Korean culture.
To help protect the village, tour carts are not allowed inside since 2021. This helps keep the village special and well-preserved for everyone to enjoy.
Gallery
-
Yangjin Residence
-
Chunghyo Residence
-
House in Hahoe Village
-
House in Hahoe Village
-
House in Hahoe Village
See also
In Spanish: Hahoe para niños
