It was 1.30pm in Korea and the weather remains cold, about 2 degrees Celsius. As I am a tropical guy who lives at the equator all year round, I really love this near zero winter season. Less perspiration means more comfort to me.
As I continue my exploration in this theme park called the Korean Folk Village, I saw a signboard with masks on it and it states “Mask Museum”. That sounds a little creepy but I still decided to head into the museum to check out the history of masks in Korea. This is also a good time to find some warmth inside the building.
The entrance to the Mask Museum.
Miniatures of human models playing with masks.
송파산대놀이 (Songpa Sandaenori) is a cheerful parade ritual which honor the dead and wish them to rest in peace. After this parade, amulets are used to ward off misfortune and to wish everyone attending this parade to have good health and wealth.
Korean masks have a long history and they were used during the war times on soldiers and their horses. In the ceremonial contexts, these masks are found in burial rites, shamanistic rituals to chase away evil spirits, remembering the faces of great historical people and theatrical plays. Today, miniature masks are bought as tourist souvenirs for lucky charms.
Hand carved wooden masks. A beautiful peace of art.
Walking out of the Mask Museum, I continued my walk in this beautiful theme park. There are some roadside stores that sells handmade kitchen utensils, smoking pipes and rice cakes.
Handmade tobacco smoking pipes; the traditional Korean style.
These rice candies are very sweet and dry; and they sticked onto my teeth.
The running water freezes up the water turbine mechanism of the watermill.
A watermill built up of straws.
Up ahead there is another museum that displays all the traditional customs in Korea. This museum also explains some superstitious beliefs of the Koreans in the past.
A panaroma photography inside the korean museum using my iPhone.
These are the 12 Chinese Zodiac, represented by animals which the Koreans have them too.
Food prepared by the Koreans for the New Year and for their invited guests.
This is how a Korean family wishing for a baby boy.
The making of Korean chewy rice cakes.
This is the tool the Korean used to pound the rice cakes.
The preparation of Korea’s national dish, Kimchi. I was told by the locals that the natural lactic acid in the Kimchi helps prevent gastric pains and heals the walls of the stomach.
Remember the Galbi beef I have posted in my blog? Here it is, the fake Galbi beef.
A beautiful scenery before I left the Korean Folk Village.
The locals are celebrating some events at the departure gate of the folk village, which I am not sure what it was.
The second part of my journey in the Korean Folk Village was very different from my first post. In my first post, I could clearly see the various housing designs and different living conditions between the poor and the wealthy. The poor lives in straw houses and their living conditions are very basic. They grew their own crops and reared livestocks to feed themselves. From the tools and how they are dressed up, I believe their occupations are farmers, food peddlers and blacksmiths.
The wealthy lives in excellent conditions. They burnt woods underneath their house to keep the occupants warm during the winter time. Their servants lived in good condition housings which are built from bricks to shelter them from harsh weather conditions.
In my second post coverage on the Korean Folk Village, it is about how their tradition and customs bond them together as one. In the context of tradition, there is no difference between the rich and the poor; they were all doing the same traditional ways. The Korean’s tradition are quite similar to the Chinese especially on the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Going to the Korean Folk Village, I understand the Koreans cultures and values much better.
I hope that I have covered the Korean Folk Village in my posts well enough and I would recommend my readers to go and experience Korea. Hope this post will give you a rough guide of the folk village.
Cheers!
