Sungkyun Cho  Udo Moenig  Dohee Nam

10.18399/acta.2012.15.2.004

t’aekkyŏn martial arts folk game ssirŭm taekwondo

The ancient history and identity of Korean martial arts in general remain greatly disputed, and t’aekkyŏn has been mistakenly associated with taekwondo. The first existing reference to t’aekkyŏn dates back to the early eighteenth century. From that period until the turn of the twentieth century, a variety of records have survived, including several official and historical documents, some depictions in paintings, and a single photograph. After analyzing all these existing records, this study concludes that t’aekkyŏn in its past form was not a martial art as we understand it. Rather, it had various game-like qualities, and was also often associated with unruly behavior by individuals of the lower classes. In addition, public performances of t’aekkyŏn were probably connected to folk customs, rituals, and/or festivals, which could also explain its dance-like characteristics as a form of entertainment. While some suggest it may have had some earlier martial art roots, there are not enough existing documents to make any definite conclusion. Therefore, the current presentation of t’aekkyŏn’s as a “traditional Korean martial art” suggests an invented tradition.