원효 무애무(無㝵舞)의 교육적 소고(小考)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate an educational meaning on Wonhyo's Muaemu(dance free from every attachment). This study puts focus on the dance's form, buddhist thoughts symbolized in the movements, and their educational meaning. The dance was originated by the famous buddhist monk, Wonhyo who lived in the periods of Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla. Wonhyo taught buddhist thoughts that were too difficult to understand for the illiterate by the method of the dance and song that everyone could do and enjoy. As a result, the Buddhism of Silla was known to everyone including beggars, the poor, and even innocent kids. It proved that the education through the dance was very effective. So the dance was played every place where people could meet. However in the periods of Koryo and Choseon Dynasty, the dance was performed in the court in the form of established pattern by the female entertainers. The movements of this dance were as follows: With the round gourd in hand he moves back and forth. He sways his two arms high in the air and lifts his legs three times with his belly vacant and his neck drooped. These movements symbolize collectively Wonhyo's buddhist thoughts that we should live free from every care and attachment, transcend the worlds of desires, and accept and respect everyone as respectable Buddha in the sea of one cosmic mind. To spread Wonhyo's dance of Muae, Korean traditional dances including Muaemu should be placed in the regular curriculum of preschool, primary school, and secondly school.