한국 농환(弄丸)과 서커스 저글링의 현재적 연행 양상

Abstract

The purpose of this study to examine the history and various aspects of the performance in its repertoire, which is called Nong hwan(弄丸), among traditional performances called under the name of San Ak(散樂)․Baek hui(百戱). Nong hwan(弄丸)is the performance that more than one person throw a ball each other with both hands, other parts of the body and tools. The most typical performing style of Nong hwan(弄丸) is to throw balls or bells in the shape of circle with hands, but various tools other than spherical things were used in diversified ways. In Korea, Nong hwan(弄丸) was naturally existed, but in the period of the Three States, it developed as an exclusive performance influenced by San Ak(散樂)․Baek hui(百戱) from China and Western countries. In the Goguryeo Dynasty, various styles of Nong hwan(弄丸) were described in the tomb mural paintings. From the period of the Three States to the Chosun Dynasty, it had been considered a play with balls in the national events. In the late of the Chosun Dynasty, performances playing with balls were rarely found out. In the Gamro painting and Gisan genre painting, it was shown that roamers were rolling a hourglass-shaped thing with rope, which was called Jukbangul. In addition, they were throwing and receiving balls with hourglass-shaped stick by using both hands in the paintings, which are not recently performed any more. In the Gisan genre painting, Jukbangul was depicted both as a professional performance and social play. It was performed by clowns in the market near the Nakdong River, which was the birthplace for the Okwang Masque, but hard to tell how to exactly play either receiving balls, throwing balls or playing balls. At present, Nong hwan(弄丸) has not been popularly handed down. In particular, experts performed it in varied national events as a kind of San Ak(散樂) and Baek hui(百戱), but Nong hwan(弄丸)’s traditions, which were shown by professional performers in the late of the Chosun Dynasty, couldn’t be transmitted. Only spirit mediums, folk bands and medicine peddlers acted Jukbangul. At present, it has turned out to be Jukbangul in the Peddler Play performed in the area of Yesan. In the Jinju Mask Dance and Drama Festival 2008, Jukbangul was shown as a game in the middle of Okwang Masque Show. In China and Japan, it is quite a popular game, whereas it is hardly found out in Korea. Influenced by Japanese circus under Japanese Rule, Korean circus got its popularity, however jugglings like Nong hwan(弄丸) were not actively performed in contrast with other plays. Now, there is only one circus club, Dongchun Circus, which is actively performing in Korea. The Dongchun Circus used to perform Juggling named as juggling Park for over a decade, but currently, individual performers are working by themselves. In this sense, juggling in the circus has not been handed down, but is seen in the Chinese skill rat shows and some events. Expect for circuses, jugglings are performed in the clubs for private tastes.