Cha Hyung-won

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Cha Hyung-won

Role / Field:

Pioneering Korean actor and master of the traditional Gwanno-Masque performance art.

Born:

1890-09-05

Died:

1972-07-02

Century / Era:

1890s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Cha Hyung-won (Korean: 차형원; Hanja: 車亨元; September 5, 1890 – July 2, 1972) was designated as Ingan-munhwage on 16 January 1967 for the Gangneung Danoje festival, which is an Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea. He specialized in Gwanno-Masque playing, a kind of pantomime. It was a satire of the caste system by members of the gwanno class. Cha was born on 5 September 1890 in Gangneung, Korea.

Career & Major Achievements

His father, Cha In-sil (Korean: 차인실; Hanja: 車仁實), lived in 132 dong Gangneung Seongnamdong. At age 17 he saw the last Gwanno-Masque playing at the Gangneung Danoje festival in 1907 before it disappeared late in the Choson Dynasty. As Gwanno-Masque playing was performed by a gwanno, an enslaved male in government employ. Cha denied that he was gwanno.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After Gwanno-Masque playing was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea on 16 January 1967, it was reconstructed by researchers. Cha was one of the masters who participated in supplying information about Gwanno-Masque playing from masks to performance. He worked as gwanno at the Gwannocheong in Gangneung province until the latter era of the Joseon Dynasty and he made the masque and had performances in the Gangneung Danohje. He participated in historical research about Gwanno-Masque playing after 1966.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1890 (1890-09-05): Birth of Cha Hyung-won — Pioneering Korean actor and master of the traditional Gwanno-Masque performance art.
2. 1907: 1907 Milestone — At age 17 he saw the last Gwanno-Masque playing at the Gangneung Danoje festival in 1907 before it disappeared late in the Choson Dynasty.
3. 1966: 1966 Milestone — He participated in historical research about Gwanno-Masque playing after 1966.
4. 1967: 1967 Milestone — After Gwanno-Masque playing was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea on 16 January 1967, it was reconstructed by researchers.
5. 1972 (1972-07-02): Passing & Historical Legacy — Cha Hyung-won passed away on 1972-07-02, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cha Hyung-won

True or False: “The Gwanno-Masque playing was originally performed by members of the noble scholar class.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): It was historically performed by the gwanno class, who were enslaved men employed in government service.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cha Hyung-won