Convergence of Dance and Korean Medicine: focusing on the therapeutic function

Abstract

Dance is the most human form of art that has developed along the flow of human history and has been developed in various forms since the ancient times. Also, dance has the community function to solidify the solidarity and unity of members in everyday life, the therapeutic function to relieve various agonies and hard feelings, and the expressive function, in addition to the artistic function. Korean traditional dance, in particular, values the spirit pursued on the inside rather than the mere beauty on the outside, so it values the power of life expressed through the dance. The principle of dance choreography emphasizes tension and relaxation, reflects the universal principles of Yin and Yang, including grudge and deities, excitement and beauty, and liberally controls movements and rhythms through breathing to harmonize the flow of energy. These characteristics of Korean dance correspond to the Korean Medicine’s oneness of body and mind and share the view of human body and mind (emotions) from a whole-minded perspective. Therefore, this study was conducted to seek the common field of dance and medicine before they were separated from the common origin of shamanism and suggest a new concept of dance therapy based on the convergence of dance and Korean Medicine as a way to restore the therapeutic function of dance.