Hahoemaul, Korea circa 1300
The restless spirits wanted appeasing so a plan was struck. One night one of them entered the dream of a young member of the Ho clan and instructed him to make wooden masks to be used in a ritual dance for the spirits' pleasure.
"But you must keep the process secret upon the penalty of immediate death," warned the spirit's voice.
Leaving his family and lover behind Ho headed for the solitude of the nearby mountains where deep inside a cave he began his decreed task, and there he worked until the hundredth day when his yearning lover searched out his hideaway.
The instant that she peeked at Ho and the masks, he began to spit up blood and died.
So the story goes...
Eight hundred years later Ho's village, Hahoe, still remains, nestled in a bend of the Naktong River, a living, breathing community with a history spanning the life of the Chosun Dynasty.
Originally founded by the Kimhae Ho clan the village was sited according to geomantic theory (the method of choosing auspicious sites for cities, residences and graves).
This location, guarded by the steep rocky cliffs of Puyongdae across the river to the north and a wall of pine tree forests and rugged mountains to the south, enabled the village to escape the ravages of wars and retain the rich history that is so much a part of this nation.
The Kimhae Ho clan was succeeded by the Kwangju Ahn clan, but it wasn't until after the P'ungsan Ryu clan came to the village in the late 14th century that Hahoe rose into prominence through the fame of its clan members.
Of these, the most celebrated are Ryu Song-ryong (1541-1607), who became prime minister and played a major role in countering the Hideyoshi invasions (1592-1598) and his elder brother Ryu Un-ryong (1539-1601) who was a famous Confucian scholar and long serving high official.
Although these figures are honored in the history of the village the community does not rely on this or on tourism to generate its prosperity. Instead, the clan, both upper and lower classes, works harmoniously to maintain the farming traditions that it has known for so long.
This successful cultural co-existence, which is evident the moment foot is set inside the village proper, is treasured and closely guarded by its residents. While visitors are welcomed to Hahoe its tranquility and charm can only become a part of one's life through marriage into the Ryu clan.
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