Hahoe Tal is the only mask designated as a national treasure (No. 121, including two Byeongsan-tal). It is a precious cultural asset and a masterpiece in the area of mask art. It is known that Hahoe Tal was originally composed of fourteen masks, which are two Juji, Gaksi, Yangban, Seobi, Jung, Baekjeong, Choraengi, Halmi, Imae, Bune, Chonggak, Byeolchae and Ddeokdari. However, Byeolchae, Chonggak and Ddeokdari were lost and not handed down.
Hahoi masks are outstanding in their forms and functions. In particular, masks for Yangban, Seonbi, Jung and Baekjeong have a separate jaw like the real jaw to vivify dialogues and smiles. Fore example, if a performer bends his head back, his mouth is opened wide and looks to smile, and if he bends his head forward, his mouth is closed and looks to get angry. Thus, there is a saying, "The mask is so spiritual that it smiles as the performer smiles and gets angry as the performer gets angry."

The mask of Imae does not have the jaw. Concerning this, there is a folktale.
"Once upon a time, a young man Heo in a town began to make a mask, as ordered by a god. He prevented people from accessing the place by roping off the area and dedicated himself to the work. One day, a girl who loved Heo so much could not suppress her desire to see his face, violated the line and peeped inside the hut. Heo, who was trimming the hair of Imae mask, suddenly spat blood and died at the spot. Because Heo could not complete the jaw of Imae, the mask has been handed down without the jaw."

Hahoe masks are all made of black alders. They are supposed to have been made first in the mid Koryo Dynasty. They had been kept in Hahoe Village but moved to the National Museum in 1964 as they were designated as national treasures.


Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori was performed to please the guardian god of the town on Daeboreum (the 15th of January). It was performed in order of Gangsin (receiving the god), Osin (pleasing the god), and Songsin (sending the god back), and the mask dance is the part of Osin. They believed that Talnori brought in the well-being and properity of the town.
Gangsin: Receive the god up in Seonangdang.
Mudong Episode: Gaksi appears in Mudong. ('Mudong' means that one dances on the shoulders of another person.)
Juji Episode: A pair of Juji dances are lion dances to expel evil and wicked spirits and clean the play ground.
Baekjeong Episode: A butcher slaughters a cow, separates its heart and testicles, and speaks out satiric words to the audience and makes fun of them. It is a satire on aristocrats who are hypercritic on sexual matters.
Halmi Episode (Housekeeping Episode): Halmi, who became a widow at fifteen, appears in a small gourd on her waist and a white towel on her head and does housekeeping. Pretending to weave, she sings a song on her poor life. Then she dances and begs with the gourd. This episode describes sufferings and sorrows of women's life, and criticizes male-dominated society. It also contains shamanistic wish for wealth and many children.
Pagyeseung Episode: A monk, peeping at Bune who dances and passes urine, cannot put up with his sexual desire. He takes soil on the ground where Bune urinated, smells it and get excited. The monk dances with Bune, and when found out by Choraengi, Yangban's servant, he carries Bune on his back and runs away.
Yangban·Seonbi Episode: Yangban and Seonbi, who watched what happend in the Pagyeseung Episode, brag about their standing and knowledge to Bune, and fights with each other over Bune. They try to take Bune with hypocrisy and falsehood. Then Baekjeong (butcher) appears with a cow's testicles in his hand, saying that they are good for energy. The two men compete to get them and Baekjeong screams not to tear them out.
Episodes as described above are the general form of the mask dance. Fhese episodes are followed by 'Wedding Episode' and 'Bridal Room Episode'. The mask dance is finished with a shaman's Heocheongeorigut (an exorcism to drive out evil spirits and demons that came into town during Byeolsingut).