buchaechum

Buchaechum (부채춤), commonly known as the fan dance, is a traditional Korean performance dance primarily performed by female dancers. Dancers wear hanbok and use large folding fans decorated with flowers or cranes. The fans are opened, waved, and folded to create visual motifs such as petals, birds, and flowing shapes. Movements emphasize graceful wrist articulation, precise arm lines, and coordinated group formations, often producing imagery of blooming flowers or fluttering butterflies. The dance is typically performed to traditional Korean music and can be presented as a solo, duet, or group piece.

Performance characteristics and imagery are central to buchaecheum. The choreography relies on controlled, smooth transitions, with fans used to generate both delicate and striking silhouettes. Dancers coordinate their timings to form harmonious patterns, and the overall effect is one of elegance and refinement that mirrors natural forms.

Origins and cultural context indicate that buchaecheum developed in Korea during the late Joseon Dynasty, drawing on courtly dances as well as regional folk influences. Over time it became a staple of traditional Korean performing arts and is commonly included in cultural presentations, festivals, museums, and educational programs. Today it is widely taught in cultural centers and dance schools and is recognized as an enduring example of Korea’s intangible cultural heritage. The dance remains a popular emblem of Korean traditional performance in domestic and international settings.