Holders of National Intangible Heritage Connecting a Thousand Years Show the Intense Process Hidden Behind Finished Products

A venue has been prepared for holders of National Intangible Heritage to personally demonstrate their techniques to promote the value of traditional skills and communicate with the public. According to a video from the Korea Heritage Agency, the recently released 'Joint Public Presentation of Traditional Techniques of National Intangible Heritage' video contains the processes through which artisans in various fields, such as manggeon, embroidery, mother-of-pearl, and bow making, carry on their techniques, as well as the philosophy contained within them.

"The holder is the starting point"... The weight of tradition accepted as destiny

For the artisans met on-site, traditional techniques were expressed as life itself, going beyond a simple profession. One participant continuing the production of manggeon stated, "I was born into a house that makes manggeon as soon as I was born, and it is the beginning and a part of my life," expressing the wish, "I hope my life ends with manggeon." An artisan who has continued the work for three generations mentioned that this process is fateful, saying they have honestly protected tradition with a determination to perform tasks for a month that others would take a week to do.

Voices regarding the difficulties and responsibilities of the process of transmitting techniques also followed. One holder shared the great responsibility felt as a holder, saying, "When I became a holder, I thought that was the normal state, but once I actually became one, I realized it was just the starting point." In particular, it was emphasized that for the acquisition of techniques, not only eyesight but also strong patience to repeat the process for a lifetime without a set deadline is essential.

'Living bridges' connecting ancestors from a thousand years ago and descendants

This event aims to go beyond exhibiting finished works and to inform that traditional techniques are not artifacts trapped in museums, but 'living traditions.' Through this public presentation, the participants intend to convey three values. First is the 'value of the process,' showing the intense process hidden behind the finished products; second is the 'value of tradition,' adhering to the methods of ancient ancestors; and third is 'communication and experience,' meeting the public directly.

The ways of continuing the lineage of tradition also appeared in various forms. From family businesses passed from mother to daughter and then to granddaughter, to cases of striving to pass down techniques to descendants while transmitting them through five generations, various examples were identified. An artisan continuing mother-of-pearl techniques stated, "I want to communicate so that this category, which has continued for a thousand years since the Goryeo period, can continue for another thousand years in the future."

The artisans emphasized that these techniques possess global competitiveness. One participant mentioned the experience of receiving a great response from locals during past exhibitions and demonstration events in the United States, saying it is important for Korea's intangible heritage techniques to be properly known along with K-pop. The participants defined themselves as "living bridges connecting ancestors from a thousand years ago and descendants a thousand years from now," revealing their sense of mission in transmitting the techniques.