Contemporary Korean heritage performance lights up Busan

BUSAN — Inspired by the 22nd hexagram of the I Ching — symbolizing "refined beauty resting upon true essence" — the performance "Sanhwabi: HEXAGRAM 22," a special congratulatory show for Korea's hosting of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee here, transformed the stage into a vibrant intersection of past and present.

Held "in search of the core strength and new frontiers of intangible cultural heritage," the production presented a sweeping reinterpretation of Korea's centuries-old artistic traditions, fusing classical masterworks with striking contemporary elements.

Organized into seven thematic movements — breath, sound, line, light, pan (communal space), rite and harmony — the showcase demonstrated how living heritage can evolve while honoring its roots.

The performance opened with a grand entrance from behind the audience as members of "Daechwita" (traditional Korean military music), dressed in traditional yellow robes with blue sashes, marched in to recreate the royal processionals of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

The stately opening transitioned into ...