담양 죽세공예의 발달과 채상

Abstract

The bamboo artcraft, developed from the ancient times, reached its peak in Chonnam area where there is a good condition for bamboo to cultivate. It was reported that the bamboo artcraft was begun about 400 years ago in Damyang, Connam, but I think it was begun much before. The bamboo artcraft in Damyang is divided into 3 steps largely. In early of 17th century, the Danosun(端午扇 ; fan swung in Dano) had an opportunity to jump up its fame for the officials were dispatched from the central government to make them for paying them to the King. From the late of the 18th century, the conical bamboo hat and the Caesang were produced only in Damyang region.(『閨閤叢書』) Then, it was clear that the bamboo artcraft had a tendency to be a high grade. In the 19th century, the thing to collect and to present the Danosun and bamboo sprouts was happened in Damyang region. According to these facts, from the late of 18th century to early of 19th century, Damyang could be a region of bamboo artcraft, then was developed by getting a nation-wide fame. So this period is a ‘First Golden Age’ in the bamboo artcraft in the 19th century. Under the rule of Japanese imperialism, the quantity and kinds of the products were various and its marketing was enlarged greatly such as Japan and Manchuria. And the bamboo artcraft manufacturers organized the “Damyang Industrial Corporation” and its members were 1,243 persons and its annual total production amount reached 4,200 million won, the this period is called as ‘Second Golden Age'. After liberation - from 1960s to the middle of 1970s, not only domestic consumption but also export to the 15 countries made the Damyang ‘Third Golden Age’. In Damyang, the fair opened 5 days interval, trading the bamboo products, has been opened solely in our country till now. And there is only one museum specialized the bamboo in our country. The reason that the Damyang region has a fame for the region of bamboo artcraft is the result of combination between the abundant material and the artistical sensibility. Caesang - essence of the bamboo artcraft - is an exemplary representative. Caesang is a box made with embroidering several figures and dyeing colors into the thin bamboo lattice. The Sosang - made by the undyed bamboo lattice and the previous form of Caesang - was presented to the king in the early of Chosun Dynasty, but it is recorded that the dyed and patterned Caesang is a speciality in Damyang in the late of 18th century.(『賦役實摠』) And in the early 19th century, it was famous in nationwide as a speciality.(『閨閤叢書』,『牧民心書』,『林園十六志』) According to these records, it is regarded that the Caesang was made already and used in the 18th century. Caesang, as an essence of the bamboo artcraft products, is a product by a combination of high skilled technique and an artistic sensibility. The background of Caesang, as a new products in the late of Chosun Dynasty, were a development of dying technique, a development of useful and popular artcraft, and an increase of demand for the handicraft products. These Caesangs were made by the professional manufacturers because the experienced skill was needed to make these products, then these were transacted by the direct transaction system. There are 10 families who has the excellent handicraft skills even in the late of 1930s, but since 1975 only 1 family inherited this skill and it is designated as an important intangible cultural asset.