Song Duk-ki’s Lifetime, Compositions and Instruction Contents in Taekkyeon History
Kong Hyun-uk
Dept. of Physical Education
Graduate School of Yong In University
Song Duk-ki, who possessed Taekkyeon in its original form during the time of the late Chosun Dynasty and the Korean Empire, was born in 1893 and learned Taekkyeon first from his big brother and later on Im-Ho of SaJikGol who was famous for Taekkyeon. Song, while being passed down Taekkyeon from Im-Ho for a long period of time also practiced Korean traditional archery(Kuk-Gung) in HwangHakJeong, taught modern physical education in the military and was also active as a soccer player.
Song, together with his pupil Shin Han-Seung, was nominated as the first Taekkyeon arts holder on June 1st 1983. During the process of designating Taekkyeon as a cultural asset however, due to a lack of understanding as to the original form Song possessed, Taekkyeon was designated as an important intangible cultural heritage asset in a different form. In 1987, after the demise of Song and Shin the pupils who had been passed down Taekkyeon each set up their own associations and seeking growth developed independently. This brought the problem of the original form of Taekkyeon handed down by Song being distorted by the differentiated interpretations, and also a problem on the records due to the lack of research as well as on the understanding of Song.
These problems were able to be solved through the insight provided by Song’s acquaintances and direct pupils on his life and activities. Organized below is the original form of Taekkyeon handed down to his pupils, the process of the handing down and the contents.
Firstly, Song had been active in Korea’s martial arts and physical education scene leaving various activities during his life time and for a long period of time received the handing down of Taekkyeon from Im-Ho who renown for Taekkyeon enabling him to possess Taekkyeon in its original form.
Secondly, there is a difference between the moves employed by current organizations and Song. Song possessed Taekkyeon in as the form of former martial arts where the coexistence of the form of martial arts and the form of matches(sports) and games was clear.
Thirdly, the methods in which Song’s pupils were instructed differed from a form of instruction based on KyeonJuKi(a form of weighing, or measuring, one’s skills against another) to a form of instruction based on the passing down of skills and techniques.
The moves of Taekkyeon are not in a set form and nor are their names. However, the principles of use and forms of skills are distinct. If the form of Taekkyeon passed down to Song’s pupils were to be further researched and organized, the differentiation problem and identity in Taekkyeon could be solved as Song Duk-ki’s activities during his lifetime.
Keywords: Taekkyeon, Song Duk-ki, Taekkyeon History, Oral History
Student Number: 2011-02102