[1] They represent the stock characters needed to perform the roles in the ritual dance dramas included in the ceremony.

[4] The South Korean government named the masks "National Treasure #121" and the dance of the Pyolshin-gut Ta'l nori as "important intangible cultural asset #69.

It is said that a young man named Hur received instructions in a dream from his local protecting deity to construct the masks.

Once the deities' rules were broken, Hur immediately started vomiting and haemorrhaging blood, dying on the spot.

The villagers performed an exorcism allowing for their souls to be raised to the rank of local deity, and they were able to marry in the afterlife.

[7][8] Hahoe pyolsin-kut became one of the most popular forms of t'al nori (talchum), which are Korean dance mask dramas.

T'al nori masks are traditionally made from gourds and paper-mache using Korean mulberry paper called hanji.

The Hahoe pyolsin-gut functions to honor the local deities, and therefore earns the permission to use the masks in the ritual dramas, which then are returned to their shrines to await the next ceremony.

[9] The twelve masks of the Hahoetal represent the characters needed to perform all the roles in the Hahoe pyolsin-gut.

Each mask has a unique set of design characteristics to portray the full range needed in the representation of these stock characters.

The mouth of the mask is a separate piece from the top and attached with cords, allowing for movement to represent laughter.

Ch'oraengi (the aristocrat's servant): The wise fool, this character mocks and ridicules his master, providing much of the comedy for the plays.

He has a crooked mouth with his sharp teeth showing and bulging eyes set in a deep socket with a solid dark eyebrow.

Sonpi (the teacher/scholar): Another character holding high social status, the mask has flared nostrils and sharply defined cheekbones to show an air of disapproval, conceit and disdain.

The mask is wider at the top, coming almost to a point at the chin to represent and mock the large brain of the know-it-all scholar.

Imae (the scholar's servant): This character is portrayed as a jolly fool, with a drooping eyes to express foolishness and naivety.

The forehead and chin are both pointed to represent a character without the blessings of heaven above or the promise of good fortune later in life.

Hahoe pyolsin-gut ceremony functioned to honor local deities and perform the rites of exorcism over evil spirits, therefore bringing prosperity to the village.

The rhythms and tempo of the band match the status or actions of the characters as well as providing the base for the formalized dances.

For example, slow rhythms and melodies would show and accompany elegance, while fast music would underscore comedic antics or excitement.

They are: Opening rituals/"Piggyback" episode: The ceremony begins with a forty to fifty foot pole being erected to honor the village's guardian deity.

The villagers and audience then prays for the Gods to descend and bless the proceedings, and the bell on top the larger pole rings to signify their approval.

The purpose of this dance is to ensure the safety of the playing space and actors by expelling evil spirits and demonic animals, which would be scared of the winged lions.

They argue about their worthiness, citing examples of their education and desire, and then compete to buy the bull testicles from the butcher as a sign of virility to win Punae's affection.

Once they overhear the mockery and disdain expressed by the servants who also tell them the tax collector is coming, Yangban, Sonpi and Punae scatter.

Afterwards, the couple falls asleep and Chung jumps out of a wooden chest and murders Ch'ongkak.This scene is played at midnight, and due to its graphic nature women and children were forbidden to attend.

[14] Under the leadership of Master Han-sang Ryoo, the Hahoe Mask Dance Drama Preservation Society organized all existing manuscripts for the ceremony, and from 1974 to 1975 meticulously recreated the ritual performance.