Geommu (also transliterated Gummu, Kommu) is a traditional sword dance practiced in Korea.

The symbolic use of ssang dan geom, i.e. a replica of dual short swords, keeps to the militaristic origins of this dance.

Geom-mu has become a dance of great beauty and is treasured as the South Korea's 12th Important Intangible Cultural Property.

According to legend, Geommu originated during the later portion of the Three Kingdoms of Korea with estimates placing it near 660 AD.

The legend of Geommu states that a young boy in Silla named Hwangchang had an unusual talent for sword dance.

[2] Surviving as a folk dance and cultural asset, Geommu was considerably changed during the Joseon Dynasty period from 1392 through 1910.

The Kisaeng learned the formalized dance through the Gwonbeon, a pre-Korean War performance institution comparable to the Geisha tradition of Japan.

One major change was the Kisaeng performers discontinued wearing the traditional mask while dancing Geommu.

[citation needed] Dancers of Geommu wear Hanbok, Kwaeja (overcoat), Jeon-Dae (belt), and Jeon-Rip (military style cap).

The costume traditionally has the colors of blue, red, yellow, green and black but many regional variations exist.

Basic nature of Korean rhythmic patterns may be described as having these four main characteristics (Garland encyclopedia of world: East Asia- China, Japan, Korea, p. 901).

Geommu is actively preserved and practiced primarily in the Jinju, Gyeongsangnamdo, South Korea.