Last (indicate when you visited the museum), I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the in-campus Anthropology Museum in Northern Illinois University. Upon first entering the indoors, I was totally captivated by the sheer imaginative power of its ambience. The lighting comprised of minimal use of soft warm lights placed strategically to enhance the appearance of the exhibits. The artefacts in display featured materials from the various indigenous or ancient cultures across the world, with a specialization in those from South East Asia.
Each artefacts had a story to tell, and the one that particularly attracted me was the mask of the Senobi. Its origin dates back to the Joseon Era in Korea, and relates to young virtuous scholars of the time who were known for their great intellect. All their life was dedicated to the process of learning, thought and travel. They hailed from the ruling class of Yangban, yet they never enrolled in civil servant positions even after passing the Gwageo examination. (Shin 201).
The very idea of Senobi brings to my mind my own passion for learning and intellectual pursuit. The mask displayed a humble human expression which I could instantly connect with. It appeared like a venerable old man with plenty of wisdom to share. It spoke to me with an identifiable virtuosity, repelling my own negative thoughts to the difficult aspect of intellectual pursuit. It was in sharp contrast to my tensed feelings over my own troubles in dealing with the problem of partially available information about any subject I wished to study – an easy way to clutter one’s own mind. While seeking expert knowledge, the difficulty is in putting the available bits of knowledge into a full, working bigger picture. The constant challenge of forever updating one’s own ideas with the changing circumstances to add to the knowledge base is the key demotivation to the goal of a scholar, as it results in an indefinite delay of obtaining a firm grasp of the bigger picture. In such circumstances, the image portrayed by the mask of Senobi communicated to me the essence of simplicity in the pursuit of knowledge. The quality of this scholar stood out from my own ideas about the scholarly image – that of an elite, bold and proud of his intellectual capabilities. I also found a distinct trait of the presence of a moral character in the humbleness of its image. The Senobi mask became a reminder of the great scholars who lived in the Joseon Era, and their great dedication to the ideas of principles and integrity. They had an unquestionable loyalty to their king.
The mask is remarkable because of another aspect of its origin. It was featured in the folk dances of popular folks such as the Hahoe village. It is one of the several characters which appeared in their performance of the folk dance. People held the Senobis in high regard for their marvelous mental attributes and moral character. I thought people liked this image of a Senobi scholar to fend their own inspirations to stand against the greed and corrupt nature of the ruling class.
The mask also stirred my interests in the study of Joseon Era, indeed the period which the mask belongs to. I became more interested to study and discover how the Senobis lived, their achievements, abilities, contributions to the society and the literature which they produced after their vast knowledge and ideas. It also invigorated my interests to study the folk culture of East-Asia which is one of the primary promoter of the Senobi tradition.
Work Cited
Shin, Michael D., ed. Everyday Life in Joseon-Era Korea : Economy and Society. Leiden, NLD: BRILL, 2014. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 19 April 2016.
