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K-CULTURAL HERITAGE

Everlasting Legacies of Korea

  • 1966.2.15
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    Eunsan Byeolsinje is a shamanic rite held to honor the guardian deity of Eunsan Village at the village shrine in Eunsan-myeon, Buyeo-gun.

    The rite is connected with a legend about a severe epidemic that led to the loss of many lives and with the strange dream of an elderly village leader. In his dream he met a Baekje general who had been killed during a battle fought to protect Baekje and was asked to bury the general and his men in a sunny place in exchange for a ‘magical intervention’ to repel the epidemic. Upon awakening from the dream, he visited the place mentioned by the general in the dream and found many bones scattered there. The village people collected and buried them in an auspicious site and performed an exorcism to console their spirits. The burial was followed by the end of the epidemic which, in turn, led the villagers to hold rites to honor their heroic deaths.

    The tradition gradually developed into the festival event of Eunsan Byeolsinje, which was initially held for about fifteen days between January and February once every three years.

    As the date of the rite approaches, the village elders select those who will officiate over the event and assign military titles such as General, Colonel, Lieutenant, and Private to the designated officiants. In addition, the chief officiant is requested to use the utmost care in preparing the sacrificial offerings and to preserve the ritual venue from any signs of impurity or evil by, for example, covering the well to be used in the rite with a straw mat, and by encircling the venue with an “evil-repelling rope” and scattering yellow and black grains of sand around it. The villagers then cut down trees to support the village guardian poles and make paper flowers to offer to the village guardian, and hold pieces of white paper in their mouths as they move to the shrine as a symbolic action to repel evil spirits.

    The main part of the rite usually starts in the evening and ends at dawn with the process of erecting the village guardian pole and praying for the safety and prosperity of the village.☆
  • 2014.3.18
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    Suryukjae (Water and Land Ceremony), a ritual in which all the spirits of beings from both land and water are guided to the peaceful other world, was first performed during the early Joseon period. This ancient Buddhist rite has great historical and cultural significance and aesthetic merit, as confirmed by its appearance in numerous ancient texts, including Joseon wangjo sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty). The rite is performed night and day for the peace of all the living and the dead, whereas the Yeongsanjae (Celebration of Buddha's Sermon on Vulture Peak Mountain) was usually performed for the peace of individual beings.

    A ritual ceremony called Araennyeok Suryukjae, currently preserved by Buddhists in the Gyeongsangnam-do area, is characterized by its wonderful integration of Buddhist ceremonial music and solemn ritual proceedings.☆
  • 2011.3.26
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    Busan Ancient Tombs Dori Gulip was a geollip that was performed in the ancient area of Gobundori, Seodaesin-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, and was called Geolipgut because it received a little rice or money in return for wishing good fortune by visiting Gagahho Lake in the hope that there would be only good things at the beginning of the year.

    Busan Ancient Tombs-ri Gulip is a traditional folk religion with a history of more than 150 years, considering that the rite was held in Dangsan, Sijaksan Mountain, a village guardian mountain of Daesin-dong, which was built around 1860.

    Busan Gobundori Gulip consists of a total of 37 people, including jisu, Aksa, and Japsaek. First of all, Goha in Dangsan, visit each family to perform a well-being ritual, and then perform a ritual to pray for a good fish, and then perform a dance performance at the Pangutpan.

    Busan Gobundori Gulip is distinct from other geolip Nori, such as the detailed composition of the Sungjupuri editorial, the insertion of Yongwanggut section chief, and the musical diversity of Buckunnori and Yeonhee among Seollnori. In addition, the musical composition and editorial composition of Yu Sam-ryong, Lee Myeong-cheol, and Jeong Sang-ryeol, who were the best pungmul jabs of the time, are outstanding. It is considered to be a traditional folk who actually perform geolip on the first day of the year in Seo-gu, Busan, and has sufficient folk and cultural value.
  • 2004.4.6
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    The amphibious landing materials that have been passed down in the Incheon area include 49jae, Baekiljae, Gisegi, Damjae, amphibious landing, Jesujae, Baekjongjae, Oewangjae, Sanshinjae, Yongwangjae, Jowangjae, Sinjungjae, and Jeseokjae, all of which are called Cheondojae.

    The difference between the Incheon landing ceremony and other regions is the sound section. While the sounds of other regions use five tones, the Incheon amphibious landing makes six sounds with the sound of Kanseong.

    Unlike other regions, there is also an earnest syllable that honors the joys and sorrows of common people and fishermen engaged in fishing. This is due to the influence of the song sung by fishermen when they are sad or excited while fishing in the sea, which is reflected in the amphibious landing materials in Incheon, showing different characteristics from other regions.
  • 2010.4.9
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    Sitting Gut is one of the Korean shamanic rites in which Gyeonggwae sits down and reads Mukyeong and gongs. It is called "Sitting Gut" or "Chungcheongdo Gut" or "Yangban Gut" because it is popular in Chungcheong-do and is especially popular among yangban.

    This seated rite originated from Maengseung of the Goryeo Dynasty, and was formed when Myeongtongsi Prehistory, a Buddhist monk of the Joseon Dynasty, was abolished and served as Dokgyeongsa Temple in the private sector as a means of living. However, at the end of the Joseon Dynasty, a seated ritual was established today as a guest of honor, not a policeman.

    Sitting Gut in Chungcheong-do is the hometown of Cheongju. So, in the past, a guest of honor from Cheongju was called to the nearest South Chungcheong Province as well as to Seoul for a sitting ritual. However, after the Korean War, the local seongut shamans who came to Cheongju were reading the book, and the contents were greatly reduced and transformed.

    Shin Myeong-ho learned sitting ritual from Kim Jong-heon, a student of Yun Chi-seok, who lived in Mochung-dong, Cheongju, and lived in Jangsa-ri, Gadeok-myeon, Cheongwon-gun. However, due to Kim Jong-heon's poor landscape, he went to Hwagwansa Temple in Baekjoksan Mountain, Cheongwon-gun, where he learned Chinese literature and Buddhist scriptures at Mt. Lee Myeong-san, and also learned Seolwisulgyeong and Mukyeong from various senior police officers who were active in Cheongju.

    Shin Myeong-ho was born in 1943 (born 1949 in resident registration) in Hwangcheong-ri, Namil-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, as the only son of Shin Man-sik and Ahn Ui-jun, and served as the head of the Chungcheongbuk-do branch of the Korean Gyeongsin Association for 10 years while living as a shaman.

    As an important activity, he was responsible for 19 years for the performance of the Mokgye Sinje Bummu, Sodumoni Yongshin Gut, and Cheongju Cheonjon Gut, and won the Gut of the Paldo Gut Contest, hosted by the Korean Gyeongsin Association. In addition, the study of Chungbuk dance was found to be one of the representative shamans of Chungbuk.Muak has been introduced to the academic world.

    Shin Myeong-ho is an adviser to the members and their disciples, usually performing ritual and military rites, and advises and instructs them on the great exorcism of the members and disciples, and reads the great scenery that they cannot read.

    Shin Myeong-ho is characterized by the fact that he does not repeat the same scriptures and relatively flexible rhythms in the large gut, as well as the Great Views including Okchugyeong, the An Taek-gyeong to pray for blessings, the congratulatory scriptures to ward off disasters, and various congratulatory texts.
  • 2011.4.22
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    The ritual for Danjong in Yeongwol, which was established in 1698 (the 24th year of King Sukjong's reign) and started in 1791 (the 15th year of King Jeongjo's reign), is a Confucian ritual held in Jangneung, and the loyalty of the food group, which began in 1791 (the 15th year of King Jeongjo's reign), was designated as the only royal tomb of Joseon.
  • 2013.4.30
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    Flower reception rite is a shamanistic rite performed to thank God for the virtues of the god in the springtime when flowers bloom. This exorcism includes what shamans do for themselves and what they do at the request of a house called Dangoljip.

    The shaman's ritual for the spirit she served and for herself is to appreciate the peace of the family, as the rite for the re-establishment of one's health and prosperity of military work. In other words, the "Flower Greetings" is to thank the gods, and it contains ups and downs of wishing for peace, longevity, and prosperity.
  • 1975.5.3
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    Jongmyo, in Seoul, is a royal shrine where the mortuary tablets of deceased royal couples are kept, and is an important site symbolizing the fundamentals of the existence of a state along with Sajikdan Altar, which is the altar for the national soil and grain ceremonies. The regular ancestral rituals were held at Jongmyo in the first month of each season, i.e. January, April, July, and October, while extraordinary rituals were held on special occasions. Since 1945, the ritual has been held only once a year, on the first Sunday of May. The ritual is held in a solemn atmosphere.

    The ritual is carried out in a way so as to entertain the spirits of the dead royal ancestors. The procedure for the ritual is as follows: Chwiwi (placing of ancestral tablets), Yeongsin (greeting the spirits), Haengsinnarye (King's obeisance to ancestral tablets), Jinchan (presenting the spirits with food), Choheollye (first obeisance), Aheollye (second obeisance), Jongheollye (last obeisance), Eumbongnye (partaking of sacrificial food), Cheolbyeondu (overturing of ritual dishes), Mangnyo (incineration of prayers). The King had to behave discreetly for four days and keep his body clean for three days before the ritual.

    Jongmyo Jerye featured grandeur and solemnity as a ritual that set an example for the people of a Confucian society that attached particular importance to etiquette.

    The ritual, along with the music associated with it (Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No.1), was registered with UNESCO in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity in May 2001.
  • 2002.5.6
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    A craftsman who makes musical instruments is called a musical instrument master. The names of artisans related to instruments such as pungmuljang, jangjang, and gongjang are visible on the factory lanterns of Gyeongguk Daejeon during the Joseon Dynasty. There are about 60 to 70 types of musical instruments produced in Korea and handed down to date, including our own instruments and those from China or the West. There is no craftsman who makes all of these, but each event is classified as a musical instrument.

    There is no clear record, but it is believed that there have been professional craftsmen who make musical instruments since the Three Kingdoms Period. Various wind and string instruments for the murals of Goguryeo tombs.The percussion instruments and others appear, and musical instruments are also visible in the patterns of King Beomjong of Silla. A figure of Gayageum figures is also found in Tou, Silla, which is believed to have been around the 4th century. In addition, the birth of musical instruments can be seen in the tales of Wangsanak in Goguryeo, Kasil King in Gaya, and Manpa Sik in Silla, but there are no stories about artisans and methods of production.

    During the Joseon Dynasty, the musical instruments were used to make musical instruments and clothing for national rituals and ceremonies, which were valued by Confucianism.instrumental colors, musical instruments inc.A special department was established, such as the Musical Instruments Agency. In addition, the state-run music organization, the Gukjawon, mobilized craftsmen from various fields to direct and supervise the work, and finally supervised the tuning and ending of musical instruments.

    Traditional musical instruments can be classified as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments, or they can be classified according to their materials, and eight important materials are called selling. Gold and silver are instruments made of metal and have backs. Seok is a stone instrument made of pyeongyeong and special features. These include geomungo, gayageum, haegeum, ajaeng, and Bipa, which are made of silk strings attached to a resonator box. The musical instruments made as dead include a flute, milk stand, sugar drum, and Danso. Po has a raw yellow lantern as an instrument with ingredients of a bowl, and clay is baked with soil, with Hun and Bu.Hyuk is an instrument made by covering a round barrel with leather, including Janggo, Galgo, Jwago, Jeolgo, and Sogo. The neck is made of wood and includes Bak, Chuk, Eo, etc.

    There are two types of gayageum: Jeongak Gayageum and Sanjoyageum, which differ in materials, size, tone, and coordination. Jeongak Gayageum makes a resonator by digging a thick oak tree, and Sanjo Yageum makes a resonator box by adding chestnut wood board to make a resonator. Unlike standardized Western instruments, the size gradually grows and becomes smaller depending on the physical condition of the performer. Jeongak Gayageum is about 160 to 170 centimeters wide, 30 centimeters wide and 140 centimeters long.Sanjo Yageum is much smaller and lighter in length and width, but it is said that Jeongak Gayageum was reduced and modified to play folk songs at the end of the Joseon Dynasty.

    The paulownia tree should be naturally dried for more than five years by roughly trimming it from 30 to 50 years old. When attaching to a tree with different top and bottom, the sides are placed on the left side, where flowers or cherry trees are used. Yongdu and Bongmi are placed at both ends of the upper plate. Yongdu is the head of the gayageum, and Bongmi is the lower part.

    On April 23, 2002, Kim Bok-gon was recognized as the holder of the event.

    ※For more information on the above cultural assets, please contact the Seoul Metropolitan Government Department of Historical and Cultural Heritage (☎02-2133-2616).
  • 2013.8.5
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    To be held by shamans in order to appease the dead in the Sinan Jangsan-do, Bigeum and Docho areas.

    Washing Kimgut is a representative shamanistic rite in Honam, which cleans the spirit of the deceased and comforts their families.

    There are many differences from Jindo Washing Gut, which is important academically.
  • 2013.8.5
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    Jangsando Washing Gut is a religious ritual organized by a shaman for those who died in Jangsando Island and Bigeum and Docho areas in Sinan.

    Unlike nearby Jindo Sushi Kimgut, Ogu Gut is also important academically as it has a different editorial.

    As one of the shamanistic rites representing the Honam region, the rite serves to wash the spirit of the deceased and to soothe the families who face death.
  • 2000.10.19
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    Sajikdaeje is a national rite given to the god of land and grain, while Sajik means the god of land, and Jik means the god of grain. In ancient times, when a country was established, a ritual was held to pray for the people to live comfortably in the land and grain gods. The memorial service for the resignation, which has been held since the Three Kingdoms Period, offers a glimpse into our ancestors' gratitude for nature.

    King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty established Jongmyo Shrine and Sajikdan Altar (Historic Site No. 121) along with the royal palace to set up Jongmyo Shrine on the east side of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sajikdan Altar on the west, and Sajikdan Altar in each province to pray for the comfort and good harvest of the people. Sajikdan has assigned divisions (Taesasin and Futosin) and direct divisions (Tajiksin and Hujiksin) to the east and west). The ancestral tablets of Taiji and Taijik face north to the south of the Dansang, the huto god to the left of the Taoist god, and the latter to the left of Taijiksin.

    Usually, ancestral rites were held in February and August, and a rain ritual was held in the event of a major national crisis or drought. The procedures and formalities for holding ancestral rites have changed little by little over time, but gradually we moved away from the stage of imitating the Chinese ways and had our own examples. Various kinds of grain including raw meat of cattle, pigs, and sheep are prepared today, and the rituals are held in the order of spirits, emperors, jinchan, choheonrye, aheonrye, Jongheonrye, Eokbokrye, Cheolbyeondu, Songsin, and Mangye (Mangye).

    The music, dance, food, clothing, and rituals used in Sajikje, as well as our own ritual procedures for holding rituals, help us understand traditional culture. In 1894 (the 31st year of King Gojong's reign), the system was changed to the new government system, and was abolished by Japan's coercion in the 2nd year of King Sunjong's reign (1908). Since then, it was restored in October 1988 through the testimony of the late Yi Eun-pyo, who was the holder of the Jongmyo Jeryeondae. Currently, the Sajik Daejebongsa Committee, located within the Jeonju Yi Clan, preserves and inherits the Sajik Daeje.
  • 1986.11.1
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    Seokjeondaeje is a ritual held at Munmyo Shrine, which honors Confucius, and is also called Munmyo Daeje or Seokjeonje (a ritual for raising meat and playing music). There is no record of when Confucianism was introduced to Korea, but it is assumed that the ritual was conducted in accordance with the ritual customs of ancient China based on the record that Taehak (National University for Confucian Education) was established in the second year (372) of King Sosurim of Goguryeo.

    Seokjeon Daeje is held every February and August in memory of the virtues of Confucius and other saints. The procedure is carried out in the order of Yeongsinrye, Jeon Lungrye, Choheonrye, Gongak, Ahheonrye, Jongheonrye, Eokbokrye, Cheolbyeon, Song Sinrye and Mangjae. Music is called Munmyo Jeryeak, which is a Daesung aak that collectively refers to instrumental music, vocal music and dance, and only eight sub-acids are used, and two bands of dungga and Hunga are played alternately according to the procedure.

    Currently, 15 palaces including Songs of Songs and Imjonggungs were adopted during the reign of King Sejong (r. 1418-1450) during the early Joseon Dynasty, including Songsingok, Hwangjonggung Palace, and Songsin Hyeopjonggung Palace.

    Seokjeon Daeje is a national event, which is held in a quiet and solemn atmosphere, and has a comprehensive artistic character where music is played and dance is accompanied.
  • 2013.12.2
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    - Gut can be largely divided into Seotgut and Sajeonggut, which means a general rite performed by a shaman, and Sajingut is also called Sajanggyeong, Dokgyeong, and Yangbangut, which are given by the name due to the local and behavioral characteristics of the shaman sitting and reading the scriptures.

    Sajingut is presumed to have been formed by mutual relations with other religions such as Buddhism and Taoism. It has a long history as a branch of Korean shamanism. In particular, Naepo Sajingut, including Seosan and Taean, has a strong tradition, making it a distinctive Sajanggut shamanistic area in Korea.

    - Naepo Sitting Gut has been inherited to the present day with a deep influence on the origins of the northwestern part of Chungnam (Naepo area) and folk (musok) culture such as Pungoje Festival and Sansinje, which borders the west coast of South Chungcheong Province, and is designated as an intangible cultural asset of South Chungcheong Province for preservation and management due to its value, including the transmission and utilization of local folk culture.