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Agricultural Rite
선농제 ( 先農祭 , Seonnongje )
Seonnongje (Kor. 선농제, Chin. 先農祭, agricultural rite) was a rite paying homage to the two agricultural gods who were derived from ancient Chinese mythology, Shennong (Kor. 신농, Chin. 神農) and Houji (Kor. 후직, Chin. 后稷). The ritual was aimed at ensuring a good farming year and was conducted on an official governmental level. Seonnongje also was referred to as gyeongjeongnye (Kor. 경적례, Chin. 耕籍禮, lit. ceremony of cultivating the royal field) or jeokjeonnye (Kor. 적전례, Chin. 籍田禮, lit. ceremony at the roy
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Ancestral Rites
시제 ( 時祭 , Sije )
Sije (Kor. 시제, Chin. 時祭, lit. ceremony at [designated] time) is the generic name for memorial services honoring fifth generation and beyond ancestors. These services are held at ancestral tombs on Hansik (Kor. 한식, Chin. 寒食, Cold Food Day, about April fifth on the Gregorian calendar) or during the tenth lunar month. Sije and other names, including sisa (Kor. 시사, Chin, 時祀) and sihyang (Kor. 시향, Chin. 時享), contain the character meaning “time, ” a reference to the fact that these rites are observed
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Fishing Rituals of Western Coastal Region
서해안배연신굿 및 대동굿 ( 西海岸- , Seohaean Baeyeonsingut and Daedonggut )
Baeyeonsingut (Kor. 배연신굿) and daedonggut (Kor. 대동굿) are ceremonies held with the purpose of praying for an abundant catch in places along the west coast, such as Ongjin and Yeongpyeong Island. Baeyeonsingut, also known as baetgut (Kor. 뱃굿, lit. boat ritual), is initiated by individual ship-owners while daedonggut is a village festival organized for the entire community. Unlike fishing rites of the southern parts of Korea, which are presided over by a hereditary shaman, the officiants of the west
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General Nam I Ritual
남이장군사당제 ( 南怡將軍祠堂祭 , Nam I Janggun Sadangje )
Nam I Janggun Sadangje (Kor. 남이장군사당제, Chin. 南怡將軍祠堂祭, lit. service at the Shrine of General Nam I) refers to a ceremony that honors the memory of the famous general Nam I (1441-1468) of the early Joseon period (1392- 16th century). Nam I, a brave general who was accused of treason and executed, was deified and worshipped in the shamanistic faith of the central regions along with other illustrious military heroes of the past, such as Choe Yeong (1316-1388) and General Im Gyeong-eop (1594-1646). Th
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Good Deeds for Admission to Paradise
예수재 ( 預修齋 , Yesujae )
Yesujae (Kor. 예수재, Chin. 預修齋, lit. training of mind in advance) is a Buddhist rite in which oblations are offered to the Buddha in the hope of being rewarded in the afterlife. Yesujae is one of the three most popular folk customs related to Buddhism that are observed in a leap month. (The other two are samsa sullye (Kor. 삼사순례, Chin. 三寺巡禮, lit. pilgrimage to three temples) and gasa bulsa (Kor. 가사불사, Chin. 袈裟佛事, lit. ceremony in Buddhist robes)). Yesujae and other names for the rite such as saengj
Korean Seasonal Customs -
Meeting at the Midpoint
반보기 ( 半途相会 , Banbogi )
Banbogi (Kor. 반보기) stands for “meeting at the midpoint” and refers to the custom of meeting one’s relatives who live in other villages at the midpoint between the villages. The custom takes place after Chuseok (Kor. 추석, Chin. 秋夕, Harvest Festival, the fifteenth of the eighth lunar month). At this time in traditional farming communities, the pace of life slowed down markedly after a busy farming season. People could finally afford to get together with their family and other relatives. The custom
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New Year’s Pruning
세초 ( 歲杪 , Secho )
Secho (Kor. 세초, Chin. 歲抄, lit. [New] Year’s pruning) refers to the shuffling of government and army personnel during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) that took place every year in the sixth and twelfth lunar months. The practice was first established as a form of audit to discipline government officials guilty of misconduct. It prescribed the Ijo (Kor. 이조, Chin. 吏曹, Ministry of Personnel) and the Byeongjo (Kor. 병조, Chin. 兵曹, Ministry of Military Affairs) to present the king with a list of official
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October Rite
상달고사 ( 上月告祀 , Sangdal Gosa )
Sangdal gosa (Kor. 상달고사, Chin. 上月告祀, lit. October rite) refers to the rite held in the tenth lunar month in homage to household gods. The rite is performed on a date deemed auspicious; especially favorable for the ceremony is the Day of the Horse called Oil (Kor. 오일, Chin. 午日, lit. Horse Day). All gods overseeing the safety and peace of a household are worshipped, including seongju (Kor. 성주, household guardian god), josang (Kor. 조상, Chin. 祖上, ancestor god), jowang (Kor. 조왕, Chin. 竈王, lord
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Offering of Early-harvested Rice
올개심니 ( 新谷尝新 , Olgae Simni )
Olgae simni (Kor. 올개심니, offering of early-harvested rice) is a custom where farming households pick some rice shortly before the usual harvest time and offer the food prepared with this early crop on the ancestral altar. Depending on the region, olgae simni is also known as olgye simni (Kor. 올계심리), olge simni (Kor. 올게심리), olgi simni (Kor. 올기심니), ori simni (Kor. 올이심리/오리심리), olbe simni (Kor. 올베심리), or olbi sinmi (Kor. 올비신미). The word olgae (Kor. 올개) literally translates as “early rice, ” while the
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Rain Rites
기우제 ( 祈雨祭 , Giuje )
Giuje (Kor. 기우제, Chin. 祈雨祭, lit. rain rite) refers to sacrificial rites which were held during a period of drought that affected crop growth. The rites were supplications to the rain god asking for needed precipitation. As agriculture was the primary source of people’s living and the state’s income in traditional Korea, both farmers and the government were concerned with protecting agriculture from natural disasters such as drought. Unlike most other agricultural rites, giuje were performed repe
Korean Seasonal Customs
