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A Record of the Seasonal Customs of the Eastern Kingdom
동국세시기 ( 東國歲時記 , Dongguksesigi )
Dongguksesigi (A Record of the Seasonal Customs of the Eastern Kingdom) is an almanac of the monthly seasonal customs written by Hong Seok-mo, a scholar in Joseon during the reigns of King Jeongjo (1725-1800) and King Sunjo (1800-1834). The book records the monthly seasonal rites practiced around the country from the first lunar month to the twelfth, including a leap month, as observed in the royal court; by aristocrats and literati; and by the commoners of farming, fishing and mountain communit
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Ancestor God
조상 ( 祖上 , Josang )
Josang is a god widely worshipped in Korean folk religion, which in narrow terms refers to one’s immediate ancestors or offspring, but in broader terms refers to any deceased relative or unrelated soul that can affect the family. As a household god, Josang refers to one’s immediate ancestors or offspring, but they are viewed as transcendental beings rather than blood relations. On the other hand, Josang as a shamanic god includes all immediate and extended family, both male and female, and all o
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Ancestral Household Deity
세존 ( 世尊 , Sejon )
Sejon is a household god that originated from Buddhism and alternate versions of the name include Sijun and Siju. Following the introduction of Buddhism, Korea’s folk religion and Buddhism have had significant influence on each other in many different ways. As in the case of Jeseok, Sejon was originally a Buddhist term, Bhagavat in Sanskrit, referring to the most revered one, or Buddha himself, but has been worshipped as a household god in Korean folk belief. Sejon is an ancestral deity, that of
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Autumn Rite
가을고사 ( 秋季告祀 , Gaeulgosa )
Gaeulgosa, meaning, “autumn rite, ” is a ritual for household gods held on an auspicious day in the tenth lunar month. Another term for this ritual is sangdalgosa, or ritual in the best month of the year (sangdal), the tenth lunar month, the date selected by a shaman or as indicated in the almanac. A day of the pig or a day of the horse is usually preferred for this ritual, more often the latter. This autumn rite is often observed as a village ritual, and individual households hold their private
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Backyard God
철륭 ( 凸隆 , Cheollyung )
Cheollyung is a household god believed to reside on the sauce jar terrace or other parts of the backyard of a house. Cheollyung is a deity similar in character to Teoju (Land Tutelary God), Sansin (Mountain God), Yongsin (Dragon God), Jangdoksin (Sauce Jar Deity) and other gods, worshipped as a guardian of peace in the home and for the children in the family. Worshipped mostly in South and North Jeolla provinces, this deity’s name is believed to be an altered transcription of Cheongnyong, meanin
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Boat Guardian Deity
배서낭 ( 船守郎 , Baeseonang )
Baeseonang is a boat guardian deity that oversees the safety of fishermen and is responsible for big catches on the boat. Other names for this deity include Seonwang (Jeju Island), Baeseonyeong (South Jeolla Province) and Baeseongju (Gwangwon Province), all rooted in words that are related to “god, ” “king, ” or “shrine.” Baeseonang is worshipped both as a female (Yeoseonang) or male deity (Namseonang), the latter of which is more often the case. Its gender is determined by the dream that the bo
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Boat Ritual
배고사 ( 船告祀 , Baegosa )
Baegosa is a worship ritual to pray for a big catch and safety on a boat. This ritual is held privately by boat owners to worship the boat guardian deity Baeseonang, or as part of communal rituals like pungeoje or dangje. As a private ritual, baegosa is observed on seasonal holidays, among which the biggest is held on Jeongwoldaeboreum (Great Full Moon) on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It is also held when a new boat has been purchased or constructed; when setting out for a catch;
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Brass Pot
새옹 ( 塞饔 , Saeong )
Saeong is a small brass pot for cooking rice or porridge, used in village rites as a ritual prop. Me, or steamed rice, is one of the most important sacrificial foods on any ritual table, and saeong refers to the pot that is used to cook the rice to be offered, especially for rituals that observe strict taboos, mainly Buddhist rituals and village rituals in mountainous regions including Gangwon Province. When rice is cooked inside a saeong, it must be served on the table in the pot. Wild insam (g
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Calamity Fixing Ritual
동토잡기 ( 逐动土 , Dongtojapgi )
Dongtojapgi is a ritual for undoing accidents or healing diseases caused by mishandling of soil, metals or wood. Dongto, or dongti, is a term that means, “to dig up land that should not be touched, ” which has come to refer to calamities caused by the mishandling of objects that according to folk belief require special attention regarding dates and directions. Soil, metal or wooden objects are most prone to this damage, which can also occur when moving household goods or during house repairs, fr
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Child Selling
아이팔기 ( 卖子礼 , Aipalgi )
Aipalgi, literally meaning, “child selling, ” is a ritual for praying for the longevity of a child believed to possess a short lifespan or bad fortune, by designating a deity or an object from nature as the child’s foster parent. The term is based on the idea that designating a foster parent is an act of selling the child, and variations include jasikpalgi (child selling), suyangbumo samgi (bind as foster parent) and suyangeomeoni samgi (bind as foster mother). The practice was generally observe
Korean Folk Beliefs
