Index
all : 1367
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(Inner) coffin
관 ( 棺 )
A coffin; a box in which the body of a deceased person is placed for burial. In the Paleolithic Era the bodies of the dead were interred in the soil without coffins. While no clear archaeological evidence has yet been discovered, archaeologists theorize that in the Neolithic Era containers made of wood were used to place corpses in before burial. In the Bronze Age, the settlers of the Korean Peninsula began to use coffins made of huge pottery jars or by hollowing logs. It was also in this period
Korean Rites of Passage -
60th wedding ceremony
회혼례 ( 回婚禮 )
Ceremony celebrating one’s 60th wedding anniversary. In the traditional Korean society of extended families, little significance was attached to wedding anniversaries with the exception of hoehon, or the 60th wedding anniversary. To hold a banquet to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary, it was a prerequisite that the couple had grown gray together with one or more children between them, of whom none had died. On this anniversary, the elderly couple dress in wedding garments reenact the weddin
Korean Rites of Passage -
61st birthday
회갑 ( 回甲 )
The age of 61. Hoegap (회갑, 回甲) literally means “the return to gap” or completing the traditional sexagenarian cycle, that is, five cycles of the zodiac’s twelve years. The year one reaches the age of 61 is also called hwangamnyeon (lit. year of the return to gap) or gamnyeon (lit. gap year), and one’s birthday in that year is called hwangamnal (lit. day of the return to gap) or gamnal (lit. gap day). In the morning of one’s 61st birthday, the children throw a banquet to celebrate the occasion an
Korean Rites of Passage -
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 -
A Study of Joseon Shamanism
조선무속의 연구 ( 朝鮮巫俗の硏究 , Chosen fuzoku no kenkyu )
Chōsen fuzoku no kenkyū (A Study of Joseon Shamanism) is a two-volume publication written in 1937 by the Japanese scholars Akiba Takashi (1888-1954) and Akamatsu Chijo (1886-1960). Akiba majored in sociology at Tokyo Imperial University and Akamatsu in theology at Kyoto Imperial University. Akiba was a researcher for the Japanese Government- General and was appointed in 1926 to the faculty at Keijo Imperial University in Seoul, where he served until 1945. Akamatsu served on the faculty at Keijo
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Abandoned Princess Bari
바리공주 ( 钵里公主 , Barigongju )
The shamanic myth“ Barigongju” narrates the origins of an underworld deity and is recited as part of deathappeasing shamanic rites including the underworld entry rituals jinogigut, ogugut, mangmugigut and the grievance cleansing ritual ssitgimgut. The following version of“ Barigongju” is considered one of the most complete: Jusanggeummama (His Majesty the King) and Jungjeonbuin (Lady Queen) are to be wed, but when they seek the advice of Dajibaksa of Cheonhagung (Palace Under Heaven), he imposes
Korean Folk Literature -
Abolition of Goryeo Burial
고려장 없어진 유래 ( Goryeojang )
This tale explains how the practice of goryeojang was abolished. Goryeojang refers to the practice of carrying away the elderly when they reach a certain age and abandoning them in the mountains or plains and there are two folk narratives transmitted in relation to the abolition of this practice. The first defines goryeojang as the ancient practice of abandoning those over sixty, leaving them to die. Once there was a man who carried his elderly father (or mother) on his back on a wooden carrier
Korean Folk Literature -
Acquiring Fortune Through Thousand-Coin Divination
천량점 치고 잘 된 사람
This prophecy tale narrates the story of a poor man who, thanks to a prophecy purchased at a steep price, overcomes a series of crisis and acquires fortune. A young man left his wife behind and boarded a pollack fishing ship to Hamgyeong Province. Several months later, upon the completion of the fishing trip, the young man visited a fortuneteller to find out how things were at home. The fortuneteller carried out three divination readings, charging a thousand coins for each“: On your return journ
Korean Folk Literature -
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
Korean Seasonal Customs -
Alcohol-Fermented Rice Bread
기주떡 ( 起酒饼 , Gijutteok )
Gijutteok (Kor. 기주떡, Chin. 起酒餠, lit. cake rising on alcohol) is bread made by adding alcohol to rice flour dough for fermentation and then steaming it. The dish has a sweet and sour taste and does not spoil even in high temperatures, which makes it a popular summer specialty. This kind of rice bread is also known by other names including jeungpyeon (Kor. 증편, Chin. 蒸片, lit. steamed cake), gijeungbyeong (Kor. 기증병, Chin. 起蒸餠, lit. fermented and steamed cake), isikbyeong (Kor. 이식병, Chin. 酏食餠,
Korean Seasonal Customs
