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LifestyleFood and Drink |
A ritual to ensure an abundant winter harvestImportant cultural rite Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut explained in pictures |
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| ▲ Chumul gongyeon is where drinks and rice cakes are presented to the gods around various colored cloths. All photos by Yang Ho Geun |
A special performance of Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut was held on Dec. 7 at Jeju Movie Center in Jeju City, to celebrate the first anniversary of the cultural rite’s nomination for UNESCO World Intangible Culture Heritage. Its dances and songs place it in the performing arts category, while the garments and instruments required for the shaman rituals rank among traditional craftsmanship.
Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut is an annual Jeju ritual. It is performed in the second month of the lunar calendar — called Yeongdeung — to honor the goddess of wind (Grandmother Yeongdeung) and to pray for an abundant harvest and sea catch. On the first day of the Yeongdeung month, Grandmother Yeongdeung arrives with her family (the winds) to enjoy the island’s beauty. Spring arrives when she leaves.
However while venerated, Yeongdeung also instills fear as she stirs up the sea. From early to mid-February, when the goddess is present on the island, the sea is particularly turbulent. The islanders believe that when she leaves she removes all the contents of the shellfish.
On the day of departure, however, the goddess also sows seaweed seeds along the shore to ensure people’s livelihood and purifies the sea to help the growth of the seeds. As such, importance has been attached to the time of her stay and people began to mark the occasion by performing a rite at the Chilmeoridang Shrine in supplication for safety and good sea harvests.
“For Jeju islanders, the Yeongdeunggut rite is of special significance,” said Kim Yun Su, the most well-known Gut performer. “Because the rite is held throughout the island to plead for calm seas and abundant sea catches.”
Main Photo: Chogamje. The welcoming rite begins with a “call to the gods” ceremony, which involves greeting and inviting the gods to the shrine as well as reciting the participants’ names.
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ⓒ Jeju Weekly 2009 (http://www.jejuweekly.net)
All materials on this site are protected under the Korean Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published without the prior consent of Jeju Weekly. |
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| Bonhyangdeum is a ceremony held upon the entering of the village shrine. The god and goddess are asked by the shamans to ensure the well-being of the village. The ritual includes three village officials offering drinks to the gods. |
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| Ssidrim (an offering of seeds) is a ceremony using millet seeds for fortune telling and to request a Dragon King and the goddess Yeongdeung both for an abundant catch and safety at sea for the fishermen. |
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| Jeju-Asia's No.1 for Cruise |
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Title:The jeju Weekly(제주위클리) | Mail to editor@jejuweekly.net | Phone: +82-64-724-7776 Fax: +82-64-724-7796
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Registration Number: Jeju, Ah01158(제주,아01158) | Date of Registration: November 10,2022 | Publisher&Editor : Hee Tak Ko | Youth policy: Hee Tak Ko
Copyright ⓒ 2009 All materials on this site are protected under the Korean Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published
without the prior consent of jeju weekly.com.
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