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Korean
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Not only are talismans used but certain ritual rites and ceremonies are performed as well to ensure a prosperous, harmonious life. There are many, and most are influenced strongly by the elements and environment which affect the livelihood of the villagers. For example, those living in mountains and valleys tend to make offerings to the mountain spirit while fishermen honor the dragon spirit of the sea. There are rites for the home as well as those for the village, with all of them varying, depending on the region of the country.
The most commonly performed rites are those for the mountain spirit who, it is believed, watches over the village and influences the harvest. According to legend, upon Tan-gun's death, the founder of Korea became the mountain spirit of Asadal, the ancient capital of Korea. Like the ancient capital, each village also has its own special mountain, usually located to the north, where the shrine of the mountain spirit is located. Offerings are made to this spirit often, but especially during the 15 days after the lunar New Year's Day.
Also protecting the village is the sonang spirit. This spirit is believed to look after the welfare of all the villagers, bringing happiness and harmony to their lives, as well as warding off evil, disaster and misfortune. The sonangdang or shrine to the spirit sonang, is usually dlocatedd near the entrance to the village or on a hill overlooking it. The shrine and the surrounding area are regarded as holy ground. Villagers express their reverence for the spirit by keeping the area clean, and placing tree branches and rocks all around the shrine.
Ruling the waters is the dragon spirit, who is believed to live in a palace under the sea. Often referred to as the dragon king, Korean literature abounds with stories of his exploits. As this spirit is thought to control the flow of water, its quality, and the waves of the sea, special care must be taken to ensure its happiness.
In time of drought, a special ceremony is conducted during which time the villagers implore the spirits for rain. At such times, women climb to the mountain shrine to pray, sing and dance. Women also carry to and from the shrine two bottles of water, sprinkling it along the way as a gift to the spirit.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, ceremonies and events are held imploring the spirits for peace and fortune in the coming year. Some of the rites are performed only by wives while other rites, such as the offerings to the earth spirit, involve the entire village.
On New Year's Day of the lunar year, after families have gathered to observe memorial services for their ancestors and have visited the elders of the village to pay their respects, villagers would gather together to enjoy each other's company with the accompaniment of farmer's band music and pay tribute to the earth spirit. At first, the villagers visit the home of the wealthiest villager, where they are entertained with food and drink. They then dance around the yard and through the house and barns singing songs to the earth spirit, asking that the family and home be blessed in the coming year. Afterward, they move on to the next house and then to the next until all the homes had been visited. With such merrymaking activities, the earth spirit was supposed to be pleased and would endow the villagers with many rewards throughout the year.
Most villages have special officers who perform certain duties connected with these village rites. These people must be of impeccable reputation, commanding the general respect of the villages. Some are elected permanently and others, only for certain periods. Some of the duties include the reading of prayers, finding shamans to perform certain rites and exorcisms, and preparing special foods for ritual offerings. Before the ceremonies, the officers must purify their minds and bodies by taking cold baths and by praying; it is believed that careless handling of the ceremony will invoke the wrath of the spirits upon the entire community.
The preparing of sacrificial foods must be done with great care to avoid contamination. It is usually done at an officer's house after the premises have been purified. To accomplish this, red clay is scattered inside the house and straw ropes (kumchul) are hung in and around the house to ward away evil spirits. Red clay is also put around the well from which water is drawn for cooking, and a cover is placed over the well. No word can be uttered while preparing and cooking the ritual foods. To this end, a piece of white cloth or a chestnut is held in the mouth to prevent anyone from speaking.
The village rite is usually performed in the early dawn with the proffering of wine, the reading of a prayer, and the burning of a hand-made piece of white paper. If, as the ceremonial officer is burning the paper, the ashes drift up to the sky, it is a happy omen for the village. If the unburned paper falls to the ground it signifies trouble.
After the paper burning, the shaman performs a ceremonial dance for receiving (yongshin), entertaining (oshin) and sending off the spirit (songshin). The shaman coaxes the spirit into making an appearance and pleads with him to bestow a prosperous coming year. To entice him into accepting the plea, the shaman entertains the spirit with wine and food and then sends it on its way. This is done to the accompaniment of much music and dance.
While the rites are underway, not only the officers but the entire village must remain at home observing certain rules and taboos. Around the shrine are hung straw ropes intertwined with paper to prevent the entrance of unclean people-they include, those who are in mourning, those who have killed living things, and women who are menstruating. A villager traveling in other areas who has seen a corpse or committed an unclean act is prohibited from entering the village until the rites are completed. If such a person enters during the ceremony, it is believed the spirits will become angry and nullify the effects of the rites.
In some villages a tree that is considered sacred is used as the centerpiece for the ceremony because it is thought that the spirits will reside there temporarily. After the ceremonial rites, the tree is moved to the entrance of the village and carved into guardian figures. Now transformed into a talisman, it is believed that it will protect the village by repelling evil spirits.
Some of these ritual ceremonies can be quite large and last several days. Among the biggest is pyolshin-gut, a ceremony to the mountain spirit which is held in Kangnung, Kangwon-do province on Tano, the fifth day of the Fifth Moon. According to records dating back to the 16th century, about 100 shamans participated in the services. Even today, Kangnung is known for its large shaman festivals held every year during Tano.
Information provided by the Korean Embassy