Jaegaseung

Jaegaseung
재가승
Total population
1,031 households[1] (1957)
Regions with significant populations
Ryanggang Province, North Hamgyong Province and Rason
Languages
Yukjin dialect of Korean
Religion
Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Manchus, Sibes, Koreans, other Tungusic peoples

A Buddhist temple built by Korean Jaegaseung minority
An example of oatmeal paper traditionally produced by Jaegaseung minority in Korea

Jaegaseung (Korean: 재가승; Hanja: 在家僧; RR: Jaegaseung, lit. 'monks who live in houses') were descendants of Jurchen people who lived in northeastern Korea. They formed villages of married lay monks[2] and produced oatmeal paper called hwangji (黃紙) which was used to pay their taxes.[3] The monastic identity of the lay monks was seen as anti-socialist by the government of North Korea, and, consequently, the Jaegaseung were forcibly assimilated into Korean culture on the orders of North Korean president Kim Il Sung.[2]

  1. ^ Hwang 2016, p. 82.
  2. ^ a b Kim Hwansoo (2013). "'The Mystery of the Century:' Lay Buddhist Monk Villages (Chaegasŭngch'on) Near Korea's Northernmost Border, 1600s–1960" (PDF). Seoul Journal of Korean Studies. 26 (2): 297–299. doi:10.1353/seo.2013.0019. S2CID 201783375. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Dong-A ilbo, January 1, 1936, 51st page