Seokjeon Daeje

Seokjeon Daeje
The Seokjeon Daeje is performed in the grounds of Munmyo.
Korean name
Hangul
석전대제
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSeokjeon Daeje
McCune–ReischauerSŏkchŏn Taeche

The Seokjeon Daeje (Korean: 석전대제), also sometimes called Seokjeonje, is a ceremonial rite performed twice annually to honor Confucius.[1][2] It is held at Confucian sites across South Korea including hyanggyos[3] and the Confucian temple Munmyo located at Sungkyunkwan,[4] on Confucius' birthday in fall and the anniversary of his death in spring.[5] Seokjeon is made up of the two Chinese characters, 釋 (to lay out) and 奠 (alcohol), and Seokjeon Daeje means "Laying out offerings ceremony".[6] It involves an elaborate ceremony with sacrificial offerings of alcohol and foods, as well as an elaborate dance known as munmyo ilmu accompanied by musical performances munmyo jeryeak.[7]

In 2011, Korea nominated the ceremony for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list; however, it did not satisfy the criteria for selection and UNESCO invited the Korean government to submit it again in the future with additional information.[8] The ceremony is recognized in Korea as important intangible cultural heritage no.85.[9][10]

  1. ^ Ahn, Yong-joon (28 September 2011). "South Korean students wearing traditional costumes perform during Seokjeonje Memorial Rite at the Sung Kyun Kwan in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011. Seokjeon is celebration to consecrate Confucius and the great sages as of the supreme teacher at the civil temple in order to honor their virtue and follow their instruction, along with playing music and dancing and offering wine for blessing". Yahoo News. AP Photo. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  2. ^ Dunbar, Jon. "Sungkyunkwan Confucian Ceremony". RASKB. Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. ^ Wi, Tack-whan (23 March 2015). "The long history of Confucian tradition". Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Korea.net. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ Peter Fletcher (2004). World Musics in Context: A Comprehensive Survey of the World's Major Musical Cultures. Oxford University Press. pp. 375–376. ISBN 978-0195175073.
  5. ^ "Confucian ceremony at Sungkyunkwan Munmyo". Korea.net. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Confucian ceremony at Sungkyunkwan Munmyo". Korea.net. 24 March 2015.
  7. ^ Jon Dunbar (14 March 2016). "Confucius to be honored in ancient ceremony". The Korea Times.
  8. ^ Hwang, Dana (29 November 2011). "Three Korean cultural assets added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List". Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Korea.net. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  9. ^ Shim, Hyun-chul (24 May 2012). "A memorial service for Confucius". Korea Times. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  10. ^ Hyun-chul, Shim (24 May 2012). "A memorial service for Confucius". The Korea Times. Retrieved 21 March 2013.