The Four Ceremonial Occasions

Gwanhonsangje(관혼상제)

In Korea, there is traditional concept of specific occasions of one's personal life. This is called as The Four Ceremonial Occasions, Gwanhonsangje(Hangul: 관혼상제). Generally human come of age, get married, grow old, and death. These are rite of passage which everyone will be experienced. Especially, Korea put a premium on specific occasions: coming-of-age celebration, wedding, funeral, and ancestral rite. Each of these are called as Gwallye(Hangul: 관례), Hollye(Hangul: 혼례), Sangrye(Hangul: 상례), and Jerye(Hangul: 제례) in Korean. The word ‘Gwanhonsangje(Hangul: 관혼상제)’ is a generic term, which was made by picking and combining the first letter of each word(gwallye, hollye, sangrye, jerye).

History

The word 'Gwanhonsangje(冠婚喪祭)' was first used in a book called 『Ye-gi』(예기禮記) which is Asian classic book. And, In addition, many books have already treated various rites as a basic ritual, indicating the long history of this term. In Korea, similar weddings and practices have been observed since The Period of Three States, but it is unclear whether the concept of a Confucian wedding ceremony was firm. There are short records of wedding and practice invoking Chinese example, but it is not clear exactly what format it was.

The period of the Three States(삼국시대)

In Goguryeo(Hangul: 고구려), there was a time when a man worked at the house of a married woman for a certain period of time. In Silla(Hangul: 신라), it is easy to guess that there was a ritual similar to a confucious wedding depends on the records that partners bowed to each other, and held a feast after the ceremony. According to 『삼국지三國志』, Records of the Three Kingdoms, 「魏志 東夷傳」, the part of Korea at that time, the period of wearing mourning and holding a funeral was fixed. Silla(Hangul: 신라), one of the three states in the period of the three states, banned burial at the burial grounds for five years during King Jijeung's reign and established the mourning law. In Goguryeo, one of the three states in the period of the three states, there was a custom of preparing goods for funeral, and conducting a funeral with the sound of music. It was also set in the past, such as singing when the someone's death was broken, and wearing mourning for three years. Baekje(Hangul: 백제), one of the three states in the period of the three states, rites are similar as the above, Goguryeo. Like this, in the period of three states, you can see a traditional wedding, similar to confucious rites.

Goryeo(고려)

In early Goryeo, pictures related to Confucian rites was delivered to Goryeo from Song dynasty. During the reign of King Seongjong of the Goryeo Dynasty, the major institutions of the kingdom were reorganized into the Confucian system. At this time, Chinese Confucian rituals are imported. However, it appears that the practice of the Confucian style was only practiced in the upper class and that the general public had no systematic practice.(각주:『고려도경高麗圖經』) As officials of the latter phase of the Goryeo Dynasty actively accepted 『가례家禮』, one of the Chinese book related to manners, the Confucian rites began to spread around.

Joseon(조선)

Joseon has adopted Neo-Confucianism as the ruling ideology, and the institution of the Gwanhonsangje was established as a Confucian system. In addition, various policies are implemented for the establishment of the Confucian rites system. As a result, books, 예서禮書, related to etiquette have been written in Joseon style appeared since the early 16th century. The government also make it mandatory for bureaucrats to take the test, focusing on the provision of the ritual. In particular, Joseon compiled codes related to institutions or ceremonies, and made all institutions and ceremonies a part of the educational system.(각주: 『조선경국전朝鮮經國典』(1394), 『경제육전經濟六典』(1397), 『국조오례의國朝五禮儀』(1474), 『경국대전經國大典』(1485) )

In the 16th and 17th centuries, thanks to the study of scholars academic studies, Koreans lifelong rituals led to the generalization of the rite under the name of Gwanhonsangje. The publication of more than 200 books proves that Joseon was so interested in the lifelong ceremony. Notable thing is, Joseon Dynasty's Gwanhonsangje ceremony did not accept the same example as China's, but rather modified it to suit the situation of Joseon itself. It was written with modifications made to suit the situation of Joseon Dynasty. After the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, Gwanhonsangje became universal rite of passage. However, with the arrival of Western culture at the end of the Joseon Dynasty, the traditional ritual systems are also changing.

Korea under Japanese rule(일제강점기)

In 1934, the Governor-General of Korea also changed the Gwanhonsangje with a declaration of "rite rule" which forced the simplification of rituals in the name of modernization. Furthermore, this rule did not acknowledge the Gwallye, but only acknowledged Hollye, Sangrye, and Jerye as a formal ceremony.

Today(현재)

Many changes such as a reduction of the length of funeral, mourning, and the reduction of the number of services were naturally accepted by the society due to changes in the times and the changes in daily life caused by industrialization and urbanization. As the wedding ceremony become an event, the planned wedding ceremony became a big one, and as the funeral hall and the funeral company were acting as the customary practice, the funeral directors emerged as a new profession. The memorial service has been created by the introduction of memorial service agencies. They acted as individuals in the practice of the rite, and even though an individual did not know the procedure or method of the rite, there are no problem of progress of any rites because of these professional agency. As this change become, various religious rituals are entering the era of diversity.

The Four Ceremonial Occasions

Korean hairpin-Binyeo

Gwallye

The practice is one of the ceremonies held in the Confucian cultural countries of East Asia (China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan). It comes from the coming-of-age ceremony in which minors were recognized as adults in primitive societies. The Gwallye are usually held for the man who is between 15 and 20 years old and the woman who is over 15 years old. Even though the man or woman is single, he or she is treated as an adult after the ceremony.

Traditional Gwallye

The classic Asian book on manners, YeSeo<예서>, defines the meaning of coming-of-age as like this: “awaken a responsibility as adult and it’s purpose is making one perform one’s duties.”

Gwallye(Hangul: 관례, Hanja: 冠禮) and Gyelye(Hangul: 계례, Hanja: 筓禮) refer to the annual ritual, which is an coming-of-age ceremony(Hangul: 성년례) that awakens developing from a child to an adult and let him or her have a responsibility and duty as an adult. Gwallye is a ceremony that when the age of a man is between 15 and 20 years old, he ties up a topknot(Hangul: 상투) and puts on a crown. Gyelye is a ritual which a woman has an appearance of adult by wearing a binyeo(Hangul: 비녀), an ornamental hairpin, in her hair and wearing all sorts of attire when she is over 15 years old. The traditional gwallye and gyelye ceremonies are now virtually disappearing and are almost not performed. But in Korea, the third Monday of May is designated as 'Coming-of-Age Day ', and governments and organizations are conducting 'Adult Day' events.

Modern Coming-of-age Celebration

Until the mid-20th century, most of people held traditional ceremonies in celebration of the coming of age by inviting adults to their homes or villages when they reached the age of 20. But traditional customs are no longer sustainable due to industrialization and urbanization. As this rite is disappearing, However, with the aim of giving pride in traditional culture to today's youth, and to teach them the social meaning of the traditional adult ceremony, The country has developed a modern coming-of-age celebration model with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as the center since 1999. Then, the official ceremony in the country was organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The revision of the civil law in 2013 lowered the number of adults from 20 to 19. The people who reaches 19 years of age, is brought together by institution unit, and presidents of each organization held a simple events for teenagers. Today, The former and traditional coming-of-age celebration event is held by Sungkyunkwan University.

Few special ceremonies are held at home, except for official ceremonies held in the state. It is only a matter of greeting or gift to people who have reached adulthood. Generally, Friends celebrates each other on coming-of-age celebration day through a gift of roses, perfumes, kisses, or what they usually want to have. Roses are meant to be continue their endless passion and love, so at the age of 20 (the age of 19), they are given 20 roses for their age. Perfume is meant to be remained as good memory as good smell. Kissing means to have a responsible love since they have reached adulthood.

The change of the lead agency

• Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• on 2006.09.06., Moving to the National Youth Commission
• Replaced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2008, When the department was reorganized.
• in 2010.03., the department was changed again
• Assigned by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family from 2014

Hollye

The Hollye is a name referring to the Confucian procedure of a wedding. The limit age of marriage was 30 years old for men and 20 years for women in the past. In modern times, it was allowed when men were 15 years old, women 14 years old (or 12 years old) or older. Today, people usually get married more than 20 years old or later.

Korean wedding-Hollye

Traditional Wedding

Uihon(Hangul: 의혼, Hanja: 議婚) is a ritual that the families of the bride and the bridegroom consider the looks, learning and personality of the marriage partner, and if the two parties reach consensus, they approve of the marriage. It is called myeonyag(Hangul: 면약, Hanja: 面約). According to proposal, the marriage is achieved by the consent of both parents. However, the marriage can only be done if it is not in the same surname and the same family origin(Hangul: 동성동본) and not in the period of one year of mourning. Nabchae(Hangul: 납채, Hanja: 納采) is to send the letter with groom's saju(Hangul: 사주) to the bride 's house from the groom's house.

Korean wedding-Honrye-Pyebaek

Yanji(Hangul: 연길, Hanja: 涓吉) refers to setting a wedding date and sending it. When the bridegroom send a saseong(Hangul: 사성) from the groom 's house, the bride's house set the wedding date and notify the groom's house. Nabpye(Hangul: 납폐, Hanja: 納幣) is for the bridegroom to send a ham(Hangul: 함) with marriage expenses to the bride's the day before the wedding ceremony. That is, it is a procedure to send marriage expenses and marriage letter in the ham to the bride's house in gratitude for the approval of the marriage. Chinyeong(Hangul: 친영, Hanja: 親迎) means that the bridegroom goes to the bride's house, holds the ceremony, and brings the bride with him. It is the first ceremony to take a bridegroom at the bride's house. Jeonanlye(Hangul: 전안례, Hanja: 奠雁禮) is a ritual that the bride and her family greet bridegroom and hold a wedding, daelye(Hangul: 대례). When the bridegroom goes to the bride's house for the wedding ceremony on the wedding day, the bridegroom . Cholye(Hangul: 초례, Hanja: 醮禮) refers to a ritual which the bride and groom meet for the first time and they are united as a man and wife for weal or woe.

Process of traditional wedding

The wedding procedure is as follows.

1. Saju-danja(Hanja: 四柱單子：柱單) ―― When the marriage agreement is granted, the groom sends the date of birth on a blank sheet to the home of the woman who will become a bride.
2. Taek-il(Hanja: 擇日) ―― In a woman's house, the wedding date is chosen and sent to the groom's home. The method is like sending out the Saju-danja.
3. 의양단자(Hanja: 衣樣單子) ―― The groom's house sends back the sizes of the groom's clothes and shoes, and so on. Usually, the bride's items are sent together when sending an Taek-il danja.
4. Nabpye납폐(Hanja: 納幣) ―― 혼일 전날에 서가에서 혼서(Hanja: 婚書)와 채단(Hanja: 綵緞)을 함(Hanja: 函)에 넣어 여자의 집으로 보낸다. 이때 '함진아비'를 여자의 집에서 맞아 개함(開函)하고 대접을 후히 한다.
5. 고사당(Hanja: 告祀堂) ―― 약혼 후 납폐 전에 어느 삭망일을 택하여 사당에 나가 성혼 사유를 고사(Hanja: 告辭)한다.
6. 초례(Hanja: 醮禮) ―― 혼인날에 신랑이 신부집에 가서 혼례에 필요한 의식절차를 행하는 것으로 보통 3일간을 처가에서 보내나, 거리가 가까우면 당일에 현구고례를 마치고 다시 처가로 돌아와 3일간 신방을 치른다.
7. 현구고례(Hanja: 見舅姑禮) ―― 신부가 시가(Hanja: 媤家)의 시부모를 뵙는 절차로서 이때 친척들도 함께 보는데 이에 시부모는 예물로써 답례한다.
8. 해현례(Hanja: 解見禮) ―― 흔히 '신부례'·'풀보기'라고도 하며 3일간의 신방을 치른 뒤 신부가 시가로 아주 올 때의 절차이다. 그리고 처가에서 신랑·신부를 데려다가 유숙시키는 것을 '재행(Hanja: 再行)'이라 한다. 또한 '친영(Hanja: 親迎)'은 혼인날 당일에 서가에서 신랑이 신부집으로 가서 신부를 맞이하여 본가로 데려와 혼례하는 예이다. 동상례(Hanja: 東床禮)는 동제간 교유(Hanja: 交遊)를 맺기 위한 의식으로 흔히 첫날밤 저녁에 신랑을 달아매고 괴롭히는 놀이를 말한다.

그러나, 최근의 결혼식은 간소화되거나 변형된 경우들이 많다. (인터넷 뉴스, 논문 각주) ex) 작은결혼식, 등등....

Gallery

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  Korean traditional wedding
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  Korean traditional wedding
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  Korean traditional wedding ceremony
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  Korean traditional wedding ceremony

Korean traditional funeral

Sangrye

Sangrye(Hangul: 상례, Hanja: 喪禮)is the entire ceremony accompanied when people bury a dead person. The last gateway a human pass through is a death, and the following ceremony is Sangrye. In most society, death is believed as moving of the soul from this world to another world, not as just the stop of the biological activity. And in Sangrye, those thinking appears in certain acts. Such things like Sangrye exist in every society and the concept and the content are different by society. Also many types of Sangrye has been parcticed in South Korea.

To look through the Sangrye practiced conventionally, there are Shamanistic Sangrye, Buddhist Sangrye, Confucian style Sangrye, and Christian Sangrye. Of course, these types could be combined. Nowadays, Confucian style Sangrye is practiced more conventionally and seemed to be the most traditional.

Procedure of Funeral

The procedure is as follows.

1. Chojong(Hangul: 초종, Hanja: 初終) ―― 운명(殞命)하여 습(襲)하기까지의 절차로서 정침(正寢)으로 옮긴 병자가 남자인 경우 여자의 손에, 여자인 경우 남자의 손에 숨을 거두지 않도록 한다. 운명하면 상가에서는 속광 ― 복(複) ― 천시(遷尸) ― 입상주(立喪主) ― 호상(護喪)― 역복(易服)전(奠) ― 고묘(告廟) ― 부고(訃告) ― 설촉(設燭) 등 필요한 여러 절차를 준비하고 마친다.
2. Yeomseup(Hangul: 염습, Hanja: 殮襲) ―― 죽은 자에게 일체의 의복을 다시 입히는 과정으로 보통 이틀 후에 행한다. 그 과정은 목욕(沐浴) ― 진습의(陳襲衣) ― 염습 ― 반함(飯含) 등이다.
3. Soryeom(Hangul: 소렴, Hanja: 小斂) ―― 습이 끝나면서 곧 시신(屍身)을 의금(衣衾)으로 수렴(收斂)하는 절차이며 뼈가 흩어지지 않도록 하기 위함이다. 괄발(括髮)·환질 ― 전(奠) ― 설영좌(設靈座) ― 입명정(立銘旌) 등이다.
4. Daeryeom(Hangul: 대렴, Hanja: 大斂) ―― 소렴 다음 날에 행하며 입관도 동시에 행한다. 전(奠) ― 작의려(作倚廬) ― 조석곡(朝夕哭) 등의 절차를 행한다.
5. Seongboek(Hangul: 성복, Hanja: 成服) ―― 대렴 다음날에 상가 사람들이 각각 상복을 입는 것으로 대소간 친지들의 구분에 따라 다르다. 성복 이후에 설영침(設靈寢) ― 조석전(朝夕奠) ― 조석상식(朝夕上食) ― 곡무시(哭無時) ― 조문(弔問)의 행례가 있다.
6. Chijang(Hangul: 치장, Hanja: 治葬) ―― 옛날 사대부는 3개월이었으나 보통 5∼7일 만에 거행한다. 득지택일(得地擇日) ― 결리(結裏) ― 고계기(告啓期) ― 개영역(開瑩域)·축문식 ― 천광(穿壙) ― 각지석(刻誌石) ― 조주(造主) 등의 절차가 있다.
7. Cheongu(Hangul: 천구, Hanja: 遷柩) ―― 발인(發靷) 전날 죽은 자가 가묘에 하직하는 절차이다. 청조조(請朝祖) ― 대곡(代哭) ― 조전(祖奠) ― 유전(遺奠) 등을 행한다.
8. Balin(Hangul: 발인, Hanja: 發靷) ―― 죽은 자가 묘지로 향하는 절차이다. 급묘(及墓) ― 폄(貶) ― 증현훈 ― 가회격개(加灰隔蓋) ― 사토지신(祀土地神) ― 하지석 (下誌石) ― 제주 (題主) ― 성분(成墳) 등을 행한다.
9. Bangok(Hangul: 반곡, Hanja: 反哭) ―― 본가로 반혼(反魂)하는 절차이다.
10. Uje(Hangul: 우제, Hanja: 虞祭) ―― 사자의 혼백을 위로하는 절차이다. 초우(初虞) ― 재우(再虞) ― 삼우(三虞)가 있다.
11. Jolgok(Hangul: 졸곡, Hanja: 卒哭) ―― 1개월∼3개월이 지난 뒤에 무시곡(無時哭)을 마친다는 절차이다.
12. Bu(Hangul: 부, Hanja: 跗) ―― 사자의 위패를 입묘(入廟)할 때의 절차이다.
13. Sosang(Hangul: 소상, Hanja: 小祥) ―― 초상으로부터 13개월 만이니 연제(練祭)라 칭한다.
14. Daesang(Hangul: 대상, Hanja: 大祥) ―― 초상으로부터 25개월 만에 거행한다. 윤월은 계산하지 않는다.
15. Damjae(Hangul: 담제, Hanja: 禫祭) ―― 초상으로부터 27개월 만에 행하는 제복제(除服祭)이다.
16. Giljae(Hangul: 길제, Hanja: 吉祭) ―― 담제를 행한 다음달에 지내는 제사이다. 담복을 벗고 길복으로 갈아입는다.

Modern Funeral Rites

장례방법이 매장(Hanja: 埋葬)을 하던 시대에서 화장(Hanja: 火葬)으로 바뀌었고 유골 처리도 자연으로 돌리는 자연장이 대세이며, 화장 및 납골문화가 확산되면서 묘지 증가에 따른 국토 훼손을 막을 수 있다.

Jerye

In the primitive age, humans have an awe to the change of nature. Then people realize that human beings can survive and flourish only if they comply with such changes in nature, such as the circulation of the four seasons. They also thought that all things were filled with spirit. Based on this enlightenment and conjecture, they began praying for the safety and well being of man. Since then, the ceremony has become more formalized as the civilization of mankind develops, which is also called a Jerye(Hangul: 제례) in Confucianism.

Korean Royal Ancestral Rite-Jongmyo Jerye

Jerye is a courtesy that means holding many ancestral rites and a statement of etiquette in the idea of ​​ancestor worship. For kinds of Jerye, there are Gije, Seeje, and Myoje. Jerye (Hanja: 祭禮)는 is an act of expressing sincerity by offering sacrifices (food) to the spirit, the soul of the dead, and demons, including the god. However, in East Asian culture of Chinese characters, the ceremony for New Year or Chuseok is called 'Chalye(Hangul: 차례)'. In a narrow sense, it expresses devotion to the god in the culture of Chinese characters in East Asia. In broad terms, it refers to the whole ritual offering sacrifices related to shamanism, ancestor worship, and animism.

제사상 올리는 음식에는 다음과 같은 법칙이 있다.

• 복숭아는 올릴 수 없다.
• 꽁치, 갈치, 삼치 등 끝에 '치' 자가 붙은 생선은 올릴 수 없다.
• 붉은 팥은 올릴 수 없다.
• 고춧가루나 마늘 양념이 들어간 음식은 올릴 수 없다.

이러한 법칙들은 지금도 이어져 오고 있는데, 귀신은 붉은색과 마늘을 싫어하기 때문이라고 한다. 이외 한복을 입고 제사를 지내는 남자는 무조건 도포, 두루마기를 입어야 한다는 법칙도 있다.

제사와 관련된 고사성어 (사자성어)[편집]

• 홍동백서 (Hanja: 紅東白西) - 붉은 과일은 동쪽에, 흰 과일은 서쪽에 놓는다.
• 어동육서 (Hanja: 魚東肉西) - 생선은 동쪽에, 고기는 서쪽에 놓는다.
• 조율이시 (Hanja: 棗栗梨枾) - 대추, 밤, 배, 감 순서대로 제사상에 놓는다.
• 두동미서 (Hanja: 頭東尾西) - 생선 머리는 동쪽에, 꼬리는 서쪽에 놓는다.
• 사자반생 (Hanja: 死者反生) - 죽은 사람의 상은 산 사람과 반대로 둔다.
• 좌서우동 (Hanja: 左西右東) - 신위를 모신 쪽이 북쪽이고, 왼쪽이 서쪽, 오른쪽이 동쪽이다.
• 남좌여우 (Hanja: 男左女右) - 남자는 왼쪽에, 여자는 오른쪽에서 절한다.

Modern Ancestral Rites

In Korea, funerals are typically held for three days and different things are done in each day.

The first day: on the day a person dies, the body is moved to a funeral hall. They prepare clothes for the body and put them into a chapel of rest. Then food is prepared for the deceased. It is made up of three bowls of rice and three kinds of Korean side dishes. Also, there has to be three coins and three straw shoes. This can be cancelled if the family of the dead person have a particular religion. Soju is a Korean vodka and it is served during funerals. On the second day the funeral director washes the body and shrouding is done. Then, a family member of the dead person puts uncooked rice in the mouth of the body. This step does not have to be done if the family has a certain religion. After putting the rice in the mouth, the body is moved into a coffin. Family members, including close relatives, of the dead person will wear mourning clothing. Typically, mourning for a woman includes Korean traditional clothes, Hanbok, and mourning for man includes a suit. The color has to be black. The ritual ceremony begins when they are done with changing clothes and preparing foods for the dead person. The ritual ceremony is different depending on their religion. After the ritual ceremony family members will start to greet guests.

On the third day, the family decides whether to bury the body in the ground or cremate the body. If they decide to bury the body in the ground, three people from the family sprinkle dirt on the coffin three times. In case of cremation, there are no specific things to be done like ground burial. The only thing needed is a jar to place burned bones in and a place to keep the jar.

Other than these facts, in Korea, people who come to the funeral bring condolence money. Also, a food called Yukgaejang is served to guests oftentimes with Korean alcohol called soju. However, the columnist Hwang gyo-ig criticizes that there is no seasonal food in the current ceremony. The current priesthood is not a tradition that has been handed down from the past, but it is a tradition that has been handed down since the Korean War. In addition, some Protestant believers and Muslims deny it as idol worship. In Catholicism, after the decision to accept the sacrifice of Pius XII, the priest is sacrificed without a new liquor, but it is often replaced with a prayer. Buddhism is increasingly entrusting memorial service to temples.

See also

• Korean traditional funeral
• Korean traditional costume-Hanbok

External links

• Naver encyclopedia