UNSRC Korean Cultural Society

Korea Times
09-29-2009 18:36

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

A 5,000-year-old Korean dance, “Ganggangsullae,” is expected to be designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a government agency said Tuesday.

The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea said that the decision on the official listing of the dance, along with four other cultural properties, will come today.

The other properties are “Namsadongnori” (acrobatics, singing, dancing and circus performances by itinerant males for poor farmers and the public); “Yeongsanjae” (a Buddhist ritual for the dead); “Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut” (traditional dances to celebrate the harvest on Jeju Island); and “Cheoyongmu” (an iconic traditional Korean dance based on a son of the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea).

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage will make a final decision at the UNESCO Convention in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

The listing will ensure the safeguarding of the properties and also research by UNESCO.

Ganggangsullae was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 8 in 1966. The tradition is a combination of songs and dances for women dressed in traditional Korean attire. It was performed mainly in the coastal areas of South Jeolla Province under the moonlight during Korean Thanksgiving, for a good harvest and fertility.

Namsadongnori, named Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 3 in 1964, is a folk entertainment program performed by a group of nomadic male entertainers called “namsadang.” The troupes would travel from village to village and give performances such as mask dances, puppet plays, tightrope walking and acrobatics.

Yeongsanjae was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 50 in 1973. It is a ceremonial ritual based on the Buddhist belief that after a person dies, the soul lingers in our world for seven weeks before gaining life again through reincarnation. It is an external expression of Buddhist doctrine and philosophy and a means of practicing self-discipline that dates back to the early Joseon Kingdom.

The Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut, designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 71 in 1980, is an annual ritual on Jeju Island. It is performed during the second month of the lunar calendar to pray to the goddess of the wind, also known as Grandmother Yeongdeung, for an abundant harvest and calm seawater. It includes dances and performances using traditional instruments and garments.

Cheoyongmu, designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No.39 in 1971, refers to a dance performed by dancer in a mask and costume resembling the legendary character “Cheo-yong,” or the son of the dragon king. The dance was performed to promote good fortune and is still done at banquets and traditional exorcism sites today.

There are a total of 166 properties designated by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 76 countries. Korea has three, including the Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (2001), the Pansori Epic Chant (2003) and the Gangneung Danoje Festival (2005).

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

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Infrared Photo Sheds New Light on Ancient Shilla Painting

Two horns circled in red are viewed in this infrared photograph of Cheonmado (Heavenly Horse painting). /Courtesy of the National Museum of Korea

The only surviving painting from the Shilla Kingdom Cheonmado or “Heavenly Horse painting” thought to date from the 6th century, might have to be renamed. The National Museum of Korea on Sunday said an infrared photograph of “Cheonmado” taken during preparations for a special exhibition to celebrate 100th anniversary of the first museum in Korea which starts Tuesday clearly reveals two horns that had been invisible to date.

The shape of the animal, which is hard to make out with the bare eye, is very clearly visible in the 12-megapixel infrared photograph exclusively obtained by the Chosun Ilbo. The head has two symmetrical horns and a big ethereal mane. Kang Woo-bang, a former director of the Gyeongju National Museum, said, “It is certain that this is a painting of a qilin, a mythical creature in the form of horse with two horns. It’s in typical Koguryo style, and it seems the painting was produced in Koguryo and then moved to Shilla.”

The painting was found in Gyeongju, the Shilla capital, in 1973, and the excavation team at the time named it Cheonmado, or “Painting of Heavenly Horse” because it seemed to portray a horse flying in the sky. It was designated National Treasure no. 207. The tomb where the painting was found was named Cheonmachong, Heavenly Horse tomb.

Ahn Hwi-joon, the former head of the government’s Cultural Heritage Committee said, “In Asia, a flying horse is not a spiritual being, but a qilin is a sacred and auspicious animal that also symbolizes a wise king. Since the painting was found in the tomb of a Shilla king, there is every chance that the animal in the painting is actually a spiritual qilin.”

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Korea Times
09-24-2009 16:40

Participants in the two-hour Temple life Program enter Bongeun Temple last Thursday. Located in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, it offers a condensed version of a templestay every Thursday at 2 p.m. / Korea Times Photos by Shim Hyun-chul

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

A night in a temple can be a refreshing and memorable experience, but if you don’t feel like traveling to the mountains on weekends, you can apply for the two-hour Temple Life Program at Bongeun Temple in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul.

Located between tall buildings and hotels, the Bongeun Temple is hard to find at first, but as soon as you walk through the entrance, the tranquil atmosphere is spread out before your eyes.

The temple was built by Buddhist master Ven. Yeon Hue in 794 during the Silla Kingdom (668-935). According to historical records, the temple was built to commemorate King Jinji. The construction was planned in the reigns of King Haegong and King Seondeok, and was finally finished during King Wonseong’s time.

Buddhism was not favored during the Joseon Kingdom, due to policies that preferred Confucianism. Many temples, including Bongeun Temple, were downsized and monks lost their positions as Buddhist masters during the time.

However, thanks to the support of Queen Munjeong and Ven. Bo Woo, Bongeun Temple was later recognized as one of the most powerful temples in the area and was also designated as a “Su” temple of the Zen sect of Buddhism, equivalent to the Vatican in Catholicism.

In 1565, with the death of the queen and the Buddhist master, Bongeun Temple faced a crisis once again. It struggled to survive and pursue Buddhist teachings in the difficult times of Japanese invasions and finally after Korea’s independence, it became a temple under the direct supervision of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Today, the Bongeun Temple has become one of the must-see spots for tourists who are visiting Seoul and also a retreat for busy Seoulites who need a peaceful and relaxing getaway from the hectic life of the city.

Temple Life Program

The Temple Life Program is a condensed version of the Templestay and includes a tour around the temple with an English speaking guide. One learns basic Buddhist culture such as the tea ceremony, making lotus lanterns, chamseon (meditation) and counseling. The program is two to three hours long, and although it may seem a bit short, the program helps a great deal if you want to learn about Korean Buddhism and temples in a limited amount of time.

The tour begins at the Jinyeo Gate ― the entrance that leads to the main temple grounds. Jason Kim, the English speaking guide, explained that “jinyeo” refers to the ultimate truth and that entering the gate is an act of searching for the unchanging truth.

“The statues of the four guardian kings are the temple protectors and they are in charge of the four directions,” he said, pointing to the four statues standing inside the gate. The statues were designated as Seoul’s Provincial Cultural Asset No. 160 in 2002.

Next came the “jongroo,” or bell pavilion, which is the home of four ancient instruments: The “bupgo” (dharma drum), “mokeo” (wooden fish), “woonpan” (cloud-shaped gong) and the “beomjong” (temple bell). The monks play these four instruments before the early morning and evening chanting.

“The drum is for all the animals on earth, while the fish represent the fish. When you walk around the temple buildings, you can find small fish ornaments attached to the tip of the traditional tile roofs. Buddhist masters believed that monks and trainees must meditate without sleep, just like the fish that open their eyes underwater 24 hours,” Kim said.

The gong represents the animals that fly in the air, and the bell represents living beings in hell.

Walking toward a bigger building, participants then enter the “bupwangroo.” This building stands in front of the main temple building called the “daewoongjeon.” Bupwangroo literally means the place where you can find Buddha. Look up at the ceiling, and you can find colorful lotus lanterns with the names, addresses and the wishes of donors.

“There are more than 4,000 lanterns. The colorful ones are for wishes, while the white ones are used only at memorial services,” Kim explained.

In temples, you can find monks and visitors doing half bows, where you put your hands together and bow briefly.

This is done to pay respect, and it must also be done before you come into the temple, meet monks and other Buddhists, add should in front of a pagoda at temples.

Moving toward “daewoongjeon,” the guide led the participants to the back of the building, where it was surprisingly quiet and peaceful. Daewoong is another word for Buddha.

Beautiful paintings can be found on the walls of the daewoongjeon, which portray the life of Buddha. Pointing to each painting, the guide explains the life of the revered religious figure, from his birth to his meditations, teachings and enlightenment.

It took a while to walk up the steep stairs to the “mireukdaebul,” or the Buddha of the future statue. Located higher than other buildings and pagodas, the 23-meter-high statue was built in 1996 and overlooks the whole temple.

Next came the part of the program where the participants learned about tea ceremonies and meditation.

Sitting down on dark grey cushions, the participants looked closely at two ladies dressed in hanbok who were conducting the tea ceremony. When the ceremony was finished, we were all given small cups of tea, freshly brewed by the instructors.

Drinking the tea was also part of the ceremony, as you have to hold the cup with one hand like a lotus leaf and appreciate the color and scent of the tea slowly.

“Take a sip and try to think about the tea, the people who grew and harvested the tea leaves. Try to cut down the greed, anger and ignorance,” the instructor advised.

Right after the tea ceremony, the participants sat down to listen to a lecture given by a Bongeun Temple monk. The program wraps up with a session of lotus lantern making.

“It’s incredible how the modern world can still co-exit (in the city),” Keith Allen from Finland said after experiencing the program.

Temple Life was interesting, as it managed to bring the two-day program into a two-hour session of temple touring and lectures.

Bongeun Temple may not be hidden in the woods with towering forests and beautiful mountains, but many tourists agreed that it is a welcoming and delighting place to explore such traditional and religious culture at amid the bustle of the city.

The program is held every Thursday at 2 p.m. The fee of 10,000 won can be paid at the Temple Stay Information Center next to Jinyeo Gate. To get there, leave from exit 6 at Samseong Station on subway line 2, or exit 2 of Cheongdam Station on line 7. The temple is located across the street from the COEX-Intercontinental Hotel. For more information, call (02) 3218-4895.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

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