Elements
Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival in the Republic of Korea
marks_1
-
Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00001963 Country Republic of Korea ICH Domain Social practices, rituals, festive events Traditional craft skills Year of Designation 2012.04.06
| Description | [Inscribed in 2020 (15.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity] As the eighth day of the fourth lunar month (Buddha's Birthday) approaches, the entire country, from otherwise tranquil Buddhist temples to bustling city centers, lights up with colorful lanterns. A rite to celebrate Shakyamuni's birth is observed nationwide and public processions of people holding lanterns are held. Records associating Buddhism and the lotus lanterns dates back to the 9th-century according to Samguksagi(Histrory of the Three Kingdoms). And there are records showing that the lotus lantern festival was organized around Buddha’s birthday in the Goryeo dynasty(918-1392). Originally a religious ritual to celebrate Shakyamuni's birth, Yeondeunghoe has become a representative national spring festival open to all. Made of a bamboo frame, or a steel wire frame covered by traditional paper, the lanterns decorating Buddhist temples and public spaces are crafted by traditional artisans who share their knowledge and skills with lay participants. Members of the public can participate in the festival carrying lanterns they made to express good wishes not only for themselves and their families, but for their neighborhoods and the entire nation. The lighting lanterns also symbolizes enlightening the minds of the individuals, the communities, and the whole society through Buddha's wisdom. The primary element of the annual festival starts with bathing an image of the baby Buddha as a ritual celebrating Shakyamuni's birth. This sacred ritual is followed by a public procession of lantern-bearing participants. After completing the procession, participants gather for recreational events. The spirit of unity culminates in collective game activities as social boundaries are temporarily erased. |
|---|---|
| Social and cultural significance | In Yeondeunghoe, participants parade while holding lanterns in their hands, symbolizing Buddha’s wisdom. Participants decorate lanterns with ornaments such as “paper-flowers”. Paper-flowers have been traditionally used in Buddhist rituals as offerings to Buddha, but also used in Shamanism rituals, and even in royal ceremonies of the Joseon dynasty(1392-1910). The lantern itself also comes in various shape and size, symbolizing different cultural meanings. A lantern shaped as a turtle means longevity, while a fruit bearing many seeds like watermelons means prosperity and fecundity. Yeondeunghoe is a festival at which individuals participate as equal members of society regardless of gender or age. The active participation of women and children is particularly noticeable at the lantern festival. Patriarchal culture has long held sway over Korean society, but Yeondeunghoe is a particularly uplifting occasion for women and children. Traditionally, it has provided an effective outlet for the young to express their creativity by experimenting with the shape and color of their lanterns. Yeondeunghoe contributes to social integration. The lantern festival is generally an arena for sharing pleasure and happiness, but in times of social difficulties it plays a role in integrating society and helping people overcome the troubles of the day. When a tragic incident involving a capsized ferry shocked and saddened the whole nation in 2014, the previous plans for Yeondeunghoe were scrapped and a new theme was announced: “Sharing sadness and collecting hope.” This shows that Yeondeunghoe is always practiced in close connection with the society’s concerns and sentiments of the time. |
| Transmission method | The knowledge and skills of Yeondeunghoe are mainly transmitted through Buddhist temples and communities. The immense volume of knowledge and skills involved in, for example, conducting the Buddha-bathing ritual and public processions and crafting countless lanterns and other decorations are transmitted across generations through the repeated annual practice of Yeondeunghoe. This creates an informal transmission in which the relevant knowledge and skills are passed on in everyday life through experience, mostly from more to less experienced members of the community. The Yeondeunghoe Safeguarding Association, a recognized transmitter of Yeondeunghoe, plays an important role in transmission by offering education programs. The Association provides two types of programs: 1) Education courses for the beginners are held for the popularization of the craftsmanship of making lanterns, 2) Expert-level programs for those who desire to acquire higher-level knowledge and skills, offered annually for the last 18 years. Graduates of this program gain expertise in the actual execution of rituals and lantern making. In 2019, total of 30 courses were held preceeding the Festival Day, and over 600 individuals participated in the courses.. Expert groups such as the Research Institute for Yeondeunghoe Ornamentation, the Association for Buddhist Lanterns and Flowers, and the Paramita Youth Association also play important roles in the public transmission of Yeondeunghoe through exhibitions and lecture/training programs. Transmission also takes place at elementary and secondary school through extra-curricular and special training programs. |
| Community | Yeondeunghoe as a festival is open to believers and non-believers alike. Anyone can join in by forming a group based on a Buddhist temple they frequent, sect they prefer, or community to which they belong. |
| Type of UNESCO List | Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List | 2020 |