ALL
rites
ICH Elements 7
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Seoul Saenamgut (Shamanic Performance of Seoul)
National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea Seoul Saenamgut was performed for the upper classes in Seoul to console the spirits of the dead and pray for their peaceful life in heaven. It is presumed that this rite was first performed during the Joseon Period (1392 –1910) and took on a more developed form during the 17th and 18th Centuries. The rite is composed of Andang Sagyeong Maji (spending time from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. in the courtyard) and Saenamgut, which is performed from the following morning by five female exorcists and six dancers to the accompaniment of janggo (hourglass-shaped drum), buk (drums), daegeum (bamboo flute), piri (flute) and other instruments. Seoul Saenamgut has features that cannot be found in the other exorcism rites. It displays elaborate composition and looks gorgeous. It includes both Buddhist and Confucian elements as well as contents relating to the royal court of the Joseon Period.
South Korea -
Rebana Ubi
Popular in the East Coast — particularly in Kelantan — the rebana ubi is the largest of the rebana family of drums. It is used as an accompaniment during ceremonial rites and festivities, particularly after harvest season, as well as for recreation and competitions. Almost one-metre-high and about 70cm in diameter, it is the only rebana that is vibrantly decorated on the body as well as the face. Each drum is painted brightly and adorned at the top with a large, beautifully carved Kelantanese coat-of-arms — the makhota (crown), a pair of salient kijang (barking deer), crescent moon and five-pointed star. The art of rebana ubi making has been passed on for generations of Kelantanese craftsmen. The difficult process involves drying, stretching and pegging the buffalo hide; gathering and shaping the rattan; hollowing out the merbau wood for the body; and painting the frame of the rebana ubi. Over the past few decades, however, economic pressures as well as a lack of sustained efforts in training have resulted in declining interest in the art of rebana ubi making.
Malaysia -
Seasonal customs and rituals
Seasonal customs and rituals circle is a kind of encyclopedia of the life of the people. Uzbekistan also has a number of seasonal rites and holidays. Uzbek seasonal celebrations should be classified as follows: 1) winter parties or circles (gap gastak); 2) spring holidays – Navruz, Shohmoylar (harnessing of bulls in soha, i.e. the beginning of plowing), Holidays of tulips and roses, Loy tutish (clay supply, i.e. the beginning of building a house), etc.; 3) from summer celebrations, the "Qovun saili" (melon festival), "Choi momo" etc; 4) autumn holidays related to harvesting - Mehrgan, "Uzum saili" (grape festival), etc.
Uzbekistan -
Family rites
Family rites of Uzbeks are a life cycle, which covers a set of family traditions connected to the birth, reaching of adulthood, twelve-year cycle (muchal), wedding, funeral, etc. From among family rituals and ceremonies it is possible to mention wedding-ceremonial ones (beshik toy, sunnat toy, muchal toy, nikoh toy), funeral-commemorative ones (aza-motam, sadr), daily life related ones (badik, kina, alas, kushnos, mushkulkushod) and others.
Uzbekistan
ICH Materials 3
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A Look into Jeju: Living in Harmony with NatureJeju is a volcanic island filled with stones. Previous eruptions have produced volcanic bombs (large volcanic rocks) scattered around, covering the whole island. This is why it is difficult to cultivate crops in Jeju. Since the thirteenth century, the people of Jeju have been making stone walls to secure farmlands. The total length of stone walls is estimated at 22,100 km. These stone walls look like they are heaped up randomly. However, Jeju people’s wisdom is time-tested, unassumingly sturdy, hidden in those walls. Because the island is prone to strong winds all throughout the year, taking note of typhoons in the summer, they built the stone walls like roughly-heaped stones with holes to let the wind pass through, weakening the possibility of structural collapse.\n\nTamna is Jeju’s old name. The beginning of Tamna is illustrated by Samseong myth. Legend has it that three demigods emerged from holes in the ground. The ground is called samseonghyeol, which is still considered as a sacred place. The emergence from the ground shows difference in cultural archetype from the birth myth of the mainland involving the egg from the heavens. There are 18,000 gods and goddesses in Jeju. Jeju people believe that god lives in everything. Such belief is shaped by Jeju’s naturally difficult tendencies. As people in Jeju battle with endless wind and water shortage due to the island’s barren volcanic environment, they rely on gods to adapt to the roughness of Jeju.\n\nThere are Bonhyangdang Shrines, the house of gods protecting people’s livelihoods. simbangs (shaman in Jeju dialect) act as intermediary between Jeju people and gods. They perform yeongdeunggut in the second lunar month for haenyeo (female divers) and fishermen who depend on the sea for a living. The Yeongdeung is the goddess of the wind, who can raise the waves, which is why she is deemed important for the safety of people pursuing the sea. Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut, the representative yeongdeunggut in Jeju, was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2009. There are many other rituals for gods and goddesses of the sea, which are held in roughly 30 areas in Jeju during the same month. There are many stories related to goddesses in Jeju. Different from goddesses in other countries, Jeju goddesses neither depend on nor belong to gods. This is a characteristic shown by Grandmother Seolmundae, the giant who created the island by carrying soil in her skirts; Grandmother Samseung, the goddess of babies; and Jacheongbi, the goddess of farming. Jeju women have high self-esteem unlike those in patriarchal East Asian societies following Confucian teachings. They also participate in the economy more actively than their counterparts in other regions in Korea. Jeju haenyeo is a representative example of women’s participation in the economy. In 2016, the Culture of Jeju Haenyeo was inscribed on the Representative the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO during the eleventh Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It shows matriarchal characteristics of Jeju. In Jeju where the soil is not fit for rice farming, many women became divers to find food from the sea and learned how to cooperate with each other.\n\nDespite the unique challenges in the island, Jeju people have used nature without destroying it, depending on 18,000 gods and neighbors. Such characteristics form the core of the Jeju culture.\n\nPhoto : Jeju haenyeo (female divers) crossing low stone walls to get to the sea © Jeju Haenyeo MuseumYear2017NationSouth Korea
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Jeju Chilmeoridang YeongdeunggutJeju Yeongdeunggut is a shamanic ritual performed during the second lunar month to greet and see off the goddess Yeongdeung. Yeongdeung, the goddess of wind, is typically recognized in the form of Yeongdeunghalmang (Grandmother Yeongdeung). In winter, when the cold wind blows from the northwest, she brings prosperity to the land and sea. It was the custom for the Yeongdeung Welcoming Ritual to be performed to celebrate her arrival and the Yeongdeung Farewell Ritual to be performed fifteen days later to mark her departure.Year2021NationSouth Korea
Open Archive 2
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Ihi-my first wedding to Bel
The picture above is my first marriage (according to Newar tradition) with the Bel fruit, along with my friends which is also known as a wooden apple. I was about 5 years old and had no idea about the wedding at all. Newars possess different cycles of rituals from birth to death. Wedding of a girl in Newari community possess a deep meaning and has great importance. Their wedding practices are unique too. A daughter born in a Newari community is married thrice. But not all marriages are with men (groom). The first marriage is performed before puberty with Bel fruit (Aegle marmelos), the second marriage is with the sun, and finally, the third marriage is with a man. Ihi, one of the most important rites of the Newar community, is an entrance ritual to the life cycle ritual of the Newar girl, which gives membership to the girl within the community. Young girls from age of 5-9, before their puberty, are married with bel fruit, the symbol of the Lord Bishnu, one of the gods in Hinduism. Hence, this function is related to marriage and divorce. After this marriage, Newar girl is, therefore, never believed to be a widow, even her real husband dies, because she has already married with eternal god, Lord Bishnu the god of sustainer. No less than other weddings, I was made ready for the wedding ceremony dressed up with my hair and makeup done. In Newar culture, during special ceremonies, people must clean from head to toe. Naunis (a traditional barber and pedicurist in the Newar community) are invited for nail trimming. Naunis cut nails and put “Ala” (a red pigment), around hands and feet (like in the second picture), which is a traditional pedicure for women in Newari culture. After all preparation, we were taken to the temple of the Lord Bishnu for the wedding ceremony with the Bel. And after the ceremony, relatives came to me bringing gifts and cash. There was a feast afterward. These practices are of more than religious and cultural significance. Through these rituals and practices, young girls are taught about the change they have according to their age. They are even taught about the norm and values of the community as a member of it. Fortunately, Ihi is being practiced to the date, but the importance and meaning of Ihi are declining day by day. Rituals like this should be safeguarded and transmitted to the coming generation.
Nepal -
Songsun-Ju(Pine sprouts Liquor)
Songsun-ju is a traditional liquor distilled from pine sprouts. In korea, Liquor was a very sacred drink for the ancestral rites, usually made of seasonal foods. As a material that can be collected mainly from mid-May to the end of June, usually brewed in early Spring to early Summer. It was recognized that the medicinal effect of Songsun was outstanding in early spring when the energy of nature spreads most vigorously. It is known for its effects for the digestion and absorption rate. It takes two fermentation processes to make complete Songsun-ju. It tastes sweet and sour.
South Korea