Wishing for good weather

By Shim Hyun-chul

Extreme rainfall has pounded Korea for weeks. Floods and landslide took the lives of many and incurred property damage. The recovery hasn’t been completed, but rain continues to come down and typhoons are gaining strength around the Korean Peninsula.

A traditional ritual in wishing for a stop to the torrential rain and for the peaceful life of people was held at the National Folk Museum of

Korea in central Seoul, Wednesday.

“Gicheongje,” or the ritual for bright weather and the nation’s peace, is one of Korea’s seasonal customs, praying for the nature gods of four directions who are believed to control the rain.

The ritual starts with a request to open the ceremony and four kowtows by officials follow. Then the officials offer incense and rice wine and perform ritual oration. After doing so, they move ritual utensils and close the proceedings.

During the Joseon Kingdom era (1392-1910), the ritual was held in front of the four main gates of Seoul, Sungnyemun, Heunginjimun, Doneuimun and Sukjeongmun, as well as the main gates of provincial cities.

“There is a record of holding the ritual for bright weather and the nation’s peace in the early 1900s, during the reign

of King Gojong. Re-enacting gicheongje may convey our wishes to God,” said Cheon Jin-gi, director general of the

museum.

For more information about the ritual, visit www.nfm.go.kr. shim@koreatimes.co.kr