Seokjeon Daeje
The Seokjeon Daeje (Korean: 석전대제), also sometimes called Seokjeonje, is a ceremonial rite performed twice annually to honor Confucius. It is held at Confucian sites across South Korea including hyanggyos and the Confucian temple Munmyo located at Sungkyunkwan, on Confucius' birthday in fall and the anniversary of his death in spring. Seokjeon is made up of the two Chinese characters, 釋 (to lay out) and 奠 (alcohol), and Seokjeon Daeje means "Laying out offerings ceremony". It involves an elaborate ceremony with sacrificial offerings of alcohol and foods, as well as an elaborate dance known as munmyo ilmu accompanied by musical performances munmyo jeryeak.
Seokjeon Daeje | |
The Seokjeon Daeje is performed in the grounds of Munmyo. | |
Korean name | |
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Hangul | 석전대제 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Seokjeon Daeje |
McCune–Reischauer | Sŏkchŏn Taeche |
In 2011, Korea nominated the ceremony for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list; however, it did not satisfy the criteria for selection and UNESCO invited the Korean government to submit it again in the future with additional information. The ceremony is recognized in Korea as important intangible cultural heritage no.85.