| 4342 Lunar 3.8 -- the "Second" Inwang-san Sanshin-je Ceremony |
| Held on April 3rd 2009 by a Nationalist-Shamanic Association of Koreans who highly venerate this sacred mountain at the Guksa-dang Shrine |
This year's event was better-publicized in advance, but the date was changed from
Lunar 3.3 (Sunday March 29th) to 3.8 (Friday April 3rd) -- I haven't found out why -- which
certainly reduced the amount of people who could attend, and mystifies me -- I suppose
that calculations of the most auspicious day were more important than attracting wider
attendance. This year was also different in being held right at the famous Guksa-dang
National Spirit Shrine, instead of further up the slope. There is not much more space for
viewers than above, as the Guksa-dang's courtyard is quite narrow.
Lunar 3.3 (Sunday March 29th) to 3.8 (Friday April 3rd) -- I haven't found out why -- which
certainly reduced the amount of people who could attend, and mystifies me -- I suppose
that calculations of the most auspicious day were more important than attracting wider
attendance. This year was also different in being held right at the famous Guksa-dang
National Spirit Shrine, instead of further up the slope. There is not much more space for
viewers than above, as the Guksa-dang's courtyard is quite narrow.
| This event's organizer was again the "Han-guk Mushin-gyo Yeonhap-hoi" -- the symbol on their flag is an interesting 5-color reworking of Korea's traditional Sam-Taegeuk. |
Despite cloudy grey skies and a lingering chill breeze (Spring came late this year) a good crowd
was there by 11am and it was another significant step in these modern neo-traditionalist revivals
of important ancient customs of venerating these holy crags. Several leading manshin
shamanists and trad-nationalists performed six hours of vibrant ceremonies.
was there by 11am and it was another significant step in these modern neo-traditionalist revivals
of important ancient customs of venerating these holy crags. Several leading manshin
shamanists and trad-nationalists performed six hours of vibrant ceremonies.
| Offerings on the Main Altar |
| the Altar inside the Shrine |
| Secondary Altar in the Courtyard |
| spiritually warming-up |
| It was interesting that she used the Republic of Korea's national flag so extensively, in the five colors that this Association uses as motif -- this is a fairly-new and rapidly-spreading practice, replacing the standard colored flags which are plain or had Shamanic symbols on them. |
Announcement-Poster for this event, and a
hand-written "shopping-list" of foods and drinks
to be prepared for the ceremony (both posted at
the Yong-wang-gak a few weeks in-advance).
hand-written "shopping-list" of foods and drinks
to be prepared for the ceremony (both posted at
the Yong-wang-gak a few weeks in-advance).
a few of my
Kyung Hee
University
students
Kyung Hee
University
students