The Joseon royal family‘s largest Buddhist ceremony to celebrate its 626th anniversary.
Once every 7 days for 49 days… last chiljae
Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Held for 49 days from the 1st of last month, this year’s Suryukjae focused on comforting martyrs, independence fighters, and war victims who sacrificed their lives for the Republic of Korea. Reporter Jeon Young-han scoopjyh@donga.com”/>
Jingwansa (chief Beophae Monk) of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, which is considered the largest Buddhist ritual of the Joseon royal family and the essence of Buddhist art, will conclude with a funeral ceremony (a ceremony to pass on the merits one has cultivated to others) on the 19th to 20th. got off
Suryukjae is the highest Buddhist ceremony in which all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and lonely souls from all over the ten directions are brought to Doryang, where they preach solemn Buddhist teachings and provide food. The Jingwansa Temple Suryukjae, which began when King Taejo of the Joseon Dynasty Lee Seong-gye prayed for the well-being of the royal family and the country, celebrates its 626th anniversary this year, and was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.
Suryukjae, which holds ashes once every seven days for 49 days, this year focused on comforting martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Republic of Korea, independence fighters, and war victims. At the Ipjae Buddhist service on the 1st of last month, Monk Hye-guk offered a ‘prayer of blessings for those who have become the stars of the nation’, and at the final Chiljae, which was held on the 19th and the 20th, respectively, the ceremony of offering incense, offering flowers, and offering flowers was held, followed by the prayers of police officers, firefighters, and police officers. Memorial tablets were enshrined for Armed Forces soldiers, National Intelligence Service agents, and state civil servants.
Monk Beophae (Chairman of the Jingwansa Landscape Artifacts Preservation Society) said, “The spirit of the National Landscape Artifacts of Jingwansa Temple lies in realizing the true values of communication and harmony that go beyond religion, race, and ideology and avoid confrontation and conflict.” He added, “Firefighters, police officers, and soldiers who tragically died for the country. He said, “I commemorated the noble spirit of sacrifice of public officials and prayed for their return to paradise.”
This year’s Suryukjae was attended by the Great Master of the Seongjeong Sect, Venerable Jin-woo, the head of the General Affairs, Venerable Joo-gyeong, Chairman of the Central Order, Venerable Gye-ho, the head of the Jingwansa Temple, Vice-Speaker Joo Ho-young of the National Assembly, Representatives Park Joo-min and Kim Woo-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, Representative Yoon Young-seok of the People’s Power Party, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Jeong-ae, Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min, Political figures, including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, and foreign ambassadors to Korea attended.
Reporter Lee Jin-gu sys1201@donga.com