Culture Post #1
Jeju-do, South Korea's largest island, sits just south of the Korean Peninsula, and its geographical isolation has allowed it to develop a culture and identity distinct from the mainland. One of the most striking aspects of this is the island's language, Jejueo, a dialect so unique that UNESCO recognizes it as a language in its own right, highlighting how different Jeju is from cities like Seoul or Busan.
While Christianity and Buddhism dominate religious life in mainland Korea, Jeju remains deeply rooted in shamanism, a spiritual practice intertwined with nature and the island’s landscape. Shamanistic rituals are still alive on the island, emphasizing the local connection to the spiritual world. Shamanism in Jeju is centered around museok (무속), or the belief in spirits, deities, and ancestral gods who are closely tied to nature. The island’s natural features (trees, rocks, etc.) are all believed to harbor spirits, and these elements play a significant role in rituals and ceremonies. The most revered of these deities is Seolmundae Halmang (설문대 할망), the Grandmother Goddess who is said to have created Jeju Island. She is considered a protector of the land and its people. Jeju shamans, known as mansin (만신) or mudang (무당), act as intermediaries between the human world and the spiritual realm. They perform rituals, called gut (굿), to communicate with the gods, asking for blessings, protection, or healing. These ceremonies often involve music, dance, offerings, and prayers, and are conducted to ensure harmony between humans and the spirits of nature. The gut are also performed to honor ancestors and to provide guidance in times of hardship or uncertainty. One of the most distinctive aspects of Jeju shamanism is its integration into everyday life. Ceremonies are often held to bless the harvest, protect fishermen at sea, and ensure the well-being of the community.
Another feature of shamanism that is evident throughout the island is the Dol Hareubang (돌하르방), or "stone grandfathers," which are statues carved from volcanic rock that stand guard across the island, believed to protect its inhabitants from harm.
For both domestic and international visitors, Jeju-do is a common vacation and honeymoon destination, offering scenic landscapes, horseback riding, scuba diving, and black-rock beaches. A key geographical feature on the island is Hallasan (한라산), the tallest mountain in South Korea. This dormant volcano, rising 1,947 meters above sea level, stretches across the island’s skyline. Hallasan offers breathtaking views for hikers and is a testament to the island’s rugged, natural beauty. There is a recreational area around the mountain called Hallasan National Park. Its crater lake and surrounding parklands make it a centerpiece of Jeju’s outdoor adventures, drawing nature lovers from around the world.
Jeju-do is also well known for its specialty foods that grow and thrive only in the island's unique environment. The island is famous for its heuk dwaeji 흑돼지 (black pork), known for its rich flavor, and the hallabong (한라봉) citrus, which thrives in Jeju's volcanic soil. Fresh seafood is abundant, thanks to the island’s haenyeo 해녀 (female sea divers.) These haenyeo, typically elderly women, dive without much equipment to harvest shellfish, seaweed, and other ocean delicacies from the seafloor. The haenyeo tradition, passed down for centuries, is a symbol of Jeju’s resilience and cultural identity, representing the island’s connection to the sea.
Sources:
Jejueo
https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvwvr2qt.
Shamanism in Jeju-do
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/jeju-chilmeoridang-yeongdeunggut-00187
Haenyeo:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/culture-of-jeju-haenyeo-women-divers-0...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7DQLMKBTE
Hallasan:
https://visithalla.jeju.go.kr/main/main.do
Jeju-do, South Korea's largest island, sits just south of the Korean Peninsula, and its geographical isolation has allowed it to develop a culture and identity distinct from the mainland. One of the most striking aspects of this is the island's language, Jejueo, a dialect so unique that UNESCO recognizes it as a language in its own right, highlighting how different Jeju is from cities like Seoul or Busan.
While Christianity and Buddhism dominate religious life in mainland Korea, Jeju remains deeply rooted in shamanism, a spiritual practice intertwined with nature and the island’s landscape. Shamanistic rituals are still alive on the island, emphasizing the local connection to the spiritual world. Shamanism in Jeju is centered around museok (무속), or the belief in spirits, deities, and ancestral gods who are closely tied to nature. The island’s natural features (trees, rocks, etc.) are all believed to harbor spirits, and these elements play a significant role in rituals and ceremonies. The most revered of these deities is Seolmundae Halmang (설문대 할망), the Grandmother Goddess who is said to have created Jeju Island. She is considered a protector of the land and its people. Jeju shamans, known as mansin (만신) or mudang (무당), act as intermediaries between the human world and the spiritual realm. They perform rituals, called gut (굿), to communicate with the gods, asking for blessings, protection, or healing. These ceremonies often involve music, dance, offerings, and prayers, and are conducted to ensure harmony between humans and the spirits of nature. The gut are also performed to honor ancestors and to provide guidance in times of hardship or uncertainty. One of the most distinctive aspects of Jeju shamanism is its integration into everyday life. Ceremonies are often held to bless the harvest, protect fishermen at sea, and ensure the well-being of the community.
Another feature of shamanism that is evident throughout the island is the Dol Hareubang (돌하르방), or "stone grandfathers," which are statues carved from volcanic rock that stand guard across the island, believed to protect its inhabitants from harm.
For both domestic and international visitors, Jeju-do is a common vacation and honeymoon destination, offering scenic landscapes, horseback riding, scuba diving, and black-rock beaches. A key geographical feature on the island is Hallasan (한라산), the tallest mountain in South Korea. This dormant volcano, rising 1,947 meters above sea level, stretches across the island’s skyline. Hallasan offers breathtaking views for hikers and is a testament to the island’s rugged, natural beauty. There is a recreational area around the mountain called Hallasan National Park. Its crater lake and surrounding parklands make it a centerpiece of Jeju’s outdoor adventures, drawing nature lovers from around the world.
Jeju-do is also well known for its specialty foods that grow and thrive only in the island's unique environment. The island is famous for its heuk dwaeji 흑돼지 (black pork), known for its rich flavor, and the hallabong (한라봉) citrus, which thrives in Jeju's volcanic soil. Fresh seafood is abundant, thanks to the island’s haenyeo 해녀 (female sea divers.) These haenyeo, typically elderly women, dive without much equipment to harvest shellfish, seaweed, and other ocean delicacies from the seafloor. The haenyeo tradition, passed down for centuries, is a symbol of Jeju’s resilience and cultural identity, representing the island’s connection to the sea.
Sources:
Jejueo
https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvwvr2qt.
Shamanism in Jeju-do
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/jeju-chilmeoridang-yeongdeunggut-00187
Haenyeo:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/culture-of-jeju-haenyeo-women-divers-0...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7DQLMKBTE
Hallasan:
https://visithalla.jeju.go.kr/main/main.do
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