Seokjeon Daeje (Korean: 석전대제; Hanja: 釋奠大祭), also known as Seokjeonje or the Great Rite for Confucius, is a traditional Korean Confucian ceremonial rite performed twice annually to honor Confucius and other eminent Confucian sages and scholars. It is designated as South Korea's National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 85.
Etymology
The term Seokjeon is composed of two Chinese characters: 釋 (seok, meaning "to lay out") and 奠 (jeon, meaning "alcohol" or "offering"). Seokjeon Daeje thus translates to "Great Laying Out of Offerings Ceremony."
Schedule and Locations
The rite is held twice a year: in the spring (on the anniversary of Confucius's death) and in the autumn (on Confucius's birthday). It takes place at Confucian sites across South Korea, including hyanggyo (local Confucian schools) and the Munmyo Confucian shrine located at Sungkyunkwan in Seoul.
Ritual Procedure
The Seokjeon Daeje follows a highly structured, multi-stage procedure:
- Yeongsillye (Greeting the Spirits): The spirits are welcomed through the main gate (Sinsammun) along a spirit path (Yeongshin). Musicians and dancers take their positions.
- Jeonpyerye (Offering of Tribute): Silk satin is presented as an offering to Confucius and the Four Assessors (Yan Hui, Zengzi, Zisi, and Mencius).
- Choheollye (First Wine Offering): The first offerer presents wine to Confucius. Music and the Civil Dance (munmyo ilmu) are performed.
- Aheollye (Second Wine Offering): A secondary offerer presents wine.
- Jongheollye (Final Wine Offering): The final offerer presents wine to Confucius, the Four Assessors, and the other 34 spirits honored in the ceremony.
- Eumbongnye: The invocation is read, and the ceremony concludes with the sending off of the spirits.
Dance and Music
The ceremony features the Palilmu (八佾舞), a traditional ritual dance performed by 64 dancers arranged in an 8×8 grid, clad in red robes. The dance is slow, deliberate, and solemn, with movements that welcome spirits to earth.
The accompanying music, known as munmyo jeryeak, is a form of Aak (Korean court music). It involves 64 musicians playing a variety of instruments, including:
- Pyeonjong (array of bells)
- Pyeongyeong (array of stone chimes)
- Nogo and Nodo (drums)
- Eo (tiger-shaped scraper)
- Chuk (wooden box)
- Hun (flute)
- Seul and Geum (stringed zithers)
Honored Figures
The Seokjeon Daeje honors 39 historical figures in total:
- The Five Sages: Confucius and his four principal disciples (Yan Hui, Zengzi, Zisi, Mencius)
- Ten Disciples of Confucius
- Six Men of Virtue from Song Dynasty China (including Zhou Dunyi, Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, Shao Yong, Zhang Zai, and Zhu Xi)
- Eighteen Men of Virtue from Korea (including Seol Chong, Choe Chi-won, An Hyang, Jeong Mong-ju, Yi Hwang, Yi I, and Song Si-yeol)
Cultural Significance
The Seokjeon Daeje is recognized as an important expression of Confucian values, including respect for teachers, elders, and scholarly virtue. In 2011, South Korea nominated the ceremony for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list; it did not satisfy the selection criteria at that time, and UNESCO invited the Korean government to resubmit with additional information. The ceremony is classified as South Korean National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 85.
