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Events and Festivals
Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival Introduction
- Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival is a Confucian-style ritual performed to ask the patron saint, General Han, to protect the local residents of Jain-myeon, Gyeongsan-si, in which the Hanmyo ritual is held on the day of Surit, an ancient holiday for Dano. The festival is a form of large-scale village exorcism in Jain-myeon consisting of a variety of folk feasts, like General Hojang Parade (costume procession), Yeowon Dance, Palkwang Clown Show, Jainkyejeong Field Sound, Korean Wrestling, and Swings.
- The festival, which offers an opportunity to see a unique kind of artistic value through a long-standing ritual, the spirit of loyalty, and a variety of folk plays, has been handed down from generation to generation, starting from the Silla Era. All the residents of Jain-hyun have taken part in the festival, wholeheartedly supporting it.
- The festival has been called “Jain Dano-General Han Play” since 1973, when General Han Play was designated Intangible Cultural Asset No. 44, and was renamed “Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival” in March 2007.
- The 2007 Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival was an international event to which a number of diplomatic representatives from countries like Australia and China, as well as other foreigners, were invited. It featured performances of South Korea’s major intangible cultural assets, like Bongsan Masked Dance, Gangneung Masquerade, and Jinju Sword Dance.
- Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival, the cradle of traditional culture in Gyeongsan-si — a most attractive city at home and abroad; the history and culture city where the saints Wonhyo, Seol Chong, and Il Yeon were born; and a global city — will become increasingly world-renowned in the 21st century, the “century of culture.”
Event Outline
- Event period : 2-3 days before and after Dano every year (May 5 of the lunar calendar)
- Place : Gyeongsan-si, Jain-myeon, Gyejeong Forest (Open Culture Yard)
- Event contents : tea ritual for the birth of Wonhyo, a grand Buddhist monk; General Han ritual; Jain Dano exorcism; General Hojang parade (costume procession); Yeowon dance; Palkwang clown show; Jainkyejeong field sound; Gyeongsan Jain Dano Concert; experience event, exhibition, and other events
- Organizer : Gyeongsan-si
- Supervisor : (Inc.) Gyeongsan Jain Dano Preservation Committee
- Sponsor : Cultural Heritage Administration, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Gyeongsan Gatbawi Festival Introduction
- Gwanbong Seated Stone Buddha (alias Gatbawi) in Palgonsan, Gyeongsan, which stands on the southern Gwanbong Peak of Palgongsan Mountain in Gyeongsan-si, Wachon-myeon, Daehan-ri 44, is a seated stone Buddha created in the Silla Era, with a height of 5.3 meters. It is usually called “Gatbawi Buddha” because the name of the mountain peak is Gwanbong, meaning “Gatbawi.” It is also called “Gatbawi” because the statue wears a flagstone that looks like a gat, the traditional Korean hat.
- The statue of the Buddha, which was created in the 8th or 9th century, is South Korea’s cultural heritage, designated as Treasure No. 431 on September 1, 1965. As it is widely believed that the statue grants at least one of your wishes if you pray for it with utmost sincerity, an estimated 2.5 million worshippers and tourists visit this valuable cultural heritage every year. Gatbawi Festival, including prayer rituals and Buddhist ceremonies where people pray to the Buddha for him to help their children enter a top university and to make their dreams come true, a wide variety of folk games, and temple concerts, has been held at the foot of Palgongsan Mountain every year, specifically in October, when it is covered with autumn leaves. It is the best prayer festival in South Korea, with numerous stories of people whose wishes came true after they prayed in the festival.
Event Outline
- Event period : two days in October (around October 2) every year
- First festival year : 1998
- Location : Gyeongsan-si, Wachon-myeon, Gatbawi Public Parking Lot
- Event contents : tea ceremony, opening ceremony, Buddhist prayer ceremony, Buddhist dance performance, making lotus lanterns, experience event, art and culture organization performance, temple concert
- Organizer : Gyeongsan-si
- Supervisor : Gyeongsan Gatbawi Festival Promotion Committee
Gyeongsan Citizens Day Culture Festival Introduction
- Gyeongsan Citizens Day Culture Festival is a festival for citizen harmony aimed at putting together the abilities and energies of all the citizens and sublimating and upgrading these so that Gyeongsan-si could develop into a primary city in Gyeongsangbuk-do as its population goes over 250,000. The city government endeavors to prepare numerous events for the citizens and visitors to enjoy, harmonizing traditional games and modern culture so that a variety of citizens, including adolescents and senior citizens, could participate. The city government also develops various programs that every citizen could take part in, and that make the festival a meaningful one.
- In particular, special events like the reproduction of Gyeongsan Hyunggam (a local governor) Parade were held in so that Gyeongsan Citizens Day Culture Festival could be reborn as a vital festival for nurturing a thriving and happy city where education, culture, industry, environment, and welfare are in harmony. Gyeongsan Citizens Day Culture Festival and Gyeongsan Citizens Sports Festival are alternately held every other year.
- In particular, special events like the reproduction of Gyeongsan Hyunggam (a local governor) Parade were held in so that Gyeongsan Citizens Day Culture Festival could be reborn as a vital festival for nurturing a thriving and happy city where education, culture, industry, environment, and welfare are in harmony. Gyeongsan Citizens Day Culture Festival and Gyeongsan Citizens Sports Festival are alternately held every other year.
Event Outline
- Event period : October 13 (Citizens Day)
- Place : By the riverside of Nam River in Gyeongsan-si
- Event contents : pipe music ensemble performance, ceremonies, ceremonial guard and military band performance, foreign talent contests
- Organizer : Gyeongsan-si
- Supervisor : Gyeongsan Culture Center, Gyeongsan Festival Promotion Committee