Taego Order to Hold Yeongsanjae Ceremony at Gwanghwamun on Nov. 8

연합뉴스 / 2025-11-06 15:56:52

▲ Buddhist monks perform the Cheonsubara dance during the 35th Yeongsanjae Ritual for World Peace and National Prosperity at Bongwonsa Temple in Seodaemun District, Seoul, in June 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- The Korean Buddhist Taego Order announced on Thursday that it will hold the 4th Taego Order Yeongsanjae at Gwanghwamun Yukjo Square in Seoul on Saturday.

Hosted by the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Yeongsanjae Preservation Association, the event will highlight and reaffirm the significance of Yeongsanjae, a ritual recognized as both a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea.

Yeongsanjae is a Buddhist ritual held on the 49th day after a person’s death, guiding the spirit toward rebirth in paradise through faith in Buddhism. The ceremony symbolically reenacts the Yeongsan Assembly, when Buddha Sakyamuni delivered a sermon on Vulture Peak.

Held under the theme “Togetherness and Charm with Citizens,” the event will feature a large-scale international ordination ceremony with participation from around 10,000 people, including high monks from Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, and Nepal.

The program will also include cultural and artistic performances as well as hands-on experiences in Buddhist culture.

The Taego Order stated, “We aim to create a space for intergenerational communication, to preserve and advance the valuable heritage of Korean Buddhism and culture, and to present a Buddhism that is more approachable in modern society.”