essay
The meaning of polution in Korean ritual life
religion and ritual in korean society • Berkeley, Calif. • Published In 1987 • Pages: 139-148
By: Ch'oe, Kil-song.
Abstract
This article addresses Korean notions of pollution (PUJONG). All rituals begin with a purification rite. Before carrying out a KUT, a shaman (MUDANG) purifies the ritual space by first sprinkling water onto the ground and altar, and then burning a paper torch. For Confucian ceremonies, a ritual official (CHEGWAN) cannot be handicapped, deformed, abnormal, or sick. He must be married, with at least one son, and his household free of ritual pollution. Prior to the ritual he must observe taboos and keep ascetic confinement for a period of seven days. Births are polluting. All postpartum excretions are ritually unclean and must be buried, and birth ropes strung up across the household gate to warn villagers of pollutants and also to keep polluted persons out. Death pollutes the whole community. Villagers must avoid washing clothes, put off marriage plans, and postpone any other rituals. Death pollution affects all kin, closely-related kin more so than distantly-related kin, no matter where they happen to live. The funeral ceremony is a means of purifying the the soul and transforming it into a sacred ancestor.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1998
- Region
- Asia
- Sub Region
- East Asia
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Types
- Ethnologist
- Indigenous Person
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ; 1997
- Field Date
- 1971-1972
- Coverage Date
- 1950-1972
- Coverage Place
- Republic of Korea
- Notes
- Kil-song Ch'oe
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-148)
- LCCN
- 86082390
- LCSH
- Koreans