Lotus lanterns to once again light up Seoul
The highlight of the Lotus Lantern Festival, the lantern parade, will set out at 7 p.m. on May 7 from Dongguk University in central Seoul and end at Jogye Temple. [Celebration Committee for Buddha’s Birthday]
Starting from 7 p.m. today at Bongeun Temple in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, the city streets will slowly but surely fill up with colorful, illuminated lanterns to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday, the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which falls on May 14 this year.
Yeondeunghoe, the annual Lotus Lantern Festival, has been passed down through the generations for roughly 1,300 years since the Unified Silla period (676-935) and is known for the countless lanterns and also for spreading messages of hope.
Although there were no festive music or performances during the festival in 2014 to express condolences to the families and friends of victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy, the festival quietly consoled wounded hearts.
As for last year’s festival, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonization (1910-45), it was held under the theme “Peaceful Mind and Harmonious World.” Small lanterns that were lit during the festival, which are usually for sale, were given out to visitors for free during last year’s festival, while many religious leaders from around the world were invited to join in the celebration of the peace that finally came to Korea 70 years ago.
This year’s focus, according to organizers, is on Korea’s youth.
“This year’s Yeondeunghoe is meant to encourage young people whose hopes and dreams have been compromised and are confronted by a rising unemployment rate,” Hong Min-seok, a publicist for the Yeondeunghoe Preservation Committee, said.
“We made effort to include a lot more activities for young visitors than in previous years.”
From Dongguk University, where the Eoulim Madang, or Buddhist cheer rally, will take place, a river of brightly-lit lanterns will wind through central Seoul. Scheduled to pass by Dongdaemun, Jongmyo Shrine, Tapgol Park and Jonggak Station along the way before finally reaching Jogye Temple, the parade can best be viewed from the sidewalk outside Jongno 3-ga Station, Jongno 5-ga Station and Jonggak Station.
Leading the sea of 100,000 rainbow-colored lanterns will be historical flags and traditional North Korean lanterns. The main part of the parade will showcase lanterns of all shapes made out of hanji, or traditional Korean paper.
The portion of the event that will be significantly better than last year, according to the organizer, will be the slew of traditional cultural events scheduled to be held at Jogye Temple on the day after the parade, on May 8.
In addition to various activities that will be similar to those of previous years, such as traditional food sampling and lantern making, there will also be activities tailor-made for young visitors, such as counseling sessions, face painting and young Buddhist camps.
Young members of the Korea Young Buddhist Association and Buddhist fraternities from many colleges will prepare programs and games to let young visitors have fun together.
According to the organizer, one of the key activities aimed at Korean youths this year is the counseling, where participants can get their proverbial wounds looked after.
Participants can receive counseling from specialists as well as various types of therapy, such as art therapy.
There will also be counseling sessions for young people preparing to leave their parents’ homes. The sessions stress the importance of being independent from family and seeking outside help.
“My friends and I had our little high school reunion in Korea last year because of this festival,” said Michael Chen, a 23-year-old Taiwanese-American who was at the event last year. “Living in New York City, Yeondeunghoe was a legit Asian cultural event I really had missed being part of. It was actually my second time visiting the Cheonggye Stream, but all those lanterns made it a whole new place.”
Registered as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 122, the Lotus Lantern Festival holds much historical significance. Although the festival is unique to Korea, it is also popular among overseas visitors. According to the organizer, overseas tourists made up 10 percent of the total festival attendees in 2013.
For foreigners, the events on May 8 are especially worth checking out.
At Jogye Temple, there will be plenty of hands-on activities such as making paper lanterns, trying various foods and learning how to play traditional Korean folk games. The two stages set up in front of the temple will also showcase performances by traditional Korean folk performers and Buddhist groups from different Asian countries from noon to 7 p.m.
To facilitate participation by foreigners, the organizer, the Celebration Committee for Buddha’s Birthday, is accepting seating reservations via email (ipogyo@buddhism.or.kr) and phone (02-722-2206) to watch the parade on May 7 and participate in the lotus lantern-making competition for foreigners on May 8.
The Yeondeunghoe global supporters program is another great barometer of the festival’s international recognition.
The global supporters are the group of volunteers, half of whom are foreigners, who assemble to promote the event and assist foreign participants during the festival. According to the group, since its launch in 2012, the program has seen a gradual increase in the number of volunteers and their countries of origin every year. The supporters this year number 150 and come from 49 different countries, nine more than last year’s 40. The 150 Korean culture enthusiasts will be deployed at all corners of the festival venue, equipped to be of help to visitors.
“I always had a big interest in Korean culture, and being a global supporter was definitely a great chance to learn about Buddhism, which contributed to Korean history in many ways,” Kathleen Carter, an English teacher from the United States, said. “I am honored to be part of Korea’s representative traditional event.”
“Back in Switzerland, there is no place to practice the religion of Buddhism,” said Jenny Messikommer, who expressed great interest in Buddhism throughout the volunteer prep course. “I wish to participate in as many Buddhist activities as I can during my tenure.”
The lanterns on display in Gwanghwamun, the Cheonggye Stream area, Bongeun Temple and Jogye Temple will remain until after the Dharma ceremony for Buddha’s Birthday on May 14.
BY JEONG BYUNG-KI [jeong.byungki@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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