''Gangneung Danoje'' (The Gangneung Danoje Festival) is a local festival in

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

which is selected as the 13th

Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea The Intangible Cultural Heritage (, ''Muhyeong Munhwajae'') are aspects of intangible culture that the government of South Korea has officially designated for preservation in accordance with the 1962 Cultural Property Protection Law. They are p ...

next to

Jinju geommu Geommu (also transliterated ''Gummu'', ''Kommu'') is a traditional sword dance practiced in Korea. Geommu is performed with special costume, dance moves, and music. The dance is known for its grace in performance. Extra emphasis is placed on the m ...

. It culminates on the fifth day of the fifth month of the year according to the

lunisolar calendar A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures, combining lunar calendars and solar calendars. The date of Lunisolar calendars therefore indicates both the Moon phase and the time of the solar year, that is the position of the Sun in the Ea ...

, in

Gangneung Gangneung () is a municipal city in the province of Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved January 14, 2006. Gangneung is the economic ...

, Gangwon Province. However, the festival, including preparations such as making special alcohol actually takes 45 days in total. ''Danoje'' referred to ''Suritnal'' which means the highest day and the God's day. ''Gangneung Danoje'' has the longest history among Korean local festivals and its main purpose is to worship the guardian spirit of a mountain which protects the town and pray for the peace of the town and all families and prosperity of farming. It is designated as part of South Korea's

Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and t ...

by UNESCO on November 25, 2005.

History

Its origin is not accurate but according to Nam-hyowon's record, shaman prayed for the God for 3 days every March, April and May. Also Heo-gyun wrote in his book that he saw the ''Gangneung Danoje'' in 1603. Heo Gyun personally saw Gangneung Danoje and wrote that the subject of the memorial service was General Kim Yu-shin. After unifying the three kingdoms, Kim Yu-sin died and became a mountain god in Daegwallyeong, and recorded that this god was honored and visited Daegwallyeong every May to greet and entertain the gods. Therefore, if God was happy, he would have a good harvest that year, and if he was angry, he would give a natural disaster, and because of this, all the people of Myeongju gathered to sing, dance, and serve God. Gangneung Dano Festival has long been a public-centered event and a public-private festival with active cooperation from the government. Gangneung Danoje was designated as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 13 and is protected by the state. In 2021, the 13th Gangneung Dano Festival will open on June 10th and run for eight days until the 17th. According to the Gangneung Danoje Committee, it consists of programs that present the direction of Danoje in the post-corona era and Danoje spirit that lasts for 1,000 years. The meeting will be held in the wake of the prolonged Covid-19 outbreak, with only officials attending.

Procedures

During the ''Danoje'', all the people in town pray for the guardian spirit of a mountain in the morning and the night for 5 days. They also have a shaman ceremony for prosperity of the farming and peace for the town. In the mask playing, the character of noble, young lady, Jangjamari, sisidakdak dance and sing. There are also small events and games includes swing, Korean wrestling, ''

ssireum ''Ssireum'' (Hangul: ) or Korean wrestling is a folk wrestling style and traditional national sport of Korea that began in the fourth century. In the modern form each contestant wears only a belt (satba) that wraps around the waist and the th ...

'', the traditional instrument contest, shampooing in a special method, eating '' ddeok''. On the next day of Dano, they burn the sacred wood and the festival ends.

Transmission

The transmission is divided into three way. One is the group for ceremony, one is for shaman ceremony and the other is for mask-playing. Currently Jo kyu-don was designated for the ceremony and the shaman ceremony is maintained by Bin sun-hae and the mask playing is Kim jong-gun.

References

External links

Gangneung Danoje Official websiteKorean Curtural Heritage AdministrationKorean Culture Information ServiceGangneung Danoje
by UNESCO {{UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity/APA Korean culture Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Gangneung Important Intangible Cultural Properties of South Korea