The Cultural Heritage Administration (Administrator Kim Hyun-mo) plans to designate Jeju Keungut, the largest shamanistic ritual in Jeju, as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Jeju Keungut, also known as Jeju Grand Gut, is the shamanistic ceremony that has been passed down for the longest period in Jeju Island. It encompasses traditional music, dance and game as well as the history of the people of Jeju. It is usually conducted by more than five people – including the leading simbang, or shaman – and continues for 7 to 14 days.
* simbang – shaman in Jeju dialect
Jeju Keungut has a long history and as a result maintains the original format of Korean gut. It consists of music, dance, oral epics and games indigenous to Jeju, which makes it a highly valuable subject of study. Experts also note its format: It begins with a ritual of inviting gods and bringing them to a special seating area; and progresses in stages like yeongsin, osin, songsin, consecutively. The shaman’s narrative song, yeoldu bonpuri, reflects the views of the Jeju people on creation, life and death.
It is also notable how the shaman’s narrative uses the Jeju dialect from a long time ago. Linguists note how it is tantamount to a dictionary of Jeju dialect and thus, an invaluable source for their research.
Jeju Keungut Preservation Society (Director Seo Soon-sil), the group that has been preserving this gut ritual, will also be acknowledged in the designation. Established in 2012, the society has the capabilities to reenact the Jeju Keungut in its original form, and has been continuously dedicated to passing down the Jeju Keungut to people today.
It has been more than 40 years since a Jeju gut ritual that embodies the joy, sorrow and life of the Jeju people has been designated as a national intangible heritage item. In November of 1980, Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut was recognized as a national intangible heritage item in Korea.
* Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut(Fishing village’s shaman ritual) – a ritual held at Chilmeoridang in the village of Gun-rip to pray for calm seas and a plentiful sea catch. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
The Cultural Heritage Administration will receive opinions for a month on the planned designation and hold a committee review session, before making a final decision on the designation.
Source: Cultural Heritage Administration