15호 [북새통] 수원전통문화관 세시풍속 “북새통”
북새통 1 “입춘방"
수원전통문화관 세시풍속 “북새통”
글 최인애 전통문화사업부
수원화성 북문인 장안문 안쪽에 언제부턴가 화성행궁보다 더 예쁜 한옥 두 채가 들어섰다. 널찍한 앞마당에 텃밭까지 갖춘 이 한옥건물은 왠지 모를 신비감으로 입구에서 주저하는 방문객들도있지만, 실은 누구에게나 열려있는 우리 전통문화의 교육체험공간인 ‘수원전통문화관’이다.
작년(2015년) 3월 30일 개관하여 이제 갓 돌을 넘긴 수원전통문화관은 전통식생활체험관과 예절교육관 두 건물과 주변 공간을 아우르는 통합명칭이다. 교육시설로 건립되었지만 그 아름다운 자태에 이끌려 찾아오는 방문객들이 꾸준히 늘고 있다. 또한 바로 옆에 조성 중인 한옥기술전시관이 금년 중 완공되고 인근에 한옥건물이 지속적으로 들어서면서 수원화성 내 새로운 관광거점으로서 기대도 크다.
이에 발맞춰 수원전통문화관은 우리 전통문화를 계승하고 방문객들의 호기심을 자극하는 세시풍속 행사를 개관 2년차인 올해부터 매월 지속적으로 진행해하기 시작했다. ‘북새통’이라는 행사명은 ‘수원화성 북문에서 새롭게 펼쳐지는 전통문화체험’의 약자이다. 매월 세시풍속에 맞는 주제로 인문학 강의를 비롯하여 전통문화와 전통놀이 체험, 세시음식과 차 등을 직접 만들어보고 시식할 수 있는 행사가 준비되어 있다.
단오와 추석, 중양절 등 예로부터 큰 명절은 다채로운 공연과 시민참여 민속놀이 행사를 더하여 더욱 풍성하게 진행된다.
왼쪽부터 북새통 3 ‘나무 속대 만들기’ / 북새통 5 ‘만다라 그리기’ / 북새통 3 ‘전통차 시음’
Buksaetong: A Seasonal Custom Event of Suwon Traditional Culture Center
Written by : Choi In-ae(Traditional Culture Business Division)
왼쪽부터 Mandala drawing / Munbae(文俳) drawing / Humanities class
Two beautiful Hanok (traditional Korean houses), which were considered as more elegant looking than the Hwaseong Haenggung Fortress, were previously erectedinside Suwon Hwaseong Fortress near the Janganmun gate. The Hanok building, which even features an expansive front yard and a small-plot field, exudes a certain amount ofmysterious aura, thereby leaving the visitors hesitant in entering the place. However, the buildingis open to the public, and it houses the Suwon Traditional Culture Center (STCC), where traditional Korean culture education and experience programs are offered.
STCC has just turned one year since its opening on March 30, 2015. It accommodates the traditional lifestyle experience center, etiquette education center, and surrounding areas. STCC was originally intended for a traditional culture education facility, and it has attracted a steady number of visitors with its beautiful attractions. The Hanok Technology Exhibition Center is currently being built, and it is scheduled for completion within this year. These structures are continuously being built in the surrounding areas, and they are expected to become the new tourist hub within Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.
In line with such developmentthis year, STCC has decided to hold the seasonal custom event every month in order to promote the traditional Korean culture and to timulate thevisitors’ curiosity. The event known as “Buksaetong” (literally, “hustle and bustle”) comes from the acronym ofthe Korean expression ofa new traditional culturalexperience at the northern gate ofSuwon Hwaseong Fortress. Each month, STCC presents lectures on humanities that are suitable for the monthly seasonal customs, traditional culture, traditional game experience events, customary food, and the making and drinking oftea. Major traditional seasonal holidays,
including Dano, Chuseok, and Jungyangjeol, will feature brightly colored performing events and citizen participation in the folklore games.
Five Fun Activities in Five Months –Munbae and Ipchunbang (Spring Entry Message) from January to Buddha’s Birthday Holiday in May
Ipchun, the spring commencement date, is the first part of the 24 sub-seasons of the year in celebrating the new year and leaving behind the previousone. In January 29, we held the seasonal custom event of Buksaetong with the theme focusing on Munbae (originally known as the “royal paintings granted to the subjects”) and Ipchunbang (spring entry message). We invited the famous cartoonist Yu Yeong-suk to give lectures on Ipchun and Munbae. Together with the Intangible Heritage No. 38 course graduate, Kim Yeong-hun, we crafted Munbae and Ipchunbang to welcome the spring season and give our best wishes for the whole year. Our forefathers posted Munbae and Ipchunbang on the house walls andgates in order to expel the evil spirits and welcome a new year.
In February, we celebrated the Full Moon event, whereinthe temple food specialist Buddhist Priest Jigyeon delivered lectures on humanities, together with the making of Ogok-bap (five-grain rice). The five grains ofOgok-bap (glutinous rice, glutinous millet, red adzuki beans, glutinous sorghum, and black soybean) symbolize a prayer for an abundant harvest.
The visitors of STCC shared their own cooked Ogok-bap and paid their tribute toour forefathers’ harmonious spirits.
The March seasonal event theme ofFarm Servants’ Day featured the lectures by traditional food specialist Kim Suyeong, the aking ofMeoseom-tteok (rice cake ofservants), and the making ofwood poles with a bird atop it, which symbolizesthe act ofpraying for best wishes. On Servants’ Day, villagers hold a feast prior to a full-swing farming season in order to encourage the farm servants, as well as offer them plenty of food and liquor.
The April event featured Samjitnal Day, where in the swallows returned to the country after migrating to the warm southern region. During this time, when the trees sprouted new leaves and the flowers bloomed in the mountains and fields, the Korean forefathers joined the Hwajeon-nori game in groups.
Hwajeon is a rice pancake with flower patterns. The visitors of STCC tried to make Hwajeon outdoors.
On the first golden weekend holiday ofMay, along with a temporary holiday, an event was held to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday in the frontyard ofSTCC where in events, such as Mandara (Buddha) drawing, the making ofMinariganghoe (small rolls of boiled dropworts or scallions), and the tasting of lotus tea, appealed tomany citizens and tourists.
Seven Breathtaking Events in Seven Months – From Dano Holiday in June to Winter Solstice in December
Dano Holiday falls on May 5, according to the lunar calendar.
It is the day with the strongest Yang spirit, thereby making it one of Korea’s three major traditional holidays, together with the Lunar New Year Day and Chuseok holiday. Many events, such as washing the hair in aniris-soaked water, picking of mugwort and motherwort, swing riding, archery, and Ssireum (Korean wrestling), among other folklore games, have been executed on Dano Holiday. In addition, the king granted gifts, such as Jehotang (a tea tonic), Okchudan (an herbal medicine), Aeho (a tiger made of mugwort, bamboo, etc.), and Dano fans, to his subjects. For three days (June 3-5) on Dano Holiday, STCC will conduct a large-scale gala event by adding traditional cultural performing events to the seasonal customary event, Buksaetong.
The event will feature the making ofJehotang (a tea tonic), the making ofSurichi-tteok (rice cake with marsh plant and mugwort), and the tasting ofplum tea, as well as trying on Dano costumes and offering lectures on humanities. On June 4 and 5, STCC will hold Dano’s signature event, Ssireum (Korean wrestling) contests, on its front yard. Together with the exciting performance ofthe Pungmulgutpae Troupe, the performing contests will be held in the categories ofgeneral people,
children, women, male youth, and adults. The Ssireum Club ofKyonggi University, which is well known for its strongest Ssireum team, will demonstrate a Ssireum match, and the losers’ arm wrestling contest is also going to be held.
In the middle of summer, Yudu (July) and Chilseok (August) events will be held to allow the participants to taste heatlowering food and tea. During the Chuseok Holiday event in September, which is the month ofharvesting, STCC will present its wide array of unique food. We are going to conduct the representative Korean performing events and tug-of-war contests. In October, we are going to conduct the Jungyangjeol event, in association with the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Cultural Festival, which will feature diverse experience events and performing events. In addition, we are going to hold the Antaek ritual in November and the Winter Solstice event in December, thereby wrapping up all of the year’s events.
For the ancient Korean forefathers, who were engaged in farming, the seasonal change was important for them. The traditional seasonal customs, which were repeated annually,
were festivals to encourage cooperation and unity among the agricultural society. They re-invigorated their energy amidst their hard working attitude toward farming, while mingling with their neighbors and enjoying nature. As agriculture gave way to other industries, the seasonal customs are gradually fading, but we still have to live peacefully with our neighbors and with nature. Please visit and enjoy the various traditional events at STCC.