On the 28th, Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced that the "2nd Oji-ne Festival" will be held at Naju Hyanggyo from the 5th to the 6th of next month.
Organized by the Naju Hyanggyo Curved Pine Tree School, this festival will feature various events encompassing the inheritance of traditional culture and the modern value of cultural assets, including creative outdoor plays, past civil service exams, and tea tasting, running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In particular, to foster Naju Hyanggyo as a representative local cultural and tourism brand, the Daeseongjeon, the space for ancestral rites (Seokjeon Daeje), will be opened during the festival period.
Seokjeon Daeje is a ritual honoring Confucius and other sages and virtuous predecessors, designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1986. During the festival, official robes, ritual vessels, and other items will be exhibited and explained.
On the first day of the festival (the 5th), various performances and experiential events aimed at children will be held, including the "Scholar Puppet Talk," the creative outdoor play "Kim Ae-nam Who Protected Naju Hyanggyo," the women's judo association's "Traditional Tea Tasting," and "Making Baegangjeong" (a traditional rice snack).
On the 6th, events such as the "Acrostic Poem Past Civil Service Exam" and the "Tightrope Walking Performance and Experience of Namchang-dong" are scheduled, allowing festival guests to participate directly.
Local affiliated organizations such as the Naju Senior Club will sell jang (fermented sauces), jocheong (grain syrup), and yeot (traditional taffy), while the Art Association's artist exhibition and carbon-neutral children's peddlers will add to the enjoyment.
Oh In-seon, the head of Naju Hyanggyo, said, "We hope that the Oji-ne Festival, held for the second time this year, will promote Naju Hyanggyo and establish itself as a representative scholar festival of Naju," adding, "It will be a great opportunity for citizens and tourists to become familiar with cultural assets."
Meanwhile, Naju Hyanggyo, Historic Site No. 483, is an exemplary case of Joseon Dynasty hyanggyo architecture, featuring the layout style of Jeonmyo Huhak (ancestral shrine and educational facilities).
In terms of size among educational facilities of the Joseon Dynasty, it is said to be second only to Sungkyunkwan. It retains its original educational and ritual functions to this day, holding significant historical value.
Marking its 10th year this year, the Naju Hyanggyo Curved Pine Tree School is hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration, Jeollanam-do, and Naju City, and is commissioned and operated by the Naju Hyanggyo Contents Project Group.
Details and schedules of the Oji-ne Festival can be found on the Naju Hyanggyo Curved Pine Tree School blog (Naver).
Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr
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