Guri-si Holds Dangsanje Ceremony to Pray for the Designation of the 1,200-Year-Old Uminae Ginkgo Tree as a Natural Monument

Praying for Prosperity and Peace at the Village Guardian Tree, Dangsan Namu
7 Years of Efforts to Designate as a Natural Monument
Visible Progress Including On-Site Investigation by the National Heritage Agency

The city of Guri, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun) announced on the 13th that on the 12th, the 'Citizens' Promotion Committee for Designating the 1,200-Year-Old Ginkgo Tree in Acheon-dong, Guri City as a Natural Monument (Co-Chairpersons Heo Deuk-cheon and Park Hong-gi, hereafter the Promotion Committee)' hosted a Dangsanje ritual praying for the designation of the ginkgo tree estimated to be 1,200 years old, located in Umine Village, Acheon-dong, with the event organized by the Acheon-dong Umine Senior Citizens' Center (Chairman Kim Yong-hyun).

On the 12th, the 'Guri-si Acheon-dong 1200-Year-Old Ginkgo Tree Natural Monument Designation Citizens' Promotion Committee' hosted and Acheon-dong Uminae Senior Center organized a Dangsan Festival praying for the designation as a natural monument at the 1200-year-old ginkgo tree located in Acheon-dong Uminae Village. Photo by Guri-si

About 100 people, including residents of Acheon-dong and Gyomun-dong and members of the Promotion Committee, gathered for the event, which was conducted in three parts under the moderation of Lee Ji-yeon, director of the Promotion Committee: Part 1 was the opening ceremony, Part 2 the Dangsanje ritual, and Part 3 a social gathering.

The Dangsanje ritual was officiated by traditional culture expert Yoo Ki-dong as the master of ceremonies; Heo Deuk-cheon served as the primary officiant (Chohyeongwan), Kim Yong-hyun, chairman of the Umine Senior Citizens' Center, as the secondary officiant (Ahyeongwan), and Lee Kang-hae, a village elder, as the tertiary officiant (Jonghyeongwan). Kim Young-soo, the neighborhood chief, and Dr. Lee Hu-hang acted as assistants, conducting the ritual in the order of Jinseol (ritual offerings), Gwanse (libation), Samsanghyang (three incense offerings), Sinjuheonjak (offering to the spirit tablet), Gukgungjaebae (bowing), Dokchuk (solo flute performance), Toesik (ritual dismissal), and Eumbok (sharing of ritual food and drink).

After the Dangsanje ritual, participants shared food and offerings prepared by the Umine Senior Citizens' Center at the village hall while engaging in friendly conversation.

Representative Heo Deuk-cheon said, “Recently, I obtained photos capturing a traditional wedding held under this tree, which felt like great fortune ahead of the natural monument designation. I am pleased that the efforts poured in over the past seven years are gradually materializing, as evidenced by the on-site investigation conducted by the National Heritage Agency last November.”

Mayor Baek Kyung-hyun of Guri City stated, “Today’s Dangsanje ritual holds significance in recalling the village rites that residents have conducted for hundreds of years. I hope the wish for natural monument designation echoes back as a positive outcome, and I ask for much encouragement and support for the Promotion Committee.”

Meanwhile, the Umine Ginkgo Tree, designated as a protected tree in 1982, underwent a visit and investigation by experts from the National Heritage Agency on November 14, followed by genetic testing to support its designation as a natural monument. The Promotion Committee continues to steadily uncover historical and folkloric materials that meet the conditions for natural monument designation.