Nongak Featuring the Ritual Procedures of Cheongsin, Oshin, and Songsin
Goheung County in South Jeolla Province (Governor Gong Youngmin) announced on April 29 that the "Jeomam Daechun Byeolsinje" in Goheung has been preliminarily designated as an Intangible Heritage of South Jeolla Province.
The "Jeomam Daechun Byeolsinje," which has been preliminarily designated as a provincial intangible heritage by South Jeolla Province, is a village ritual dedicated to a special deity, passed down mainly in Daechun Village, Daeryong-ri, Jeomam-myeon, Goheung County.
Opinions from various sectors will be collected until May 23, and after deliberation by the South Jeolla Provincial Heritage Committee, the ritual is expected to be officially designated as a provincial intangible heritage.
The Jeomam Daechun Byeolsinje is held on the first full moon of the lunar year. The ritual begins with the "Madangbalgi" (courtyard stepping) on the third day of the lunar month and culminates with the Byeolsinje on the fourteenth day. In 2007 and 2008, it was recognized for its artistic value at the Namdo Culture Festival, winning the top prize.
The lineage of Daechun Byeolsinje’s lead "Sangsoe" (chief performer) has continued through Park Seogil (born 1840), Shin Myeonghyu (born 1906), Lee Gwangyeol (born 1929), and Shin Kyungshik (born 1946).
In particular, Park Seogil, who was originally from the Dangol class, is known to have developed the Byeolsinje that originated in the village. He is said to have cultivated the fields of Daechun Village and served as the village’s "warehouse keeper."
Park Seogil passed down his artistic skills to Shin Myeonghyu, and currently, Shin Kyungshik continues the tradition as the chief performer. Park Seogil is also said to have moved to Sadong Village in Jeomam-myeon, where he passed on his skills to Choi Dongshin and others.
The Daechun Byeolsinje is characterized by its clearly defined ritual procedures for welcoming and sending off the deity. Unlike typical village rituals where the deity resides in the village, in this ritual, the deity is invited and enshrined during the Byeolsinje, and after the ceremony, the deity is sent off again. The sequence is clear: Cheongsin (welcoming the spirit), Oshin (serving the spirit), and Songsin (sending off the spirit).
In addition, all procedures, including the ritual itself, are accompanied by Nongak (traditional farmers’ music), with both the procedures and musical patterns systematically organized.
A county official stated, "This year, we are conducting a comprehensive survey of all non-designated intangible heritage," adding, "Through this investigation, we hope to discover previously unknown intangible heritage and have their value recognized."
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