Donghwasa in Daegu Hosts Monks' Mountain Market "Seungsi"... Performances by Jung Soora and Newjin Sunim

Held from October 10 to 12
Featuring a Variety of Events Including Wrestling Exhibitions

The 15th Palgongsan Mountain Traditional Market Seungsi, sponsored by Daegu City and organized by Donghwasa Temple, the head temple of the 9th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, will be held for three days from October 10 to 12 at Donghwasa Temple in Dong-gu, Daegu.

Seungsi is a festival that originated from the monks' traditional mountain market culture, which continued from the Goryeo Dynasty through the Joseon Dynasty. The event modernizes the customs of bartering and sharing, and this year marks its 15th anniversary.

Monks' Mountain Market Seungsi Poster

This year's festival will feature a variety of programs where visitors can directly observe and experience Buddhist traditional culture, including a reenactment of monks' bartering, the Buddhist Drum Competition, the Seungsi Golden Bell and Sutra Copying Contest, a flower offering exhibition, and meditation (singing bowl) experiences.

In particular, this year, there will be hands-on experiences, exhibitions, and sales booths centered around temple cuisine, which has been designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, to widely promote the value of traditional foods.

On the opening day, October 10, a performance by the Donghwasa traditional percussion troupe will take place in the morning. In the afternoon, a parade featuring a military band will proceed from Donghwa Gate to the Unification Yaksa Great Buddha, followed by the opening Buddhist ceremony at 2 p.m. on the special stage at Unification Hall.

The opening celebration performance, starting at 5 p.m., will feature a variety of acts crossing generations and genres, including the winning team from the musical competition, Nam Kyungjoo, Jung Soora, Lee Heemoon, and Newjin Sunim.

On October 11, the "Seungsi Competition" will be held. Visitors can enjoy lively and passionate matches among monks in wrestling, foot volleyball, and table tennis tournaments, as well as the Buddhist Drum Competition. The day will also feature performances by Cheonsang Sori Troupe and the Korea National University of Arts vocal ensemble, offering a deeply moving experience.

On the final day, October 12, there will be a Taekwondo demonstration by Daekyung University, the Seungsi Golden Bell, the Sutra Copying Contest, and a special wrestling event with wrestler Lee Taehyun. The closing performance, themed "See You Again, Seungsi," will feature traditional musicians Lee Yoona, Kang Taegwan, and Park Seojin, known as the "God of Janggu," bringing the festival to a grand finale.

Throughout the festival, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, various ongoing programs will be offered, including the Seungsi Yard (Seungsi reenactment, local agricultural market, temple food sales), Experience Yard (temple sound experiences, traditional games, tea time with monks), and Exhibition Yard (the "Beopgye-do" with autumn chrysanthemums, grand lantern displays, and temple food exhibitions).

Meanwhile, to accommodate the expected increase in visitors following the holiday, Daegu City will add two more buses to the "Express No. 1" route operating between Dongdaegu Station and the festival venue on weekends, reducing the interval from 13 minutes to 11 minutes. During the festival, five shuttle buses will run between Cine80 and the festival entrance, and three electric vehicles will operate between Donghwasa Bonghwangmun and the Seonwon parking lot to ensure the safety and convenience of attendees.

Kim Jeonggi, Acting Mayor of Daegu, stated, "Following the abundance of the Chuseok holiday, I hope that 'Seungsi,' our region's precious cultural heritage, will be another gift for citizens to experience tradition and culture," and urged event organizers to do their utmost to ensure the safety of all visitors.