Namhaean Byeolsingut (Village Ritual of the South Coast)

Namhaean Byeolsingut is a communal ritual held in fishing villages around Tongyeong, centred on Geojedo Island in South Gyeongsang Province, including Hansando Island, Saryangdo Island, Yokjido Island, Galdo Island and Jukdo Island. It is characterised by the shaman's outstanding singing and by the addition of a drum to the accompanying instruments. Unlike the Donghaean Byeolsingut, on the East Coast, this ritual rarely features the comic exchanges (jaedam) that shamans elsewhere trade with the musicians, and it has almost no spoken narrative, remaining solemn and earnest throughout. In the middle of the ritual, the drummer and the villagers watching him sometimes come together to form a playing ground of their own. The ritual proceeds through Teulmaji, Dangsan-gut, Irwolmaji-gut, Yongwang-gut, Bujeong-gut, Gamang-gut, Jeseok-gut, Seonang-gut, Daet-gut, Son-gut, Yeombul-gut, Gunung-gut and Geori-gut. The dance is relatively simple and plain, consisting largely of solo pieces. At the start of the ritual a piece called Cheongsinak is played to invite the spirits, and at the end a piece called Songsinak sends them off; on this occasion only the daegeum flute is used. Held once every two years, it prays for the peace and long life of the village and for a large catch of fish for the fishermen. Though it contains little entertainment and few spoken passages, its long tradition gives it great scale, and it commands outstanding trust and faith among those who watch it.

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Where it is

Region

Tongyeong, Gyeongnam

Designation

National Intangible Heritage · 국가무형유산