한국 祈晴祭 연구

Abstract

Gi-chung-je(祈晴祭, Ritual for Fine Weather) as well as Gi-u-je(祈雨祭, Ritual for Rain) was representative of Korean climatic rituals. This article aims to understand the history and characteristics of Korean ritual for fine weather. Korean people performed rituals for fine weather not only to escape from floods but also to ensure fine weather conditions in order to hold great religious events. This article tries to answer three questions. First, what is the origin and history of Korean ritual for fine weather? Silla's Sa-seong-mun-je(四城門祭, rituals held at the four gates of castle), recorded in History of Three Kingdoms(三國史記), can be considered as the origin of the ritual for the prevention of flood disasters. Second, to what kind of ritual form was paid attention by Korean people? In fact, many rituals for fine weather were held in many ritual places: the royal ancestral shrine, an altar for the gods of soil and grain, castle gates, Buddhist temples, Taoist religious offices, mountains, rivers, shrine of city god, etc. With further historical developments, especially Young-je(禜祭) which was performed at the four gates of a royal castle or at the gates of local castles was emphasized at official level. Finally, what or who was considered to be the master of stopping the rain? Since Sa-mun-young-je(四門禜祭) held at the four gates of royal castle became the central, official, and typical ritual for fine weather in the latter half of Chosun, Korean people looked upon mountain-river gods worshiped in Sa-mun-young-je as the power of restoring sunshine.