S. Korea's Lotus Lantern festival listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage
Arirang News
2020-12-17
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The Lotus Lantern Festival, an annual event in Korea to celebrate the birth of Buddha, has been listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
Known in Korean as Yeondeunghoe, the festival in modern times is no longer a purely a religious event but a festival for everyone.
Our Kim Yeon-seung has more on what's become Korea's 21st to be recognized by UNESCO.
The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that... the country's annual Lotus Lantern Festival has been listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
With this addition to the list, South Korea now has 21 intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO.
Other intangible cultural heritages include Gimjang, the winter kimchi making festival, Haenyeo, the women divers of Jeju island, and Ssireum, a traditional form of wrestling.
"I will do my best to uphold and preserve the lantern event. I will make it into a dear cultural heritage that is loved by people all over the world regardless of their religions."
The Lotus Lantern Festival dates back to the 9th century.
Every April 8th on the lunar calendar, people in South Korea put on parades and decorate streets with brightly lit lanterns... to celebrate the birth of Buddha.
The lanterns themselves symbolize lighting up the world with wisdom.
UNESCO doesn't usually list exclusive religious events as an intangible heritage.
But despite being a Buddhist ceremony, the Lotus Lantern festival made the list... because the event transcends religion.
During the festival, it's customary to for everyone to look out for children and the disabled... and let them have front row seats at the parade so that they can enjoy the ceremony just as much as everyone else.
"The festival received high praise from the examination body in that the event is considerate of the weak and that it values restraint."
The festival is known for bringing people together.
When more than 300 people died in the Sewol Ferry tragedy in 2014... the festival transformed into a memorial service and grieved alongside the nation.
To celebrate the festival's recognition by UNESCO, the National Intangible Heritage Center and the Lotus Lantern festival preservation committee are hosting a special exhibition of this one-of-a-kind tradition... at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center in Jeollabuk-do Province from this Friday until February.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News
The Lotus Lantern Festival, an annual event in Korea to celebrate the birth of Buddha, has been listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
Known in Korean as Yeondeunghoe, the festival in modern times is no longer a purely a religious event but a festival for everyone.
Our Kim Yeon-seung has more on what's become Korea's 21st to be recognized by UNESCO.
The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that... the country's annual Lotus Lantern Festival has been listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
With this addition to the list, South Korea now has 21 intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO.
Other intangible cultural heritages include Gimjang, the winter kimchi making festival, Haenyeo, the women divers of Jeju island, and Ssireum, a traditional form of wrestling.
"I will do my best to uphold and preserve the lantern event. I will make it into a dear cultural heritage that is loved by people all over the world regardless of their religions."
The Lotus Lantern Festival dates back to the 9th century.
Every April 8th on the lunar calendar, people in South Korea put on parades and decorate streets with brightly lit lanterns... to celebrate the birth of Buddha.
The lanterns themselves symbolize lighting up the world with wisdom.
UNESCO doesn't usually list exclusive religious events as an intangible heritage.
But despite being a Buddhist ceremony, the Lotus Lantern festival made the list... because the event transcends religion.
During the festival, it's customary to for everyone to look out for children and the disabled... and let them have front row seats at the parade so that they can enjoy the ceremony just as much as everyone else.
"The festival received high praise from the examination body in that the event is considerate of the weak and that it values restraint."
The festival is known for bringing people together.
When more than 300 people died in the Sewol Ferry tragedy in 2014... the festival transformed into a memorial service and grieved alongside the nation.
To celebrate the festival's recognition by UNESCO, the National Intangible Heritage Center and the Lotus Lantern festival preservation committee are hosting a special exhibition of this one-of-a-kind tradition... at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center in Jeollabuk-do Province from this Friday until February.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News
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