Gangneung Danoje is a local festival in Korea

Korea

Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...

 which is selected as the 13th Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea next to Jinju geommu. It helds every May, the fifth day of the fifth month of the year according to the lunar calendar, in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Danoje referred to Suritnal which means the highest day and the God's day. Gangneung Danoje has the longest history among Korean local festivals and its main purpose is to worship the guardian spirit of a mountain which protects the town and pray for the peace of the town and all families and prosperity of farming.It is designated to a South Korea's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in November 25, 2005.

History

Its origin is not accurate but according to Nam-hyowon's record, sharman prayed for the God for 3 days every March, April and May. Also Heo-gyun wrote in his book that he saw the Gangneung Danoje in 1603. People in town believed there will be a disaster if they do not have worship to God. Gangneung Danoje started when people made fermented drinks for the God.

Procedures

During the Danoje, every people in town pray for the guardian spirit of a mountain in the morning and the night for 5 days. They also have a sharman ceremony for prosperity of the farming and peace for the town. In the mask playing, the characther of noble, young lady, Jangjamari, sisidakdak dance and sing. There are also small events and games includes swing, Korean wrestling, ssireum, the traditional instrument contest, shampooing in a special method, eating ddeok. In the next day of Dano, they burn the sacred wood and the festival ends.

Transmission

The transmission is divided into three way. One is the group for ceremony, one is for sharman ceremony and the other is for mask-playing. Currently Jo kyu-don was designated for the ceremony and the sharman ceremony is maintained by Bin sun-hae and the mask playing is Kim jong-gun.