Stories
A Village United: The Heart and Heritage of Eunsan Byeolshinje
Experience the warmth of Eunsan Byeolshinje, a historic spring ritual in Buyeo honoring fallen Baekje soldiers and fostering community solidarity.
Category: Traditional Culture
Stories
The Rice and the Drumbeat: A Morning at the Nami General’s Shrine Festival
Join young Dori as he prepares for the vibrant geollip collection and community rites of the Nami General’s Shrine Festival in Yongmun-dong, Seoul.
Stories
Yeot-Takju: The Accidental Mountain Brew of Gangwon Province
Discover the accidental origins of yeot-takju, a sweet, high-proof traditional mountain liquor born from a hearth fire mishap along the Baekdudaegan range.
Stories
The Jeju Midwife: A Husband’s Accidental Delivery and Traditional Birthing Customs
Discover traditional Korean birthing customs in Jeju through a dramatic family story of an unexpected home birth, local village midwives, and the cultural rituals of welcoming a newborn.
Stories
Soji: The Traditional Korean Ritual of Burning Paper Prayers
Discover soji, the traditional Korean folk ritual of burning hanji paper to cleanse impurity and carry earnest wishes straight to the gods.
Stories
Jaesil: Preparing for Ancestral Rites at the Traditional Memorial Hall
Join Dojin and a mountain caretaker as they prepare for ancestral rites at a traditional Korean jaesil, balancing heavy duties with quiet twilight warmth.
Stories
Soepungjang: The Sacred Bronze Percussion of Southern Gyeonggi Rituals
Discover Soepungjang, the unique standing bronze-percussion ensemble style performed by sani musicians during hereditary shaman rituals in southern Gyeonggi Province.
Stories
The Apprentice, the Paper Bottle, and the Secrets of Korean Lacquerware
When an overeager apprentice mistakes a paper water bottle for wood and douses it in natural lacquer, a Joseon workshop learns how ancient materials transform into sturdy masterpieces.
Stories
Threads of Imperial Dignity: The Korean Empire’s Garment Reforms
Discover the intricate world of Korean Empire garment workshops, where artisans meticulously sewed rank-denoting ribs onto traditional official hats amidst sweeping imperial dress reforms.
Stories
The Blue Ox and the Mountain Shrine: The Legend of Taebaek Festival and Toe-u
Discover the roots of Gangwon Province’s Taebaek Festival, the ancient Silla-era Taebaeksan Cheonje ritual, and the traditional toe-u custom of leaving an ox at the mountain shrine.