> Korean Food Culture > 4 Ceremonial Occasions
and Food > Jerye
Introduction
of Jerye
Jerye is a formality to cherish memory of the deceased,
and show sincerity and appreciation to them. The reason
of performing Je-Rye is to continue filial piety towards
ancestors. The ceremony has been inherited from the
old days and is sure to be descended long to future generations.
History
of Jerye
The old Chinese book『Yeseo』writes that
‘King performs worship ritual to heaven, feudal
lords to nature and gentry to their ancestors.’
The ceremony of ancestor worship has been deemed basis
of filial piety and morality in Oriental society, which
was originated from the tradition of respecting ancestors
by all levels of people, ranging from king to ordinary
citizen.
History
of Jerye
Yeong-Sin (receiving ghost)
1) Open front gate
of house fully. 2) To the north of
a room shall be laid folding screen, ceremony table,
food and mat 3) Ancestral tablet
made of paper, candle, incense burner, incense jar,
highchair and bowl to collect sacrificial wine (emptied
from cup) shall be prepared.
Gyeong-Sin
1) Master of rite
is seated in front of ancestral tablet, and burns
incense.
Aid on the right side pours wine into
cup (not fully) picked from table. 2) Master of rite rotates
the cup over incense burner three times and pours
wine into bowl by 3 lots. The emptied cup is
then delivered to the aid who returns it to original
place. 3) The master makes
two bows.
Cham-Sin
1) Participants make
two bows. 2) Master lays meat
and soup while deputy lays rice and side dishes on
table.
Cho-Heun
1) Master of rite
burns incense and the aid pours wine into cup. 2) Master rotates the
cup with right hand over incense burner three times
and pours wine into bowl by 3 lots. 3) The aid lays the
bowl between rice bowl and soup bowl. 4) Chopsticks are laid
above dishes and the master makes two bows.
Written prayer is read
by the master or other attendant.
All participants prostrate themselves before altar,
except one who kneels down to read written prayer.
A-Heon
One participant will become A-Heon in the rite, who
implements the same procedure as Cho-Hon except pouring
of wine into bowl.
A-Heon shall make 4 bows.
Jong-Heon
Another close relative will become Jong-Heon.
Jong-Heon does same procedure as A-Heon except that
he pours wine seven times.
Chim-Jak
When Jong-Heon finishes his role, the master
pours wine into cup fully three times.
Sap-Si-Jeong-Jeo
1) When Chim-Jak is
finished, the deputy lays spoon at the center of rice
and lays chopsticks above fish or meat dish (this
activity is called Sap-Si-Jeong-Jeo). 2) After Sap-Si-Jeong-Jeo,
the master makes two bows and the deputy makes four
bows.
Hap-Mun
All participants retreat either to main
floored room or to garden for a while.
Gye-Mun
The aid clears his throat three times.
Heon-Da
Take down soup from table and bring up drinking water
on table. Scoop up tree spoons of rice and put
them into water.
Cheol-Si-Bok-Ban
Return spoons and chopsticks to their original place
and put on lids on bowls.
Sa-Sin
1) A participant makes
two bows and burns paper tablet and written prayer. 2) The aid brings ancestral
tablet back to its original place.
Cheol-Sang (Retreat
of dishes)
All foodstuffs displayed on table are withdrawn,
from back side first.
Eum-Bok (Tasting food
and wine offered to altar)
Participants eat food and liquor on the table a little,
regarding them blessed and left by ancestors.
The food is also dispensed to relatives and neighbors.