Welcome to Jongno
Experiences
- Records say that Korea has a long history of lantern festival which was called Gandeung (“Lantern Watching”) in Silla, Yeondeunghoe (“Lotus Lantern Gathering”) in Goryeo and Chopail Gwandeungnori (“Lantern Play on the Eighth Day of the Fourth Month”) in Joseon. During the festivals, people hanged out lanterns in their doorway by the number of their children, and put up or carried lanterns in all colors and shapes on the streets. At night, the streets turned as bright as day with lanterns and were crowded with people engaging in merrymaking activities.
- The Lotus Lantern Festival is originated from a Buddhist tradition in which the lanterns are lighted as a symbolic action to get rid of the darkness in people’s mind and the world and build a society full of mercy and wisdom.
- Highlights of the festival include various events focused on Buddhist culture such as the performances of Yeongsanjae (“Ceremony of the Holy Peak Assembly”), the Seonmudo (“Seon Martial Art”), exhibitions and DIY programs of Buddhist paintings, finger paintings, rubbings, xylographic prints of Buddhist scriptures and woodblock engraving.
- All the festival programs are free, and reservations are essential for the participation in the lantern making and the lantern parade. The festival’s main event consists of a lantern parade, Buddhist Culture Festival, Eoullim Madang, Hwahap Hanmadang and Daedong Hanmadang. Other events including the Lotus Lantern Play held as a festival eve celebration and the Traditional Lantern Exhibition.
- Website: http://www.llf.or.kr/eng/
- Place: Jongno District
- Time: May
- Further Information: +82-2-2011-1744~7
- Organizer: Buddha’s Birthday Celebration Committee
- How to get there
map
- Exit No. 6 of Anguk Stn., Seoul Metro Line No. 3 (plus a 5-minute walk)
