Sungkyunkwan, which advocated 'confucianism suitable for the times', guided the correct customs of customs ahead of the Lunar New Year's Day and recommended that people keep their rites simple.
It was explained that it is proper etiquette to bow after taking a 'karate' posture, which is similar to putting your hands together when performing a 'belly bow'.
He also suggested that since there is no set type of fruit to serve on the ancestral table, you can choose comfortably and do not have to work hard to fry the pancakes.
The Sungkyunkwan Ceremony Establishment Committee (hereafter referred to as Sungkyunkwan), the headquarters of the Sungkyunkwan Judo Association, and the Korea Confucian Cultural Promotion Agency held a press conference today (16th) at the Korea Press Center to introduce the holiday greetings and order plans.
The bow to be performed on three occasions is 'jeonbae', which is done by bending down and bowing after taking a karate stance.
Karate means putting your hands together at the level of your belly button with a distance of about a fist from your abdomen.
Men's left hand on top, women's right hand on top.
It is similar to the preparation posture used when teaching children belly bows in kindergartens.
In the state of karate, bend your body, put your hands on the floor, touch the floor in the order of the left knee and then the right knee, and then lower your head as if touching the back of your hand.
It is also possible to lower your stance so that your knees touch the floor first and then place your hands on the floor as you bow.
The woman bows without touching her hands to the floor.
When both men and women are present, the man stands on the left and the woman stands on the right when viewed by the superior.
When standing up, lift her right knee off the floor first, place both hands on her right knee, and then stand up by extending her left leg.
After standing up, do 'eup' in which you lightly lower your head in an airlifted state.
Sungkyunkwan explained that it is proper etiquette for a superior to say a good word to a subordinate first, and then the inferior to make a remark in return to wish for the superior's health.
Sungkyunkwan added that the order is for the couple to bow to their parents first and then let her children bow to her grandparents.
Karate is also used in 'Ibbae', which is an ordinary standing greeting.
You can do this by bending at the waist towards the opponent while in airborne state.
A bend of about 30 to 45 degrees is sufficient, and there is no need to bend too much.
Sungkyunkwan officials evaluated that there are cases in which a person bows while standing at attention or bows with his hands on his lap, which imitates the foreigner greeting method or is a method of unknown nationality.
Regarding ancestral rites, which were cited as one of the causes of holiday stress, the principle of 'simplification' was emphasized again.
Sungkyunkwan presented an ancestor table with 9 kinds of food, including rice cake soup, namul, grilled meat, kimchi, alcohol (glass), and 4 kinds of fruits.
Tteokguk is prepared instead of songpyeon, which is different from the Chuseok rite table.
Sungkyunkwan re-emphasized the principle proposed ahead of last year's Chuseok, saying, "You don't have to put food that is fried or fried in oil on the ancestral table.
There is no fixed type of fruit to put on the table, so he explained, "You can put 4 to 6 kinds comfortably."
'Hongdongbaekseo (place red fruit in the east and white fruit in the west)' or 'Joyul-isi (jujube, chestnut, pear, persimmon)' are expressions that are not found in literature dealing with etiquette.
Last year, when we proposed simplification, there were chestnuts, apples, pears, and persimmons on the table, but a representative from Sungkyunkwan emphasized that this is just an example and does not mean that specific fruits should be prepared.
Choi Yeong-gap, chairman of the Sungkyunkwan Ceremony Establishment Committee and chairman of the Sungkyunkwan Judo Association Headquarters, said, “Can I put this or that on the ancestral table?” We can do anything. Our goal is to eliminate family conflict.”
Sungkyunkwan added that instead of writing the name of the deceased and the relationship of the person performing the ancestral rite on a piece of paper, the ancestral rites can be placed on a photo.
The proposal this time is about the ancestral rite, an abbreviated ancestral rite for the holiday, and how the official rite will be performed will be announced at a later date.
(Photo = Yonhap News)