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Chinese Elements in Korean Chuseok Culture

Author(s)

Boyang Zhang

Affiliation(s)

Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Abstract

The evolution of human civilization is essentially a process of multicultural interaction and integration. Under the profound influence of Chinese civilization, countries within the Chinese-character cultural sphere share a number of traditional festivals with similar cultural connotations. Festivals serve as a concentrated embodiment of a nation's cultural identity. Among them, Chuseok-a major folk festival on the Korean Peninsula-was recognized as one of the "Nine Grand Folk Festivals" during the Goryeo dynasty, alongside the Dano and Winter Solstice festivals, and was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009. However, from its very name to its ritual system, Chuseok is deeply infused with Chinese cultural elements. Even its ancestral worship practices can be traced to records in ancient Chinese texts. As the importance of "cultural confidence" was repeatedly emphasized, this paper examines the Chinese elements embedded in the customs, rituals, and nomenclature of Korea's Chuseok festival. Through this analysis, it aims to illuminate the formative influence of Chinese civilization on Korean Chuseok culture, thereby revealing the extensive reach and enduring depth of Chinese traditional cultural influence.

Keywords

Chuseok; Korean Folk Culture; Chinese Civilization

References

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