Buddha's Birthday was celebrated on May 10th this year (2011). In Korea the birthday of Buddha is celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar so the date changes each year. This day is called
석가탄신일 (Seokga tansinil), meaning "the day of Buddha's birthday". Many temples are decorated with paper Lotus Lanterns for the entire month and some even provide free meals and tea to all visitors on the actual day.
This year in Seoul, in an area called Dongdaemun, there was a Lantern Parade which ran from about 7pm
through to after 9:30pm - though it wasn't scheduled to run that long! We went into Seoul a little early to run a few errands and have something to eat before the Lantern Parade started.
The parade itself was spectacular. It w
as as though a never ending stream of people were passing us in full costumes, either Hanbok's or otherwise, carrying the most amazing lanterns. The Lanterns were either hand-held, held on a stick that was raised in the air, or giant structures that were carried by a group of people. It was beautiful to watch!
Buddhism in Korea Facts:
Originally brought to Korea in about 372CE
Original religion (Korean Shamanism) and Buddhism blended together. In many Buddhist
Temples shrines are set aside for Sanshin (the Mountain Spirit), Toksong (the Recluse) and Chilsong (the Spirit of the Seven Stars, the Big Dipper) who were the three most important spirits in in Korean Shamanism.
Neo-Confucian overcame Buddhism during the Joseon Dynasty. Persecution of Buddhism stopped after some Buddhist monks helped to repel Japanese forces at the end of the 16th Century.
In 2005 46.5% of the population had "no religion", 22.8% were Buddhist, 18.3% were Protestant, 10.9% Catholic, and only 0.2% followed Confucianism.
Buddha's Birthday was celebrated on May 10th this year (2011). In Korea the birthday of Buddha is celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar so the date changes each year. This day is called 석가탄신일 (Seokga tansinil), meaning "the day of Buddha's birthday". Many temples are decorated with paper Lotus Lanterns for the entire month and some even provide free meals and tea to all visitors on the actual day.
This year in Seoul, in an area called Dongdaemun, there was a Lantern Parade which ran from about 7pm 
through to after 9:30pm - though it wasn't scheduled to run that long! We went into Seoul a little early to run a few errands and have something to eat before the Lantern Parade started.
The parade itself was spectacular. It w
as as though a never ending stream of people were passing us in full costumes, either Hanbok's or otherwise, carrying the most amazing lanterns. The Lanterns were either hand-held, held on a stick that was raised in the air, or giant structures that were carried by a group of people. It was beautiful to watch!
Buddhism in Korea Facts:
Originally brought to Korea in about 372CE
Original religion (Korean Shamanism) and Buddhism blended together. In many Buddhist
Temples shrines are set aside for Sanshin (the Mountain Spirit), Toksong (the Recluse) and Chilsong (the Spirit of the Seven Stars, the Big Dipper) who were the three most important spirits in in Korean Shamanism.
Neo-Confucian overcame Buddhism during the Joseon Dynasty. Persecution of Buddhism stopped after some Buddhist monks helped to repel Japanese forces at the end of the 16th Century.
In 2005 46.5% of the population had "no religion", 22.8% were Buddhist, 18.3% were Protestant, 10.9% Catholic, and only 0.2% followed Confucianism.
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