‘Sejong Bulgyo Nakhwabeop’ Designated as Sejong City Intangible Cultural Heritage

Temple Flower Offering Ceremony is Only Held in Sejong
Buddhist Flower Offering Preservation Society Recognizes the Value of 'Sejong Buddhist Flower Offering'

The ‘Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop’ has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage of Sejong City. Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop is a ritual in which nakwha (flower offerings) are burned according to temple ceremonies to pray for the elimination of disasters and blessings. The ritual proceeds in the order of preliminary rites, main rites, disaster elimination rites, prayers, and dedication rites.

The lighting ceremony of the Nakwhabong is underway. Provided by Sejong City

According to Sejong City on the 14th, Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop is a Buddhist ritual in which nakwha sticks are made at the temple and burned according to the ceremony to pray for the elimination of disasters and blessings, distinguished from general nakwha play of a festival nature.

In particular, as far as is currently known, the Nakwhabeop performed at temples is uniquely held in Sejong. Furthermore, it is significant that the procedure of Nakwhabeop is briefly recorded in manuscript form in the ‘Odae Jin-eonjip (held at Yeongpyeongsa Temple)’, rather than being passed down orally.

According to the procedure of Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop, paper, charcoal, salt, and incense are prepared, and after prayers and vows, nakwha sticks are made. Then, with the lighting of the nakwha, sutras such as Sugujigdeuk Dharani are chanted to pray for disaster prevention and to bless all participants, concluding the ritual.

The ‘Buddhist Nakwhabeop Preservation Society’, the holder group of the Buddhist Nakwhabeop, also recognized Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop. The Preservation Society highly evaluated that Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop has the ability to faithfully perform the traditional form, as well as outstanding willingness and skill in transmission.

Sejong City plans to use the designation as an intangible cultural heritage and recognition of the holder group as an opportunity to protect Sejong Buddhist Nakwhabeop as a distinctive local intangible cultural heritage, focusing on the continuous discovery and transmission of local heritage.

Meanwhile, the Buddhist Nakwhabeop Preservation Society plans to hold a commemorative event for the intangible cultural heritage designation along with the Jeongwol Daeboreum (Great Full Moon Festival) event at Yeongpyeongsa Temple on the 24th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.