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9월, 2025의 게시물 표시

Why Seoul Fills with Lanterns Every Spring – Buddha’s Birthday in Korea

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If you visit Seoul in spring, you may suddenly notice thousands of colorful lanterns hanging above the streets. This is part of Buddha’s Birthday in Korea , one of the most beautiful spring traditions in the country. In this post, I want to gently introduce the atmosphere of Korea’s Yeondeunghoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) , the meaning behind the lanterns, and why this season feels special to many Koreans. If you visit Seoul in May, you may wonder why colorful lanterns suddenly appear across the city. These lanterns are part of Buddha’s Birthday , celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month in Korea. During this season, temples fill with lanterns, and Seoul hosts the famous Yeondeunghoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) , a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event. 1. Lanterns That Change the Mood of Seoul As Buddha’s Birthday approaches, colorful lanterns begin appearing all across Korea. Around Jongno, Jogyesa Temple, and Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul, t...
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Why Tigers Are So Important in Korean Culture – From Myth to Modern Symbol

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⚡ Here’s the Idea In Korean culture, the tiger has long carried two different feelings at once: fear and familiarity. It appears as a powerful mountain animal, a humorous character in folktales, a symbol of national identity, and a friendly figure in modern Korean culture. From a Mythic Tiger to a Modern Symbol For a long time, the tiger has appeared in Korean culture as both a powerful guardian and a surprisingly humorous figure in old stories. It has also remained one of the most familiar symbols of Korea in art, folklore, and modern culture. Perhaps that is why the tiger in Korea often feels both frightening and strangely close at the same time. One of the first stories many people think of is the myth of Dangun . In that story, the tiger takes a test together with the bear because both wish to become human. But unlike the bear, the tiger does not endure the test and eventually returns to the mountains. When we think of a tiger, we usually imagine a...
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