This study is aimed at making an opportunity of succeeding the traditional wedding culture by making a close inquiry of traditional wedding process.
Wedding ceremony is affected a lot by the social structure of contemporary society. In the ancient ...
This study is aimed at making an opportunity of succeeding the traditional wedding culture by making a close inquiry of traditional wedding process.
Wedding ceremony is affected a lot by the social structure of contemporary society. In the ancient times, wedding was considered as a method of possession and reproduction rather than forming of new family. The 'Yebuhon(預婦婚)', a purchasing marriage of Okjeo(沃沮), and 'early marriage' of late Goryeo Dynasty are ones of the examples that show relations between the social structure and the wedding culture.
During the Tree Kingdoms Period, it was common for a man of royal family to have plural wives. The wives received no discrimination between each other, and their children were treated equal. This polygamy was banned since the era of King Taejong of Joseon. As of the day banning decree was put into effect, a strict distinction between the sole legitimate wife and the concubines emerged in the order of families.
In spite of the introduction of Chinyeongrye(親迎禮) from China, Namgyibugahon(男歸婦家婚) hardly changed itself until the Mid-Joseon era. In the Mid-Joseon era, Seo Gyeong-deok attempted to find the possibility of compromising the difference between Korean tradition and Jujagarye(朱子家禮) of China. He eventually succeeded to make the compromise by introducing Banchinyeongrye(半親迎禮) for the first time. The traditional wedding process as we know today is a succeeded form of the Banchinyeongrye.
The Jujagarye, which was used as a primary family rite rules, mainly focused on reforming the ritual culture of Chinese Sung Dynasty, so it was natural to contain much of political perspectives. Since the Jujagarye was written and introduced by the Chinese, some of the contents were improper to apply directly in the Korean culture. However, Jujagarye was widely read throughout the whole Korean society, because it was found quite useful as a guidebook in reforming the existing culture. When the society of Joseon was about to see its settlement in 16th and 17th century, new rite rules such as Oseonsengyeseolbunryu(五先生禮說分類) and Garyejimram(家禮輯覽) were written to substitute or supplement the Jujagarye.
In the late Joseon era, family rite rules with much more practical aspects began to emerge. Saryepyeonram(四禮便覽) written by Yi Jae(李縡), was one of the most famous family rite rules that have showed the influence of new practical needs of the era. Saryepyeonram was reprinted with emendations and annotations in 1900 and 1924.
Jeong Yak-yong(丁若鏞), a famous pantologic scholar of late Joseon era, wrote Garyejakui(家禮酌儀) and introduced it to contemporary society. Garyejakui was a remarkable work in that it was up-to-date and easy to apply. Moreover, it shows us an emphasis on frugalness of rites. Such aspects of the literature well reflects utilitarian characteristics of the author.
Gwangryeram(廣禮覽) by Soosan(綏山) focused on ceremonial culture of the commoners, examining wedding process on the base of Banchinyeongrye. Unlike other family rite rules, it contains some interesting detailed scenes such as wedding ceremony using furnishings lent from regional government office.
Most of the family rite rules mainly emphasized filial piety and worshiping the ancestors, and they focused on sustaining the family line perpetually. The prospective husband and wife were desired to work together to build up a good family. As wedding in traditional times was considered as unity of two different families rather than coupling of two persons, it was conducted in somewhat prudent and discrete manner.
The wedding of today, however, has become a ceremony of empty formalities and vanity. To complement such problems, the Regulations of Family Rites was put into effect as of 1969. The regulation succeeded to cut out some of the empty formalities, but it eventually made a big side effect to ruin the traditional way of wedding at the same time. Although most of wedding process has been westernized, we still can see some of the aspects of tradition such as selling Haam(函). These traces of tradition are still carried out in the weddings of nowadays, but they have lost their spiritual background.
This study will hopefully provide a cornerstone to rebuild the traditional way of wedding. We all should do our best to let the future couples to foster proper perspectives about the wedding, and to support them to form good families.
Key words: Jujagarye(朱子家禮), Chinyeongrye(親迎禮), Banchinyeongrye(半親迎禮), Saryepyeonram(四禮便覽), Garyejakui(家禮酌儀), Gwangryeram(廣禮覽), Regulations of Family Rites