Eunsan byeolsinje
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| Eunsan byeolsinje | |
 Eunsan byeolsinje (2002) | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 은산별신제 |
| Hanja | 恩山別神祭 |
| Revised Romanization | Eunsan byeolsinje |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ŭnsan pyŏlsinje |
Eunsan byeolsinje (Korean: 은산별신제) is Korea's traditional shamanism ceremony which is selected as the ninth Important Intangible Cultural Property of Korea in 1966[1] after Ganggang sullae. It is performed mainly in Eunsan-ri, Eunsan-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.
North of Eunsan-ri is a mountain called Dangsan (당산; 堂山), and a shrine was built on the southern slope, dedicated to the mountain god, the monk Dochim who led an army to revive Baekje, and Gwisil Boksin, a general who, together with his subordinates, participated in the uprising to revive Baekje. The general and his soldiers were killed and their bones were scattered around the area, thus becoming vengeful spirits that bought about calamities.[1][2]
According to a local legend, there was once a deadly plague in the area, which had the villagers worried. One spring day, an old man was napping when he dreamt of the general who, riding on a white horse, requested the bones of him and his soldiers to be recollected. The old man mobilized the villagers, and they fulfilled the general's request by collecting the bones before burying them. The plague ended, and peace was restored.[1][2]
Therefore, the villagers built a shrine, which is called Eunsan Byeolsindang (은산별신당; 恩山別神堂), and held a ritual ceremony for these spirits every three years on the first month, in hopes that the area will be free of calamities. The ceremony eventually evolved into today's Byeolsinje.[1][2]