The Korean Cultural Center New York will stage the Korean Buddhist ritual "Kyungtz'e Eosan Sooryukje" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at the center's theater in Manhattan. Ven. Dongju Wonmyeong, holder of Seoul Intangible Heritage No. 43 (Gyeongje Eosan), and his disciples will perform beompae (Buddhist chant), percussion, the butterfly dance and the cymbal dance. Timed for Veterans Day week, the program will honor victims of the Korean War, the Sept. 11 attacks and others. Admission is free, but advance reservations are required.
During the week of Veterans Day (Nov. 11), the sounds of a Korean Buddhist ritual will resonate in the heart of Manhattan. The Korean Cultural Center New York (Director Lee Jeong-mi), together with the Gyeongje Eosan Preservation Association, will present "Kyungtz'e Eosan Sooryukje (京制魚山水陸齋)" at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, at the center's theater, it announced on the 27th.
Ven. Dongju Wonmyeong, holder of Seoul Intangible Heritage No. 43 (Gyeongje Eosan), and his disciples will take the stage. Beompae, the chanting of ritual texts, will be joined by percussion and ceremonial dances such as the butterfly dance and the cymbal dance, showcasing the artistry of Korean Buddhist culture in a single performance.
At a Glance
What Are Gyeongje Eosan and Sooryukje?
Gyeongje Eosan refers to the Buddhist ritual music handed down at temples in the Seoul and Gyeonggi region, namely beompae and chanted sutras. It is a tradition passed from master to disciple through voice and body rather than through musical scores. Sooryukje, regarded as the pinnacle of Buddhist ritual, is a ceremony that offers food and comfort to all beings, from the departed to wandering spirits with no one to remember them. It is grounded in the spirit of compassion, welcoming everyone without discrimination, regardless of circumstance or situation.
This performance condenses the flow of the sooryukje ritual into a stage production of beompae, ritual music, dance and offerings. To help audience members who are unfamiliar with the ritual follow along, program booklets will be provided in both Korean and English.
A Memorial Performance for Veterans Day Week
There is a reason the performance is scheduled for Veterans Day week. It is meant to honor the dedication of veterans and to jointly remember those lost to war, terrorism and disaster. The program will remember victims of the Korean War and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as well as people who died in wars, natural disasters, incidents and accidents around the world, and those who lost their lives protecting or helping others.
In the ritual's "chukwon" (prayer) segment, participants pray for the departed to be reborn in paradise and for the health and happiness of the living. Ven. Dongju Wonmyeong plans to console even lonely spirits with no one to remember them and to pray that everyone be safe from disasters and calamities.
Director Lee Jeong-mi said, "We want to introduce Korea's Buddhist cultural heritage and create an occasion for audiences from different cultural backgrounds to share the meaning of remembrance and compassion." She added, "I hope people will listen to the sounds and movements of the ritual, reflect on life and loss, and take a quiet moment to look into their own hearts."
Reserve Early
Admission is free, but entry requires an advance reservation, and reservations and seating are first come, first served. Reservations can be made on the center's website (koreanculture.org), and news about the performance is also available on its Instagram account (@kccny). The center's theater is on the same 32nd Street as Manhattan's Koreatown, between Park and Lexington avenues, about a 10-minute walk from Koreatown, making it convenient to have dinner there before the show.