Tomorrow is Explanations Day, but are you still struggling with how to set up an ancestral rite? We’ll break it down for you to remember easily. Let’s start with how to set up the sacrificial table.
what is turn? In the past, tea was served, but over time, it has changed to a custom of serving alcohol or sungnyung. It is said that the turn to put on New Year’s Day is the New Year’s turn. It refers to the ritual of offering food for the first time on the first day of the new year.
Therefore, unlike ancestral rites, the four ancestors are often served on New Year’s Day and Chuseok.
Basically, it is a general way to set up a ancestral table by placing fruits in the front row, followed by Po, Jeok, Jeon, Kimchi Tteokguk (only for New Year’s Day), and alcohol. At the very back, prepare a seam allowance containing spoons and chopsticks.
Please refer to the image below for a general ancestral table setting.
There are various rules (?) in how to set up a ancestral rite that has been passed down from ancient times called Jinseol. It can be said that the four most famous ways to prepare basic ancestral rites.
●Eodongyukseo: Fish and soup are placed on the right, east side, and meat soup is placed on the left, west side.
In the center, put Sotang, which is boiled with vegetables, and use odd-numbered bowls for the soup. The head of the fish faces east and the tail faces west, which is also called Dudongmiseo.
● Jwapowoohye: Place po (octopus, pollock, squid) on the left side of the table, chimchae (kimchi dongchimi) and sukchae (steamed vegetables) on the right side, and put soy sauce in the middle. Let go.
● Jojulsiyi: From the top left, place jujube (mushrooms), chestnuts (yul), dried persimmons (si), and pears (i) in that order. Other foods are placed next to it, and sweets such as snacks, sanja, and medicine are placed last.
● Hongdongbaekseo: Place red fruits on the right side in the east and white fruits on the west side.
There are so many different ways. As a reference, when you put the table in front of you, the front is north, the back is south, and the right and left sides are east and west.
The basic thing to be careful about when setting up the ancestral table is not to use foods that end in ‘chi’, such as hairtail or saury. Red pepper powder and garlic seasoning are not used in the table setting for ancestral rites because they are spices that ward off evil spirits. In addition, red bean paste is not used and white rice cake is served.
Although ancestral rites and rites have become much simpler and looser in this day and age, I don’t think there is any reason to do taboo things. However, as long as the taboos are not violated, it is okay to place fruits or foods that are not mentioned in the ancestral table setting method.
It might be more appropriate to post the food that my grandfather liked when he was alive. My grandfather liked sweet things, so I’d like to take this opportunity to add Okchun (red candy served on a ritual table) or bananas.
Since the gathering of family and friends is more meaningful than holding an ancestral table, it is hoped that there will be no trouble for the family while discussing how to prepare the ancestral table due to the strict format.
As the teacher Yulgok Yi Yi said, “The main thing to hold ancestral rites is to love and respect them. If you are poor, you should do it according to your family’s circumstances. If you are sick, you should consider your physical condition and hold rites.” It seems that there is no problem with simple ancestral rites as long as there is a heart of remembrance.
Today, we learned about how to prepare a ancestral rite. I hope that all of your questions about how to prepare the ancestral rites have been answered. This Lunar New Year holiday, I think it will be a more enjoyable New Year’s Day if we prepare food together with men and women of all ages.