This festival began in 1994 as a representative festival of Jeollanamdo to promote food culture of Namdo and demonstrate its excellence.
It is held in Nakan Eupsung Folk Village. Soonchon, Jeollanamdo hosted by 22 cities, counties and districts and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Public Health and Welfare, and the Korea Tourism Corporation.
Food of Jeollanmdo has been recognized as the best 'art of taste' and as good music is derived from good food, Namdo food is believed to be an energy to create Pansori culture. This festival was designed to inherit the vein of such delicious food,
This festival displays traditional food every city and county of Namdo is proud of and about 500 dishes of newly-developed food and holds diverse cultural events in abundance.
This food festival is believed to be a summation of Korean tastes.
Celadon was produced in the 5th and 6th century in China and Korea began to produce it from the 8th and 9th century. It was first produced in Yongwon-ri, Daaegu-myeon, Gangjin-gun. Its production was influenced by trade activities of Jangbogo who was engaged in trade with China at Chunghaejin 20km away from Gangjin and until the 14th century, it was produced at Jungsoosa and Misan for 500 years of Goryeo period.
80% of the celadon as one of the Korean national treasures were produced in Gangjin and most of the celadon which are being preserved at several international museums are products from Gangjin. Of 400 old kiln sites that were excavated in our country, 188 were located in Gangjin. Why Gangjin became a center of celadon culture is that it had more developed marine transportation system and was more appropriate for celadon production in soil, fuel, water quality and weather.
Background of the Festival and Results : Gangjin is domestically and internationally well-known for Celadon production for 500 years. From its birth to decline. So, Gangjin decided to invite tourists to the 1st Celadon Festival on September 15. 1996 to prepare the foundation for activation of regional economy and development.
Gangjin Celadon Festival has been designated as the nationally designated festival for subsequent five years from 1997 to 2001. It was highly evaluated in that it showed possibility of globalism through distinctive and incorporated programs in respect to outstanding and creative Goryeo celadon. It was also designated as the most outstanding culture and tourism festival for subsequent four years from 2002.
History : Since the early Goryoe dynasty, the people of Damyang designated April 13th every year as the Jukchiil ot Juksoolil and planted bamboo trees on hills. After plantation, they hold Hwajeonnori and drank Jukyeopjoo (a liquor made from bamboo) to promote solidarity and friendship between the village people. However, it stopped in the early 1920. Various events held in the country (such as Gunmin's Day and Farm Festival) were incorporated since 1999 into Jukhyang Festival which used bamboo trees and virtues of gentlemen as themes to achieve solidarity and conciliation before and after Gunmin's Day (May 3). It was renamed 'Bamboo Festival' as it has been nationally well-known.
Achievements
The results of holding cultural and tourism festival based on specific and distinctive programs using bamboo trees as a material are presented as follows
First, a representative image of Damyang is recognized as bamboo
- Damyang people informs the images of their community using bamboo trees to the entire country. People come to recognize bamboo crafts as a symbol of Damyang - Industrialization of bamboo trees
Second, the festival makes a great contribution to participation of the people and their solidarity.
- Because bamboo is friendly and nationally recognized, the title and place of the festival were changed and developed through a public meeting
- Jukhyang Festival>Bamboo Festival, Bamboo Museum>Cultural Park and Korea Bamboo Museum
- Preparation of the foundation for the festival through reproduction of Juldarigi (a tug of war) and training of volunteers to explain bamboo .
Third, tourism infrastructures connected to festival were prepared and regional economy is activated
- New industry of bamboo was designated as an outstanding example of national development renovations and Damyang was designated as an excellent self-government (Green City) in respect to environment management.
Long-term Developmental Strategy
- Damyang has to develop distinctive programs connected to new bamboo industry and tourism products which can attract more people through the 5 Bamboo Project, world bamboo concert, exhibitions and seminars.
Baekryunji which is located in Bokyong-ri, Ilo-eup, Muan-eup is a water reservoir built by our ancestors under the Japanese imperialism.
The area is about 100,000 pyeong and two reservoirs were combined to provide water for farming, but it lost its function of water supply after the construction of the Youngsan River Bank.
6 families lived in Dukae village next to the reservoir at that time. The people in this village planted 12 white lotuses at the edge of the reservoir and in night of the day, someone dreamed that 12 cranes arrived at the reservoir which looked like blooming lotus flowers. After that, the people protected the lotus and surrounding natural environment.
Thanks to such sincerity, lotuses grow big and the area becomes the largest white lotus habitat in Asia.
The name of this village is Hoisan, which means that the energy of the world is collected here. It shows high appreciative eyes and wisdom. Lotus flowers blooms in muddy water.
Although the roots are in muddy water, they are not affected at all and the flowers bloom beautifully. So, as it equals the basic principle of Buddhism, the lotus flower symbolizes Buddhism. When Judone, a Confucian scholar of Song Dynasty, admired the lotus flower as follows: I love lotus. Although lotus flowers bloom in muddy water, but they are not affected at all and they are not sensual though they are washed by water. The inside is hollow and the outside is upright. No vine and no branch. As people go farther, they smell fresher. Their straight appearance should be looked from the distance to enjoy their true beauty. So, the lotus is a man of honor.
As lotus flowers have many seeds in seed bags, they symbolize abundance and fecundity and they are engraved on paintings,buildings, clothing and embroidery. The lotus flowers which are from India and Egypt come and go between July and September.
The kinds of flowers are diverse, but red lotus is common. White lotus is very rare and flowers bloom shy between leaves. Hoisan is the largest white lotus habitat. Recently, euryale ferox which is known to be extinct below the Chungnam was found here, which attracted much attention from the academic circle.
Bosung holds Dahyangje every year for development of tea industry and tea culture as the largest producer of tea in our country.
Dahyangje which is a beautiful festival harmonized with tea, music and royal azaleas, prepares diverse programs such as Gunmin Hanmaeum Event (harmony of the community people), tea cultural event, royal azalea event, exhibitions, experiences and appendant events.
In particular, the tea cultural event provided for tourists through diverse experiences will present true taste of Bosung green tea to you.
Please visit here with your families, sweethearts, and friends to join the sweet mood of green tea while enjoying its aroma.
Dahyangje is provided together with warm-heart of Namdo people.
Every May, you are invited to Bosung which is a beautiful tea hometown.
Once upon a time, a person named Son Dong-ji drifted about the sea in front of Hodong ( Hoidong at present) due to wind and waves while he was sent to the place of exile. He settled himself at this village, but because of frequent attack of tigers, he moved to Modo opposite to the village, leaving an old women called Mrs. Pong.
Mrs. Pong prayed to the king of dragon as she missed her family. In the early March by the lunar calendar, the dragon king appeared in her dream, and told to her "I will provide rainbow on the sea for you to cross the sea.". She prayed at the sea near the Modo and then a sea road like a rainbow appeared between Pulchis of Hoidong and Modo.
The sea road opened and the village people from the Modo arraived at Hoidong, playing gongs to find Mr. Pong. However, she passed away, leaving a will that the sea road opened thanks to my prayer and I met you. So I have no grudge at all.
The village people renamed Hodong as Hoidong meaning that Mrs/ Pong's prayer opened the sea road and they could return to find her. Since then, they have Youngdeungje (sacrificial service to the god) to pray for wishes and catch clams and common octopuses on the sea road.
The reason why the mysterious sea road is internationally known:
Due to extreme difference in tidal waves on the early March or the full moon's day by the lunar calendar, 2.8km-long sea exposes its sand dune to make a sea road. This time is called as " Youngdeungsal ". In 1975, a French embassy named " Pierre Rande " saw the sea road of Jindo admired it " Korean Moses' miracle " and introduced it to the French newspaper.
In 1996, a song titled 'Jindo's Story' sung by a Japanese popular singer using the sea road as a theme won popularity and he sang it in Japanese language in summer festival in 1997. Then it was widely known.
This festival uses butterflies as a theme of this festival on the background of rape flowers and astragalus sinicus. Many domestic tourists visited Hampyeong to enjoy this festival and it was evaluated as a very successful festival by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The Butterfly Festival is a festival of new concept using butterflies, flowers, and insects as a theme and distinct themes and programs are provided.
Hampyeong Butterfly Festival through which we can experience, learn and enjoy environmentally-friendly ecology and to which amenity of pleasant rural areas is added! Children can have opportunities to learn and adult people can have memories and enjoy the world of child innocence.
This festival consists of various 30 main events such as are Nabi Ecology Center, Butterfly . Insect Sample Exhibition, Water Plant School, Mudfish Catching, Barely and Bean Roasting, Natural Dyeing. Based on the experiences so far, Hampyong is preparing for 2008 Hampyeong World Butterfly and Insect Exposition.
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Jeolanamdo Food Culture Festival
