Hi Seoul Festival 2007 3-3

Hi Seoul Festival 2007 - The Significance of the Enthronement Ceremony of King Sejong 3

The Enthronement Ceremony of King Sejong

This event is a reenactment of the enthronement ceremony of King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450), the fourth monarch of the Yi Dynasty of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). He succeeded his father, King Taejong (r. 1400-1418). The ceremony is based on "The Book of Five Natinal Ceremonies" in the Sejong sillok (Annals of King Sejong). Among the enthronement procedures for the ceremony, the Passing On of the Royal Seal and the Official Announcement of the King's Abdication are reenacted according to the Taejong sillok (Annals of King Sejong), while the Celebratory Ceremony for the New King and the Official Announcement of the King's Enthronement is reenacted according to the relevant chapters of the Annals of King Sejong. Originally, the Celebratory Ceremony for the New King and the Official Announcement of the King's Abdication was held over two days, but the reenacted ceremony is reduced to one day.

The Significance of the Enthronement Ceremony

of King Sejong

King Sejong, the greatest king in Korea history, sought to establish an ideal welfare state. He is fourth monarch of the Yi Dynasty of the Joseon Kingdom. His many accomplishments include a revision of the tax system, expansion of natoins territory and achievement of an independent national defense by conquering Daemado Island. King Sejong invented Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, which greatly contributed to Korean culture. He strengthened the nation in terms of the economy, ssociety and cultureby ordering various books to be written and sponsoring developments in the fields of agriculture, science, music and the legislative system. In viewing the reenactment of King Sejong's enthronement, it is important to focus on the spirit of the ceremony. The ceremony's procedures, costumes, and music represent the ideas of King Sejong, who tried to establish an ideal Confucian society. The rich cultural ceremony follows Confucian precepts, an ideology of harmony between individuals and harmony between humanity and nature. Confucian philosophy can serve as the foundation for establishing a state guaranteeing public welfare and for achieving the unification of the two Koreas.