Traditional values of CIS Koreans in rites of transition

This article is about sociocultural particularities of the Korean Diaspora of Russia andFormer Soviet Republics. It describes ceremonies associated with human life cycle. The purpose of the article is to show the waystraditional oriental values are expressed in these ceremonies. The Korean Diaspora in Russia is not only one of the largest Koreancommunities beyond the Korean Peninsula, but also one of the largest ethnic groups in the Russian Federation. The number of Koreansin Russia and Former Soviet Republics is about 500 thousand people. Culture and folkways of Russian Koreans have changed during theperiod of adaptation of Koreans to Russian life conditions. Some traditions were lost, while others transformed and adopted specificfeatures, influenced by the Soviet Regime and Russian culture. Koreans have many holidays, but Paek-il - 100 days from child's birth,Tol - child's First Birthday, and Hwegap - 60th Birthday Anniversary are the basic human life cycle ceremonial rites. In Korea, on the100th day after a child is born, Paek-il, a small feast is prepared to celebrate the child's survival during this difficult period. Family,relatives and friends celebrate it with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies, such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with sugar orhoney. Russian Koreans during the Soviet period did not celebrate this feast, but nowadays ethnic Koreans celebrate Paek-il with familyand friends and cook special Korean food, which is not the same but similar to one in Korea. Tol is a celebration of the first birthday ofa child. The first part of Tol Koreans would pray to Korean gods. Before the main part of the celebration, a baby is being dressed in verycolorful ornate clothing called han-bok. A large table is prepared with over a dozen different types of rice cakes, fruits, other variousfoods and a bowl of rice. The baby picks up items from the table that attract him or her. The items that were picked up are said to predictthe child's future. Today more and more ethnic Koreans in Russia and Former Soviet countries restore the tradition of Tol celebration.When a person turns 60, there is a celebration known as Hwegap. The age of 60 is considered to be an auspicious year, because at thisage the sexagenary cycle of the Chinese zodiac is completed. A celebration is held when children honour their parents with a feast andmerrymaking. After children give their respects to their parents, grandchildren show their respect in the same way starting with theeldest. There are many traditional Korean dishes on the feast table. Koreans in Russia often celebrate Hwegap in restaurants and cafes.All these ceremonies have common features, which are connected with Korean culture and history. Traditional oriental values such aspiety, allegiance, devotion to family and cult of ancestors, fidelity to mate and friends are exerted during feasts, therefore they are veryimportant for ethnic Koreans. At present Russian Koreans try to follow Korean traditions, to maintain relations with relatives in SouthKorea and learn Korean culture and language. Although Russian Koreans' ceremonies differ from those on Korean Peninsula, they helpRussian Koreans to identify themselves as ethnic Koreans.

Keywords

Authors

References