Jingwansa holds suryukjae rite with call for world peace

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism's Jingwansa temple and the Jingwansa Suryukjae Preservation Society held the state-designated intangible heritage ritual known as the Jingwansa state suryukjae at the temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on Saturday and Sunday.

The suryukjae is a Buddhist ceremony with a 628-year history that comforts and guides the spirits of all beings who have died on land or water, extending compassion to both the living and the dead. It was designated a national intangible heritage in 2013. This year's observance began Sept. 6 and concluded with its seventh and final session over the weekend, completing a 49-day schedule.

This year's ceremony was held under the theme "The whole world is one family — harmony and world peace," carrying on tradition while serving as a space to pray for a world in which all living beings are respected and coexist peacefully, transcending differences of religion, ideology, ethnicity and national borders.

Jinwoo, head of the Jogye Order, said at the Saturday ceremony that "religion should not be a wall that divides people, but a bridge that connects them." He expressed hope that the gathering would become "a place of harmony where everyone, transcending the boundaries of religion and generation, prays for peace with one heart."

Beophe, the head monk of Jingwansa, said the event was organized so that participants could "respect each other's differences and together wish, with one heart, for the suffering caused by war, disaster and conflict to disappear and for all living beings to find peace."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Cultural Heritage Administration chief Heo Min, leaders of other religious communities and members of the public attended the ceremony.

Park In-jun, head of the Cheondogyo faith and representative chairman of the Korean Conference of Religions for Peace, read aloud a peace declaration joined by religious leaders, figures from various sectors of society, children, youth and international students. "We declare peace with one heart," he said, "for a world where religions join hands, people share their hearts, and all living beings coexist in peace."

On Sunday, participants performed the suryuk rites, the socheon invocation and the sisik offering before concluding the ceremony with the hoehyang closing ritual.

Jingwansa is pursuing UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity inscription for the suryukjae, citing the ceremony's historical significance and the value of its ritual transmission.