Dano(단오) refers to Surinal meaning “high day” or “day of god” and falls on the fifth of May by the lunar calendar (all the dates hereunder are by the lunar calendar). Gangneung Danoje (강릉 단오제) is the festival inheriting the tradition of Surinal, the day with double “five”, the number of vigor. Originally, in the agricultural society, Dano was a festive day taking a rest after harvesting barley and planting rice, and Danoje was held to pray for a good harvest.
While Dano as a seasonal festive day originated from China and is shared by Northeast Asian countries during the middle ages, Gangneung Danoje has been developed into and inherited as a comprehensive festival unique to the Korean Peninsula. In other words, Gangneung Danoje is a regional festival cultivating the sense of community among the residents in the Yeongdong region, the east side of Daegwallyeong Ridge. During the festival, people pay homage to three tutelary deities: Shilla General Kim Yusin who contributed to the first unification of the peninsula; Holy Monk Beomil, a native of Gangneung and the spiritual leader of the founding fathers of the Goryeo Dynasty; and a lady representing the sufferings from natural disasters and hardships.
Gangneung Danoje is very similar to Owolje of Mahan (1 B.C.-3 A.D.), one of the ancient tribal states on the Korean Peninsula, especially in terms of the time of year and characteristics as festivities praying for a rich harvest. According to historical documents on Owolje, people practiced worship to spirits in May after planting rice-seeds, and gathered to sing, dance and drink together for days and nights. The dance consisted of tens of people forming a line, stomping their feet and repetitively raising and lowering their hands. The movements were the imitations of farm works praying for a good harvest, and bears resemblance to Nongak (farmers' music) played during Gangneung Danoje.
Gangneung Danoje, the largest traditional festival in Korea, takes place in the Yeongdong region centering on Gangneung City for almost a month from April to early May. It begins with the brewing of wine for the gods on April 5th. On April 15th, ceremonies are held to bring down the gods from Guksa Altar on the Daegwallyeong Ridge and enshrine them in Guksayeo Altar in the downtown Gangneung City. Then, the festival reaches its peak from May 3rd to 7th during which a lot of events are held in the areas along the Namdaecheon stream in the city. On the 7th, a ceremony is held to send back the gods to their original places.
Gangneung Danoje has a great value in that it has continued for approximately a thousand years and reflects the history and life of commoners. In particular, its spiritual background is the mixture of Korean traditional religion such as Confucianism, Shamanism, Buddhism and Taoism, and thus the festival offers the diversity of ceremonies and performances. The music, dance, literature, drama and handicraft are of high artistic value.
Moreover, Gangneung Danoje serves as an opportunity to inherit traditional culture. During the festival, people are brought into contact with various intangible cultural heritages including religious ceremonies, Dano Gut (sharman's rite), mask drama, Nongak and Nongyo (farmers' songs), all of which are of remarkable artistic value. Other inherited traditional customs include trapeze riding, washing one's hair with iris water, and eating Surichwi rice cakes.
Bearing the cultural prototype of Korean festivities, Gangneung Danoje serves not only as a channel to transmit traditional culture but also as a place of cultural education. It is also a democratic festival because a Residents' Committee for Gangneung Danoje is formed to reflect the residents' opinions on the planning, budgeting and execution of events. The 30-day-long festival draws more than one million visitors from home and abroad including 230,000 Gangneung citizens.
The cultural uniqueness and remarkable artistic qualities of Gangneung Danoje, Important Intangible Cultural Properties No. 13, were acknowledged by UNESCO and it was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 25th 2005. (2009.2)
