Delve into the fascinating history of Confucian rituals and Korean folk traditions at the Andong Folk Museum. Confucianism is a philosophy and way of life developed from the teachings of Confucius that has an emphasis on achieving harmony and balance. Find some 3,700 artifacts and model scenes at the Andong Folk Museum, which highlight Korean ceremonies such as coming-of-age and memorials.
The tour of the museum begins with a look into the prayers and events that lead up to the birth of a child. Learn about gija, the idea of married Korean women praying to rocks and trees and eating certain foods in order to help with conception. See the recreation of gwanrye, a coming-of-age ceremony that takes place between the ages of 15 to 20. At the event, the protagonist receives their ja (pen name).
Discover the six core procedures of a Korean wedding and the foods served by people that celebrate their 60th birthdays. Understand the elaborate rituals and strict rules of a funeral. Among them are the burial, memorial service and mourning period. Life continues to be remembered at the jerye ancestral worships, something still common in Andong today.
Other exhibits include examples of the clothing and footwear used by the varying Korean classes. Browse displays of kitchen utensils, such as rice cake pattern makers, and household furniture. Go outside and wander between a stone house, straw-roofed mud dwelling and watermill, all of which represent Andong lifestyles. Folkloric music and dance performances often take place in the outdoor exhibition area.
The museum is about a 20-minute drive from Andong’s city center. Get here by catching a public bus from Andong train station. Drivers can use the attraction’s on-site car park. Alternatively, walk from the city center and cross the river via the 1,270-feet (387-meter) long wooden footbridge called Woryeonggyo Bridge.
Andong Folk Museum is open daily and there’s an admission fee. Admission is free for children aged 6 or under and those aged 65 or over. Most of the exhibits have information signs in English.