▲ This photo, shows the malbulimje. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, August 9 (Yonhap) -- During the rainy season, the mabulimje, a ritual to take out and dry the shrine along with the god’s clothes that have become damp due to mold, is held.

The Jeju Foundation for Arts and Culture announced on Tuesday that the Jeju traditional village ritual, Mabulimje, which was reduced or canceled due to COVID-19, will be held on August 10 at Songdang Bonhyangdang, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City.

Mabulimje, a ritual derived from the meaning of “blowing and drying the clothes of goddess Geumbaekjo (the God of Bonhyan) ” by cleaning the shrine where “Ma” (mold) bloomed after the rainy season on July 13 of the lunar calendar every year wishes prosperity in agriculture and livestock.

Along with that, it is also said that “ma” (rainy season) contains the meaning of wishing that the summer crops grow well without any water shortage with “mal” also standing for “increase.”

In addition to the reenactment event, there will be other events like a tour of Dang Oreum, a tasting event of Jeju food made by the villagers of Songdang-ri, and many more at the Mabulimje.

Songdang Bonhyangdang Shrine is a rare place among the many shrines in Jeju where all four major rites are held.

Songdang Bonhyangdang Shrine's four major party festivals start with “Shingwasaeje” on January 13 of the lunar calendar, “Yeongdeunggut” on February 13 of the lunar calendar, “Mabulrimje” on July 13 of the lunar calendar, and “Simangokdaeje” on October 13 of the lunar calendar, and has been designated as Jeju Island's Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 5.

The ceremonial reenactment of the Songdang-ri Village Festival for Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage is hosted by Jeju World Heritage Headquarters and supervised by the Jeju Foundation for Arts and Culture and Songdang-ri.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.) 

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