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[57] Jangseung and Sotdae

Jangseung, traditionally regarded as village guardians, served as boundary markers between regions or temple grounds. Sotdae, on the other hand, functioned as spiritual totems that connected the human world with the divine, symbolizing wishes for abundance, prosperity, and the fulfillment of personal desires.

The stone Jangseung and Sotdae displayed here are reconstructions of traditional styles from Korea’s southwestern regions dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. In this Jangseung and Sotdae area, a traditional communal ritual called Daedongje was held annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month and the first day of the tenth lunar month. Village-appointed ritual leaders and local residents, accompanied by a pungmul (folk music) troupe, gathered to pray for a bountiful harvest and communal well-being. After the ceremony, participants shared food and drinks, and enjoyed singing and dancing together.