Dongji in Korea – A Detailed Look

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🇰🇷 Dongji in Korea – A Detailed Look

Dongji (동지, 冬至) is more than just one of the 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendar—it's a deeply rooted cultural event in Korean history that blends astronomical significance, seasonal changes, folk customs, and spiritual beliefs. Here's a comprehensive overview divided into sections for clarity.

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1. Definition and Astronomical Background

Dongji, or the Winter Solstice, typically falls between December 21st and 23rd in the Gregorian calendar. It marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

• Astronomically, this is when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky along the ecliptic.
• Because daylight starts to increase after Dongji, it was traditionally considered the “Little New Year” or “Ase (亞歲)”, meaning "sub-new year" in classical Chinese.

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2. Historical Background

In Korea, Dongji has been regarded as an important seasonal marker since before the Three Kingdoms Period. Its significance grew especially during the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties.

• During the Goryeo Dynasty, Dongji was marked by royal rituals and food offerings shared with the people.
• In the Joseon Dynasty, deeply influenced by Confucianism, Dongji included formal ancestral rites at Jongmyo Shrine, and astronomers would present the king with a seasonal calendar booklet known as the Dongji-cheop (冬至帖).
• Some even considered Dongji as the real beginning of the new year.

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3. Customs and Traditions

🔴 Making Red Bean Porridge (Patjuk)

• Patjuk, or red bean porridge, is the most iconic Dongji food.
• Red beans symbolize protection from evil spirits due to their red color.
• People would scatter patjuk around the house, on doors, and on walls to repel bad luck and welcome good fortune.
• In some traditions, small rice balls (saealsim) made of glutinous rice were added to the porridge, with the number matching each family member's age, symbolizing wishes for health and longevity.

🔮 Fortune-Telling

• The bubbles in the porridge, the number of rice balls, and other details were interpreted as omens for the upcoming year’s luck or harvest.

📜 Dongjiheoncheop (Winter Solstice Offering Scroll)

• In noble households during the Joseon Dynasty, people performed ancestral rites using ceremonial documents called "Dongjiheoncheop."

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4. Folk Beliefs

• Dongji was considered a mystical day, partly because of its long, dark night.
• It was believed that evil spirits were more active on this night, so people made efforts to ward them off using red bean foods.
• In some areas, people used red bean water or red bean cakes for the same protective purpose.

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5. Dongji in Modern Times

Even today, Koreans continue to honor the tradition of Dongji.

• Eating Patjuk: Many families still prepare or buy red bean porridge during Dongji.
• Cultural Events: Folk villages and cultural organizations host festivals or hands-on experiences to teach traditional customs.
• Health Awareness: With red beans known for their nutritional value, Patjuk is now appreciated as a healthy winter food too.

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📌 Fun Facts

• There's a Korean saying: "If it snows a lot on Dongji, the next year will bring a good harvest."
• In Jeju Island, instead of red bean porridge, people traditionally ate buckwheat porridge on Dongji.

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Summary Table

Category Description

Seasonal Meaning	Shortest day and longest night of the year
Traditional Food	Patjuk (red bean porridge), with rice balls (saealsim)
Folk Beliefs	Red beans chase away evil spirits
Ritual Culture	Ancestral rites using Dongjiheoncheop scrolls
Modern Meaning	A time to reconnect with tradition and enjoy healthy winter food

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