200602232
Mijin Yi
Introduction to Academic Writing
Wed. 15-17
Assignment #3(p.50-51)
One of Korean Traditions: ‘Beolcho’ (벌초)
What can you guess with the word, ‘Beolcho’(벌초), if you are a foreigner who knows just a little Korean? When I was little, and I heard the word for the first time from my father who was asking me to go out together to ‘Beolcho’, I thought that if would mean a place where bees or other kinds of insects live since ‘Beol’ means in Korean a bee and ‘cho’ plant. I was, however completely wrong. Said what I had guessed as its meaning, laughing out, he let me know what it meant. It was striking for me enough not to be able both to forget my learning the word on that day and to stand laughing out alone, by remembering again what I guessed.
‘Beolcho’ is a Korean traditional ritual which is usually held out 2 or 3 days, in my family 1 or 2 weeks before ‘Chucheok’(추석), Korean Harvest day or Thanksgiving day in terms of meaning. It is said that this tradition comes from buddhist theories; all people get to have a new life even after their death and to be reborn in human world in numerable years. To be dead, therefore, does not mean in Korea the complete end of life, but the continuity to a second life. That is why descendants still take care of their ancestors’ tombs even after their death. On that day, Korean male members of a family gather up in their family-owned mountain where tombs that they are going to work with.
‘Beolcho’ is done on several steps; First of all, we cut off plants around tombs with a cutting machine, and then tall-growing grass on them. This ritual seems to be done in similar ways to the ones in which hair cutting is at a hair salon. Furthermore, as more plants are cut off, more it smells fresh plants around as if people feel refreshed after their hair cutting.
After everything done up, people put on a small table, in front of each tomb, some foods and alcohol that people have brought, and have a small ceremony to say hello by kneeling down to make a bow in Korean way to ancestors whose tombs have just been arranged over.
‘Beolcho’ is a very small tradition of Korea less known not only to foreigners but even to Korean young people as well than big festivities such as ‘Chuseok’ or ‘Seolnal’ (‘설날’: New Year Day on lunar calendar) that it seems to be getting more and more being forgotten away from our traditions. It is meaningful enough for Koreans to keep operating the ritual.
1. What I like about this piece of writing is the episode of Beolcho.
ReplyDelete2. Your main point seems to be Beolcho. 3. “What can you guess with the word, ‘Beolcho’(벌초), if you are a foreigner who knows just a little Korean?” I like this line because it gives me an interest.
4. NONE
5. The one change you could make that would make the biggest improvement in this piece of writing is the word order.
To Mijin Yi From Ju Yeon Kim pg.51 Assignment, Korean Tradition
ReplyDelete1. What I like about this piece of writing is that you gave readers an interesting episode relevant to "Beolcho" and its historical information. It was interesting to read the first paragraph because you've introduced us an interesting episode that made us focus to your essay. Moreover, the historical background made us easier to understand "Beolcho".
2. Your main point seems to be about "Beolcho", a very small tradition of Korea like you described.
3. The sentece I liked best in your essay was, "I thought that if would mean a place where bees or other kinds of insects live since ‘Beol’ means in Korean a bee and ‘cho’ plant". This sentence really made me laugh and focus more on your essay since it was very humourous. Due to this sentence I was able to read your entire essay without any boredom.
4. X
5. I think the perfection of your writing would increase if you rewrite some phrases into more smooth senteces. Some of the senteces, I've felt, have irregular word order. It would be much better if you sort these out.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOne of Korean Traditions: ‘Beolcho’ (벌초)
ReplyDeleteWhat can you guess with the word, ‘Beolcho’(벌초), if you are a foreigner who knows just a little Korean? When I was little, and I heard the word for the first time from my father who was asking me to go out together to ‘Beolcho’, I thought that if would mean a place where bees or other kinds of insects live, because ‘Beol’ means in Korean a bee and ‘cho’, a plant. I was, however, completely wrong. Hearing what I had guessed as its meaning and laughing out, he let me know what it meant. It was too striking for me to forget how I got to learn the word that day and to stand laughing out, by remembering again what I guessed.
'Beolcho’ is a Korean traditional ritual which is usually held out 2 or 3 days- in my family 1 or 2 weeks- before ‘Chucheok’(추석), Korean Harvest day or Thanksgiving day in terms of meaning. It is said that this tradition comes from buddhist theories; all people will have a new life even after their death by being reborn in human world in numerable years. Thus, traditionally death has not meant in Korea the complete end of life, but the continuity to a second life. That is why descendants still take care of their ancestors’ tombs even after their death. On that day, Korean male members of a family gather up in their family-owning mountain where there are tombs that they are going to work with. There are several steps for practicing ‘Beolcho’; First of all, we cut off plants around a tomb with a cutting machine, and then tall-growing grass on it. This ritual seems like hair cutting. The more plants are cut off, the more it smells fresh plants around as people feel refreshed after their hair cutting. Finally, after everything over, people put on a small table, in front of each tomb, some foods and alcohol that people have brought in order to have a small ceremony to say hello to each tomb, actually each ancestor, by kneeling down to make a bow in Korean way.
'Beolcho’ is a very small tradition of Korea less known both to foreigners and to Korean young people compared to big and famous festivities such as ‘Chuseok’ or ‘Seolnal’ (‘설날’: New Year Day on lunar calendar). For the reason, this small ritual is likely to be getting more and more forgotten away from our memory. It would meaningful enough for Koreans to keep operating this ritual.