Lantern festival pushed for UNESCO list

The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) submitted Yeondeunghoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, according to the CHA Monday.

Yeondeunghoe is currently designated as national intangible cultural asset No. 122. The lantern festival is a Buddhist event held every spring during the period before and after April 8 of the lunar calendar which marks the birth of Buddha. The festival aims to create a "discrimination-free, abundant world through lighting the world with truth." UNESCO’s evaluation committee will review the submission and the listing will be decided in November 2020 on the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The lantern festival dates back to the Chronicles of the Three States written in the 12th century. The book, which records the history of the Silla, Baekje and Goguryeo kingdoms, describes sightings of lotus lanterns at Hwangryong Temple in 866 during the reign of King Gyeongmoon of Silla and in 890 during the reign of Queen Jinsung of Silla. Buddha’s Birthday was designated as a national holiday in Korea in 1975 and has since become an important cultural event every year. UNESCO currently lists 19 of Korea’s intangible cultural heritage including pansori, the song Arirang, kimjang culture and Jeju’s haenyeo female divers.