GWAN RYE | See How South Korean Celebrate Their Youth's Coming Of Age Ceremony Every Year

Every year around May, young Korean males and females from12 to 20 years old celebrate en masse for Gwan Rye.

In the old days of Korea, the ceremony was called ‘Gwan-Rye’ or ‘Gye-Rye’ according to the gender of the subject.

Gwanrye is the ceremony for a young man, which is processed by tying hairs into a topknot and putting a traditional cylindrical hat on the subject’s head.

Gyerye is for young women, which is processed by forming a chignon and sticking ornamental hairpin into hairs.

Gwanrye (or Gyerye) has been performed not only to celebrate reaching of maturity but to guide the youth to conducting good manners in social life and possess the quality required as a mature person.

Origin of Gwanrye

Gwanrye supposedly originated from China. Presumably, the ceremony had been introduced into Korea together with Chinese etiquette in Korea’s three-kingdom era.

The first record on performing Gwanrye, a Confucian ceremony for becoming an adult, is found in ‘History of Korea’ written in AD 966.

It is recorded that Gwangjong, king of the Korean dynasty, clothed his son in ceremonial garments and anointed him as crown prince. In Euijong’s era, the 18th king of Korean dynasty, the description of ‘performed ceremony of clothing prince’ is also recorded.

Meaning of Gwanrye

Gwanrye is performed for youth aged from 15 to 20. An auspicious day, normally in January, is selected for the ceremony. If January was not proper, the first day of April or July is chosen.

It is a formality giving youth responsibility as a grown-up. After getting through the formality, youths are expected to behave towards parents, brothers, and society. It has worked well as a substantial ceremony.

Garment for Gwanrye

The ceremony is composed of three consecutive events, and garments for the first event included trousers, Jeogori (Korean jacket), vest, and Jeonbok or Sagyusam, along with Bok-gun on the head.

For the second, leather belts and shoes are added. Samo, the official outfit, and Gwandae are worn in the third event.

Female in the first event of Gyerye wears a red skirt and yellow Jeogori, and in the second is clothed in Durumagi with Ayam on the head. In the third event, the subject puts on Wonsam with Jokduri on the head.

Procedure of Gwanrye

Parents and relatives of the subject gather to attend the three events of the Gwanrye ceremony.

Chogarye (first event)

This is processed by packing up hairs of the youth to tie a top knot. The Female wears a red skirt and yellow Jeogori on this occasion.

Jaegarye (second event)

At the second ritual, a straw hat is put on the subject. The young woman wears a skirt, Jeogori, and Durumagi with Ayam on her head.

Samgarye (third event)

At the third stage, straw hat is taken off and Bokdu was put on instead. Females are dressed with Wonsam in addition to skirts and Jeogori, with Jokduri on the head. When three events are finished, the art of ceremonial tea-making is demonstrated and tea is served to participants.

Gwanrye Food

A Young man who is the subject of Gwanrye and his father reports to the shrine three days before the ceremony, bringing some food such as fruit, slice meat, and wine.

They lay the food before ancestral tablets, open the box containing ancestral inscription (Hondok), burn incense, present poured cup, and make two bows.

They then kneel down before the incensed table and read the admonitory address in a loud voice.

On the day of the ceremony, they go through the mentioned three events, and afterward, offer a feast for guests, in particular, for the one who presides over the formality.

Various side dishes such as rice cake, noodles, fruits, sweet rice drinks, fruit punch, and wine are served at the feast.