Hwaseong City Brings Royal Ancestral Rites and Buddhist Rituals Together... Yongjusa Holds 'Gukhaeng Muchahoe'

Hwaseong Special City to host Muchahoe Oct. 16-18; main ceremony on Oct. 18
Public events include a Seonhwa exhibition and traditional tofu-making experience

Hwaseong Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun), announced on the 12th that the “2570th year of the Buddhist Era (2026) Yongjusa Gukhaeng Muchahoe” will be held from October 16 to 18 at Yongjusa Temple, the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism’s Second District and a major temple honoring filial piety.

2026 Yongjusa Gukhaeng Mucha Hoe promotional poster. Provided by Hwaseong City.

The event revives the tradition of the Gukhaeng Muchahoe, which was hosted by the royal court during the reign of King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty. The main ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. on October 18 within the grounds of Yongjusa Temple.

The Gukhaeng Muchahoe is a Buddhist ritual known as the “Suryuk Mucha Pyeongdeung Jaeui,” in which the merits of the Buddhist teachings are shared equally with all sentient beings and prayers are offered for happiness and peace. Yongjusa Temple continues the ritual based on records of the Suryuk ritual tradition at Galyangsa Temple, its predecessor, and the royal court’s hosting of a Muchahoe in 1790, the 14th year of King Jeongjo’s reign.

Lee Jun, a sixth-generation descendant of King Jeongjo, members of the imperial family, and the Buddhist clergy and laypeople of Yongjusa Temple will take part in the event, recreating the Muchahoe, where royal ancestral rites and Buddhist rituals come together.

Programs will also give citizens the opportunity to experience traditional culture. At 10 a.m. on October 16, a ceremony will be held at Cheonboru to mark the Seonhwa exhibition by Venerable Seonghyo, titled “A Little Comfort for Those Living Today.” The exhibition will run through October 22 and will be open to anyone visiting Yongjusa Temple.

At 1 p.m. that day, a seminar on designating the Yongjusa Gukhaeng Muchahoe as a National Intangible Heritage will be held at the Temple Stay Center. Experts will examine the Muchahoe’s historical significance, cultural value, and ties to the royal court, and discuss the challenges of preserving and passing it on.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 17, an interactive event titled “Let’s Play with Tofu! With the Royal Family!” will take place within the grounds of Yongjusa Temple. The event will recreate tofu-making based on the tradition of Joposa, a temple that made and supplied tofu for royal ancestral rites. Visitors can try on royal court attire and take photos at a themed photo zone. The tofu made during the event will also be shared with citizens and tourists.

Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun said, “I hope this Gukhaeng Muchahoe will help raise awareness of Yongjusa Temple’s historical value, where royal and Buddhist traditions come together. I hope citizens will take part in the various traditional culture programs, enjoy our cultural heritage up close, and reflect together on the values of sharing and equality embodied in it.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.