Jesa is a ceremony commonly practiced in Korea. Jesa functions as a memorial to the ancestors of the participants. Jesa are usually held on the anniversary of the ancestor's death. The majority of Catholics, Buddhists and nonbelievers practice ancestral rites, although Protestants do not.
Ancestral rites are typically divided into 3 categories:
Charye (차례, 茶禮) - tea rites held 4 times a year on major holidays (Korean New Year, Chuseok)
Gije (기제, 忌祭, also called gijesa) - household rites held the night before or morning of an ancestor's death anniversary (기일, 忌日).
Sije (시제, 時祭; also called 사시제 or 四時祭) - seasonal rites held for ancestors who are 5 or more generations removed (typically performed annually on the tenth lunar month)
To perform ancestor rituals, the family at the eldest son's house prepare many kinds of food such as wine, taro soup, beef, fish, three different colored vegetables, many kinds of fruits, and rice cake or songpyon, particularly those that were favored by the deceased.[2] Theshinwi (신위, 神位) or memorial tablet, which symbolizes the spiritual presence of the ancestor, is placed at the center of the table. In modern days, the daughter or younger son of the family may perform these rites.
A typical rite is generally performed following this sequence:
Kangshin (강신, 降神) - Several ritual greetings call the spirits down then follow.
Choheon (초헌, 初獻, "initial offering") - The eldest male descendant makes the first offering of rice wine, followed by his wife. At the conclusion of the first ritual offering, the eldest son would show his respects by performing a ritual bow twice. The wife bows four times.
Aheon (아헌, 亞獻, "secondary offering") - The second eldest male descendant (typically the next eldest sons or sons-in law) makes an offering of liquor as well.
Jongheon (종헌, 終獻, "final offering") - The third eldest male descendant (typically the next eldest sons or sons-in law) makes an offering of liquor as well. Offerings are continued to be made until no high-ranking male ancestors are left.
Sapsi (삽시, 揷匙, "spoon insertion") - The main course is served by the eldest male ancestor, to the memorial tablet, by sticking a spoon into the middle of the rice bowl.
Yushik (유식, 侑食, "urged meal") - The ancestors receive the offerings and partake in the meal. To do so, participants leave the room, called hapmun (합문, 闔門). Afterward, in gyemun (계문, 啟門) - participants return to the room, after a few minutes. This is signaled by the eldest male descendant clearing his throat thrice.
Heoncha (헌다, 献茶, "tea offering") - Tea, brewed from roasted rice is offered to the ancestors.
Cheolsang (철상, 撤床, "removal of table") - All the attendants at the ceremony bow twice and the spirits are sent off until the next year. The table with the food and wine offerings is then cleared and the written prayer recited earlier on during the ceremony is set a fire.
Eumbok (음복, 飮福, "drink blessings") - Participants divide the sacrificial offerings and partake in the feast. Consuming the ritual food and wine is considered to be an integral part of the ceremony, as it symbolizes the receiving of the blessings bestowed upon the family.
Ancestor worship has changed much in recent years. These days it is common to hold ancestor rituals up to only two generations of ancestors, and in some cases, people only hold rituals for their dead parents. In addition, more people are holding rituals in the evening, not after midnight. People can also perform ancestor rituals in a younger son's house.
