| Title |
A Study on Establishments and Characteristics of Spiritual Spaces in a Traditional Village of Gapa Island, Jejudo |
| Authors |
Byun, Kyeong-Hwa ; Kang, Eun-Jung ; Lee, Jeong-Lim ; Kim, Kyu-Han |
| Keywords |
Spiritual Space ; Village Faith ; Religion Facility ; Cemetery ; Taboo Space ; Gapa Island |
| Abstract |
This study aims to identify the establishment and characteristics of spiritual space in a traditional village of island focusing on Gapa Island, Jejudo. The spiritual space in this study are described as religious, emotional and psychological spaces which residents of Gapa Island have customarily something in common. The study employed the qualitative research method by interviewing island residents and field survey about those spaces. The study identified twelve spiritual spaces on Gapa Island which is categorized into four groups; village faith spaces, in other words, Shamanism spaces, general religious facilities, cemetery, and taboo spaces. These spaces were considered as an important islander's spiritual spaces which were built at the same time when the village had been established and was extended. Since these spiritual spaces were built by islanders, they have continuously changed according to the growth of village and new culture from the outside. spiritual spaces settled from the community point of view are using up to the present. Three spiritual spaces of altar, Halmang-Dang of Sangdong and Hadong are essential in religious, emotional and psychological functions of village residents because those three spaces have settled as village faith. In regards to the arrangement of spiritual spaces, the village was divided into East and West areas according to the inner road that connects Sangdong port and Handong port. The alter and cemetery were arranged to the quiet places of the island, East side which was difficult to catch fish due to high wave and the death of water. However, the west side of island which woman divers were able to catch seafood was characterized as active and living area. |