Junggu (重九)

"Junggu" (重九), which literally means "double nine," falls on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar and is also called "Jungyangjeol." The day when the yang-energy number 9 is overlapped was deemed holy and celebrated accordingly. In homes, families would hold rituals, if not completed in "Chuseok," or they would enjoy eating patties and drinking an alcoholic beverage made with chrysanthemum. "Junggu" was used to commemorate ancestors whose dates of death were unknown or who did not have any offspring. As an additional custom, noblemen would go up to the mountains (登高). Since people enjoyed seeing chrysanthemum flowers, September 9 was also called "Sangukil" (賞菊日).

국화전과 국화

Chrysanthemum Parries in Seosan City, Chungcheongnam-do	"Hwangguk," Yellow Chrysanthemum s

During the Joseon dynasty, "Junggu," along with "Samjitnal," was designated as a public holiday, and twice a year, in spring and fall, civilian government officials over the age of 70 were invited for a feast (耆老宴). In various regions, people performed rites, visited ancestral graves or held seasonal ceremonies (時祭).

안동시 풍천면의 중구차례 모습

Junggu Charye Rituals in Pungcheon-myeon, Andong City, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Burning Incense	Gangsinjaebae	Chamsinjaebae
Heonjak	Hapmun	Hapdok

In the Yongsan area of Seoul, people performed "Gosa," a shamanistic ritual, just after "Chuseok" or when the new harvest became available. Offerings, such as "Sirutteok" rice cakes, were made of freshly harvested rice and offered to the family deities, like "Seongju," "Jowang," or "Josang." In the Gyeongsangbuk-do region, if people could not prepare rituals using the new grain of "Chuseok," then they did so on" Junggu" with offerings made with fresh grains. Designated as a "folk village", Hahoe Village in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has continued the tradition of the "Junggu Charye" ritual to this day.

In Jeju Island, September 9 is known as the birthday of "Myeongdo," the ancestor of the island shaman; and shamans, called "Shimbang," erect flag poles and perform a lavish exorcism. Islanders who belonged to each Shimbang were supposed to make a donation, and if they didn’t, they would not receive assistance in times of trouble. Families who served local gods, like "Dwithalmang" or "Batchilseong," at home would replace the seeds they kept under the roof tiles with freshly harvested ones. Jeju islanders also observe something called "Cheolgari," which literally means "seasonal change." On Jeju Island, "Cheolgari" can refer to the tradition of changing roofs using new ropes to prevent rain leakage, to the making of offerings to the local deities, or to married children treating their parents with new food using fresh grain.