Praying for the souls of animals “victims of human development”. A ritual innovation in South Korean Buddhism

Florence Galmiche, Assistant Professor
(Paris Cité University, Research Centre “China, Korea, Japan” (EHESS- CNRS-UPCité)

Lecture

This presentation addresses a ritual innovation in South Korean Buddhism: ceremonies dedicated to the souls of animals who have died en masse and are referred to as “victims of human development.” These ceremonies are intended, for example, for animals killed in large numbers to prevent epidemics, or those who have died due to floods or land development projects. The scale of these ceremonies and their explicit connection to animals represent ritual innovations, yet they are based on classic ritual forms, generally intended for humans who have suffered malemort (untimely or tragic death) and are classified under the category of ch’ŏndojae 遷度齋.

Based on an ethnographic methodology, I trace the history of the development of these ceremonies and examine the proximity and difference in the treatment of human and non-human souls. Buddhist doctrine centrally establishes continuity among the different states of living beings (plants, animals, humans) but also enforces a strong hierarchy among them, which, as we will see, reflects the hierarchy of destinies in the context of reincarnation. By paying particular attention to how rituals for humans are transposed to animals, as well as what is hoped for these souls, this research explores what these ceremonies show about the relationships between animals and humans in contemporary South Korean Buddhism.

About the lecturer

Florence Galmiche is a specialist in the fields of modern Korean Buddhism, anthropology and urban culture studies.