2026 Gangneung Danoje

2026 Gangneung Danoje Festival

Introduction to Gangneung Danoje Festival

Records related to Gangneung Danoje

Gangneung Danoje: A Journey Through Historical Archives

The following records provide a definitive timeline of the festival’s evolution,
from ancient tribal rituals to the sophisticated communal celebration we see today.

Records of the Three Kingdoms - Wei Zhi Dongyi) Ancient Origins: The First Light

This is the earliest recorded evidence of tribal rituals and festivals in the Korean Peninsula.

In the ancient state of Dongye (located in the present-day Gangwon region), a festival called Mucheon was held every October.
The people performed sacrifices to heaven, followed by days and nights of drinking, singing, and dancing.
This communal spirit of "drinking and dancing together" is considered the primordial root of the Gangneung Danoje.

Goryeosa (History of Goryeo) The Thousand-Year Foundation

Provides the primary evidence for the "Millennial Dano" tradition, specifically mentioning the Daegwallyeong ritual.

In 935 AD, Wang Sun-sik, a powerful figure from Gangneung, offered a sacrifice to the Mountain Spirit of Daegwallyeong while on his way to assist King Taejo (Wang Geon) in battle.
This historical milestone marks the official beginning of a 1,000-year-old tradition of honoring the mountain deity.

Chugang Seonsaeng Munjip (Collected Works of Nam Hyo-on) The Social and Economic Heart of the Region

Highlights the absolute social importance of the ritual to the Yeongdong people.

Nam Hyo-on observed that the mountain ritual was so central to local life that even the poor would carry offerings on their backs to the mountain pass.

For three days, the entire community would celebrate together. Most notably, the record states that no business or trade occurred until the ritual was complete,
proving that the festival was the spiritual prerequisite for all social and economic life in the region.

Seongso Bubugo by Heo Gyun (1611) An Eyewitness to the Deity's Welcome

A vivid first-hand account by a famous scholar from Gangneung during the mid-Joseon period.

Heo Gyun witnessed the local leaders welcoming the deity on the 1st of May. When he asked about the origin, he was told that the Mountain Spirit is General Kim Yu-sin, the hero of Silla.

Heo noted that the people prepared a Gwaetdae (ritual banner) and flowers to escort the spirit to the city center,
admiring how the General’s legendary feats continued to be revered as divine power centuries after his death.

Im-Yeong-Ji and Jeungsu Im-Yeong-Ji (The Gazetteer of Gangneung) The Definitive Manual of Rituals

The most detailed and systematic record of the festival's specific procedures.

The record describes the selection of the deity's vessel on April 15th.
A designated official (Hojang) would lead shamans to find a tree where the spirit had descended.
When a tree’s leaves shook as if by a sudden wind, it was recognized as the Sinmok.

This sacred branch was carried down the mountain by strong men and enshrined in the city.
The festival culminated on May 5th with grand performances by shamans and entertainers, after which the Sacred Tree was ceremoniously burned.

The record emphasizes that skipping these rites would lead to natural disasters or poor harvests,
highlighting the festival’s role in ensuring the well-being of the entire community.