A traditional lantern exhibition will run until May 30 at Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Yeondeonghoe Preservation Association)

By Kim Yeojin and Joung Haseung  

To mark Buddha's Birthday on May 19, exhibitions showcasing the beauty of the nation's traditional lanterns are being held at key locations in the heart of the nation's capital.

'Illuminating the mind and world'

The Central Buddhist Museum in Seoul's Jongno-gu District through July 23 is holding the exhibition "Lotus Lantern Festival: Illuminating the Mind and World."

The exhibition commemorates the festival's inclusion as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and features a variety of traditional lanterns paired with an intangible cultural heritage certificate. Literature and photographs displaying the tools and processes used to make the lanterns and the festival's history are also showcased, along with an activity corner that allows visitors to make their own mini lotus lanterns. 

The exhibition can be viewed through virtual reality on the official websites of the festival (http://www.llf.or.kr/eng/) and the museum (http://museum.buddhism.or.kr/).

Exhibiting 1,000 years of lantern history

An exhibition displaying the beauty of traditional Korean lanterns runs until May 30 at Jogyesa Temple's Friendship Park, Bongeunsa Temple and Cheonggyecheon Stream.

An array of lantern shapes from animals and fish to Dabotap Pagoda (a leading granite pagoda from the Silla Kingdom at Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, Gyeongsandbuk-do Province) are being displayed. The soft beauty of the lanterns hanging above Cheongyecheon Stream's flowing water is an especially lively and heartwarming site. 

A celebratory festival on May 15 was held from 6 p.m. at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul's Jongno-gu District to mark Buddha's Birthday in the year 2565 under the Buddhist calendar and UNESCO's designation of the festival as an Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity. 

This is the first festival held since the designation came last year, but most events have been held online due to COVID-19 regulations.

A limited number of participants attended the lantern parade, which ran through Jogyesa Temple's Iljumun (First Gate) and Anguk Intersection as well as other downtown spots. A site for an online parade was also created for the public to take part virtually.

"Lotus Lantern Festival: Illuminating the Mind and World" is an exhibition being held at the Central Buddhist Museum in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News) 

lvzhen@korea.kr