The civilizations of China and Japan have a big impact on Korea. Confucianism, which developed numerous traditions still practised in contemporary Korea, is a clear example of this effect. These customs include adhering to a moral code in social interactions and respecting elders and extended families.

 

Religious beliefs:

Shamanism, the traditional religion of the Korean people, still exists today despite being less popular than it was in ancient times. Female shamans, also known as mudang, are frequently asked to call on different spirits for a variety of purposes.

Later, cultural interactions with Chinese dynasties brought Buddhism and Confucianism to Korea. The Goryeo kingdom recognised Buddhism as its official religion, and Buddhist monks enjoyed numerous privileges throughout this time. The Joseon era, however, saw the persecution of Buddhism, with Buddhist monks and temples being restricted to the countryside and barred from cities.

The official philosophy was replaced with a severe variant of Confucianism, which some consider to be even more stringent than anything the Chinese had ever adopted. The seonbi class, intellectuals who forwent positions of riches and power in favour of leading lives of learning and morality, was the epitome of Korean Confucianism.

The traditional beliefs of Korean Shamanism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Confucianism have persisted throughout Korean history and culture, despite divisions, as an essential part of the Korean people's religion and culture. In actuality, all of these customs coexisted together for centuries. Despite pressure from the government, they continue to exist in the North and the South, which is more Christian.

 

Buddhism's impact on culture and traditions

Buddhism has a significant impact on Korean culture because it is now an integral part of it, including the secular Korean customs practised by non-Buddhist Koreans.

According to a government study from 2005, over 25% of South Koreans identified as Buddhists. In contrast to the Christian population, there is no precise or exclusive method for identifying Buddhists, hence it is unclear how many people practice Buddhism in South Korea. Buddhism is no longer regarded as a formal religion in Korea because it has been incorporated into the country's traditional culture as a philosophy and cultural foundation. As a result, these traditions have a significant impact on a large number of people who do not practice.

Therefore, the number of Buddhists in South Korea is thought to be substantially higher when include atheists or people who are affected by the religion but do not practise it. Similar to North Korea, which is officially an atheist country, over 70% of the population is inspired by Buddhist views and practises, despite Buddhism only making up 4.5% of the country's total population.

 

Festivals

The lunisolar calendar served as the foundation for the old Korean calendar. Dates are determined using the meridian of Korea. Festivals and observances have deep roots in Korean culture. Each of the 24 turning points (jeolgi) in the Korean lunar calendar has a duration of around 15 days. The lunar calendar, which once served as the agrarian society's timetable, is becoming less and less prevalent in contemporary Korean culture.

Although the Gregorian calendar was formally adopted in 1895, the old calendar is still used for customary celebrations and age calculations. Older generations continue to observe their birthdays in accordance with the lunar calendar.

Seollal is currently the biggest event in Korea (the traditional Korean New Year). Other significant celebrations are Chuseok, Dano (spring festival), and Daeboreum (the first full moon) (harvest festival). Numerous regional festivals are also observed, and they follow the lunar calendar.