Jwibulnori () is a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n game in which participants create streaks of light by swinging cans filled with burning items. The game is played during the first full moon of the year in the

lunar calendar A lunar calendar is a calendar based on the monthly cycles of the Moon's phases ( synodic months, lunations), in contrast to solar calendars, whose annual cycles are based only directly on the solar year. The most commonly used calendar, t ...

, which is a national holiday in

. It is played during the time when fires are started on

farmlands Agricultural land is typically land ''devoted to'' agriculture, the systematic and controlled use of other forms of lifeparticularly the rearing of livestock and production of cropsto produce food for humans. It is generally synonymous with bo ...

to exterminate harmful insects and rats by burning away their habitat. Another purpose of the game is to wish for good health. People make a torchlight with a basket or container tied with a strong string. The game is often played by twirling the string. There can also be fights between other village members. They play the game until midnight and, after enjoying the game, the fire is set on the farmland.

Meaning

Jwibulnori is practiced as a folk game in urbanized settings. The game creates a sense of community and burns dead grass, pests and germs, thus, aiding a fruitful harvest. The game welcomes the New Year by purifying old misfortune to obtain good fortune.

Origin

Jwibulnori originated from the custom of burning the ridge between

rice paddies A paddy field is a flooded field of arable land used for growing semiaquatic crops, most notably rice and taro. It originates from the Neolithic rice-farming cultures of the Yangtze River basin in southern China, associated with pre-Au ...

by setting dry grass from the paddy fields on fire the day before New Year's Day.

Modern Jwibulnori

Although Jwibulnori is less often practiced, it is still part of many New Year's Eve festivities. Children use long rings made of wire in cans by drilling holes in the bottom and sides of cans. Jwibulnori is typically held at a place where a sheaf burning event is held, in a wide field or a field with a low risk of spreading a fire. Fire-can game is an activity that has been performed with Jwibulnori. According to the testimonies of the elderly, it originated from the widespread use of cans after the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

. In other words, it was naturally combined with Jwibulnori while various kinds of canned food among the military materials that were airlifted during the war were used as amusement tools. When the can is swirling and midnight is near, all the wood in the fire-can is burned, leaving only embers. At that point, the can is tossed into the air, letting the embers fall out and glitter the sky. This is seen as a way to send out bad luck and welcome good luck, as is flying a kite on New Year's day.

Preparation

To make a fire-can, dozens of holes are drilled in the surface of an empty can. This creates airflow that feeds the fire. A meter of wire is connected to each side to make a handle. Typical play is to burn brooms or trees and the fields around the village. Depending on the province, people use kindling made of

mugwort Mugwort is a common name for several species of aromatic flowering plants in the genus '' Artemisia.'' In Europe, mugwort most often refers to the species ''Artemisia vulgaris'', or common mugwort. In East Asia the species ''Artemisia argyi'' is ...

or Bulkkangtong (

Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The le ...

: 불깡통, meaning: fire-cans).

Gameplay

Sticks are placed in the can, and the fire is lit. The wire is then held with one hand and swirled vigorously so that the fuel in the can burns. Children spin cans and compete over whose fire burns better. The use of fire cans has been replacing the use of torches or a straw bundles; thus playing the fire-can can be understood as a type of Jwibulnori.

Jwibulnori in Jeju

In Jeju Island, people set a fire in the rangeland of Mt. Halla (

: 한라산) during the month of February, or Hwaip (

: 화입). The area calls rats "daughter-in-law" because if you call a mouse a "mouse", it will understand and be trouble. Another custom warns against displaying a divination sign on the day of the mouse, and another avoids starching clothes. As Jwibulnori is related to rats, it is the same as burning a field on the first day of the first lunar month. Depending on the region, it is also known as "Jwibul" (

: 쥐불) in conjunction with the moon torchlight on New Year’s Eve. To prevent fire, Jwibulnori is not allowed. Disease and pests are exterminated using pesticide instead of fire, so Jwibulnori is gradually disappearing.

Jwibulnori in China

''Bulnori'' (

: 불놀이, mean: Displaying fireworks) on the 15th day of the New Year is derived from the idea of ''Sunghwa'' (

: 숭화,

Hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

: 崇火) which reveres fire. In southern China and

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

as well as Korea, farmers practice of burning fields is associated with their products. In China, a ''hunchung'' (

: 훈충,

: 燻蟲) event called Yongdaedu (

: 용대두,

: 龍擡頭) takes place on February 2. On this holiday a dragon raises his head. It is said that it is possible to prevent various insect disasters if it goes out of the kitchen door, spraying the ashes like a dragon.

Pyeongchang commemorative coins

Pyeongchang

commemorative coin Commemorative coins are coins issued to commemorate some particular event or issue with a distinct design with reference to the occasion on which they were issued. Many coins of this category serve as collectors items only, although some countries ...

s are engraved with Jwibulnori. The currency issued to commemorate the PyeongChang Olympic Games is divided into commemorative bills and commemorative coins. Jwibulnori are engraved on gold coins. The gold coins are also engraved with traditional play paintings such as mono maple sled.

References

External links

Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation(한국문화재재단)

Culturecontent(문화콘텐츠닷컴)
{{Korea topics Korean games Night in culture Twirling Traditional games Fire in culture