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A Study on the Structure and Transmission of Folk Belief through Oral Histories of the Busu-dong Mokshinje

  • The Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies
  • Abbr : JTS
  • 2026, 10(2), pp.161~169
  • DOI : 10.22685/jts.2026.10.2.161
  • Publisher : The Society for Transdisciplinary Studies
  • Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Interdisciplinary Research
  • Received : May 2, 2026
  • Accepted : August 19, 2026
  • Published : August 31, 2026

Younghee Noh ORD ID 1

1건국대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study investigates the Busu-dong Mokshinje, a traditional tree-centered village ritual practiced in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, with the aim of examining its ritual struc- ture, symbolic meanings, modes of transmission, and contemporary transformation. Particular attention is given to the ways in which the ritual embodies collective memory, local identity, and relationships between the community and the natural environment. Methods: The study employed a qualitative research design combining ethnographic doc- umentation, oral history interviews, documentary analysis, and symbolic anthropological interpretation. Oral-history data were obtained from four elderly residents aged 74–87 who had long-term experiential knowledge of the Mokshinje. The interview materials were transcribed and coded using NVivo, followed by open and axial coding to identify recurring themes related to ritual procedures, sacred space, role allocation, transmission, memory, and perceived change. These data were triangulated with field records, audiovisual materials, photographs, and documentary sources. Results: The findings show that the Mokshinje historically functioned as a community-wide ritual organized through clearly differentiated roles and collective participation. The sacred Dangsan tree operated as both a ritual center and a symbolic marker of protection, boundary, and communal identity. Oral testimonies further revealed procedural simplification, declining participation, and the increasing formalization of ritual practice. Nevertheless, the ritual continues to serve as a medium through which local memory, symbolic order, and community identity are reproduced. Conclusions: The Busu-dong Mokshinje should be understood not as a static remnant of folk religion but as a cultural practice undergoing adaptive reconfiguration. Its sustainable transmission requires the diversification of transmission agents, renewed community participation, and the integration of oral-history documentation into eco-cul- tural and digital heritage strategies.

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This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.
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