Lantern Festival - Nentouye

Japanese: 燃灯会 - ねんとうえ

This was an annual spring event held during the Goryeo Dynasty in Korea, and was one of the two major national ceremonies along with the Hachikane. On the night of Sangwon (January 15th), or sometimes in February, people offered lights to Buddha, enjoyed music and dancing, and prayed for peace in the nation. Unlike the Hachikane, which was held in the capital, this was held in rural areas throughout the country, including the capital. It was originally a Buddhist ritual, but it seems to have become linked to the fire festivals of Korean rural villages and became a national festival in which everyone from the king to the common people participated. From the end of the Goryeo Dynasty to the Yi Dynasty, it began to be held on April 8th, the birthday of Buddha, and the Lantern Festival held by the people became a folk custom and continues to this day in Korea.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

朝鮮の高麗時代に盛行した春季の年中行事で，八関会（はちかんえ）とともに二大国儀であった。上元(1月15日)，ときには2月の夜，仏に灯火をささげ音楽と踊りでたのしみ，国家の太平を祈った。八関会が首都の祭礼であったのと違い，首都をはじめ全国の農村で行われた。本来は仏教儀礼であったが，朝鮮農村の火祭行事に結びつき，国王から民衆までが参加する国家的祭礼になったものと思われる。高麗末期から李朝時代には4月8日の釈迦の誕生日に行うようになり，民衆の行う燃灯会は民俗化して韓国では現在もつづいている。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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