Daeryehaengryeko(大禮行禮考) in the Korean Traditional Wedding Ceremony Process
Authors:   Institute of Korean Cultural Studies Yeungnam University, Song Mi-Hwa 
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the inherent meaning of the structure and ritual of Haengrye (An Act of Conducting a Ceremony) of Daerye, in the traditional Korean wedding ceremony process. ‘Daeryehaengrye’ refers to Chinnyeong (親迎, Bridegroom Personally Inducting the Bride into His Home), one of the rituals, Uihon-Napchae-Nappye-Chinnyeong, in Karye of Seongni daejeon (Great Collection of Neo-Confucianism). For the purpose of the research, the changes in the wedding institution were first examined, followed by an exploration of the inherent meaning of structure and ritual of Daeryehaengrye.
The examination of the changes in the Korean wedding institution revealed that the traditional Korean wedding system was Seoryubugahon persisting from the Three Kingdoms period (Samguk) for over 1000 years. The traditional Korean wedding ceremony was ritualized, influenced by the Chinese wedding ceremony tradition of ｢Karye(嘉禮)｣ passed down from ancient times to the late Joseon Dynasty.
The analysis of the inherent meaning of the structure and ritual of Daeryehaengrye reveals that it consists of three main parts: Jeonanrye(奠雁禮), Kyobaerye(交拜禮), and Hapgeunrye(交拜禮). Jeonanrye involves conducting a ceremony with a goose as a symbol, wherein the groom makes a promise to the bride. Kyobaerye includes the first formal big bow, conduct Jaeju(祭酒), and the drinking of the rice wine. Yi Hwang introduced Kyosoorye(交手礼) between Kyobaerye and Hapgeunrye. There are three methods of bowing in the first formal big bow. Of these, the method where the bride first bows four times and then the groom responds with bowing two times aligns with the custom where men with two bows and women with four bows are considered propriety, although it is only found in only 12 out of 65 surveyed books of propriety (18%). The positioning of the bridegroom and bride was predominantly Seodongbuseo(壻東婦西). However, the reason for this ‘Seodongbuseo’ positioning can be seen as a horizontal shift of the bridegroom and bride's positions during Dongrweyeon of Karye. On the other hand, positioning them in Seoseobudong can be attributed to a vertical shift according to the female-centric wedding customs in Korea.
Jaeju(祭酒) is the most crucial ritual in Daeryehaengrye. It can be seen as an act formed through the ethos and thought process of Koreans. It is an act of praying to the heavens and earth by a person of high virtue or the marriage officer in the process of a wedding ceremony. Initially performed by clan elders or village leaders then by family elders, it is assumed to had evolved to be performed by the bridegroom and bride. Hapgeunrye is an oath ceremony. There are various methods of Hapgeun, but when drinking rice wine, pouring it and each drinking it was considered symbolize the essence of mutual exchange. Thus, they do not exchange the Hapgeun gourd.
While some Koreans in the modern age may hold negative views on traditional wedding ceremonies, there is a high level of pride in Korean culture. To preserve and uphold the wedding ceremonies designed in Korean way, it is essential to standardize the rituals and meanings of Daeryehaengrye, thereby ensuring that traditional Korean wedding ceremonies continue with a theoretical framework.