Life of korean in Joseon dynasty is very related to °üÈ¥»óÁ¦, one part of confucinism custom. According to °üÈ¥»óÁ¦, there are four stages in life. The first stage is '°ü·Ê or °è·Ê.' °ü·Ê is term for boys and °è·Ê is term for girls. It is similar with western ceremony 'coming of age.' This was held for young boys and girls aged between 15 and 20. Speaking of which, many girls did their °è·Ê in the wedding ceremony. "Two in one."

     The second stage is È¥·Ê, in English, marriage. Marriage was for adults who have had °ü·Ê or °è·Ê. The unique thing is, groom and bride was not allowed to face each other before the wedding.

     Next stage is »ó·Ê, the funeral. Son or Daughter of dead person was considered to be a sinner. According to confucinism custom, lack of filial duty of son or daughter is the reason of the parent's death . So, they walked with a cane to express their deep grief and sorrow of losing their parents. If their father died they had bamboo for the cane, and paulownia tree for the cane if their mother died.

     The final stage is called Á¦·Ê. Koreans believed that dead person's È¥ and ¹é live 120 years more afterward. Therefore, they had shrine for saying hello to their ancestors.

     Koreans had a thought that life is important. That's why they had these stages. In °í¼ö·¹, ±îÄ¡¹ä, or unbilical cord jar, there are also our ancestors' mind of respecting creatures. I have found a considerable aspect of koreans again. :)