Written by Hugo J. Smal
Chuseok tradition Kr. Chuseok text
There are stories that touch me because they are woven into the very fabric of tradition, community, and compassion. And then there is Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival, which brings together all those layers of culture in one deep breath, emanating from its core. But it becomes even richer when I combine it with a philosophical concept that was revealed to me. The concept of Jijang’s Fractal, as I will detail in my book The Koreans and I emerged from deep reflection on compassion and interconnection Its roots in my reflection on Buddhism and religion in general: Jijang’s Fractal.
Chuseok tradition is about more than just family; it is about reverence, a sense of community, and the realization that every small action reverberates throughout the larger whole. This is where Jijang’s Fractal shines – my concept that embodies infinite interconnection and compassion, inspired by the bodhisattva Jijang Bosal and the mathematical idea of fractals. Jijang’s Fractal symbolizes how every action, no matter how small, multiplies infinitely and echoes through the community and the universe. During the Korean harvest festival, the network of compassion becomes especially strong. Read about how Jijang’s fractal came to me now.
The Story of Chuseok and the Stone Tower
In a small mountain village, far from the splendor of the Manwoldae Palace in Gaegyeong (now Kaesong), a family lived high in the mountains. Their name has long been forgotten. They had no rice, no wine, no offerings to present to their ancestors during Chuseok. Yet, they felt that unbreakable connection. They knew that even without material wealth, their actions would speak.
The mother of the family, a woman of great wisdom and gentle hands, decided to offer no material sacrifice but rather one of labor and service. The day before Chuseok, the family descended to her birth village. Along the way, they carefully collected the most beautiful stones. On the village square, near the village altar and the guarding **Changseung**, they washed their precious finds. With these self-gathered offerings, they created a small shrine. Every carefully placed stone became part of a modest tower – a small monument, but one full of meaning.When the village elders saw this, they were initially saddened. They saw it as a sign of the family’s poverty. But when they looked closer, they saw the care with which the stones had been chosen and stacked, and they realized its significance. This was not a sign of poverty but a testament to their unbreakable spirit. The family may not have had material means, but their dedication to their ancestors and their community was deep and strong.
The village elders were so moved by this gesture that they honored the family by organizing a feast for them. The whole village came together, and for one day, wealth and poverty were forgotten. They shared everything they had, and the small stone tower became the center of their celebration. That Chuseok was not only a tribute to the ancestors but also a symbol of the strength of community, independence, and filial piety, even in the hardest of times.
Compassion and community in Korea’s Chuseok tradition
Each stone stood for more than just a simple act. It was part of a larger pattern, the connected flow of Jijang’s compassion. Just as Jijang Bosal promises to leave no soul behind, no matter how small or lost, this family showed that even the smallest actions resonate within the larger community. That day, their tower became a symbol of connection – a monument to their ancestors but also to the community itself.
Just as a stream begins with a single drop and eventually flows into the sea, the family’s gesture started small, but it grew, it flowed, and it connected them to something greater. From a small gesture to a powerful ritual, every part of nature seemed to reflect this message.
In the story of the family who, despite their poverty, built a stone tower as a tribute to their ancestors during Chuseok, you can see the echo of **Jijang’s Fractal**. As in the formula:
\[
f(v) = \sum_{w \in V} f(w)
\]
where each value is influenced by all others, each stone in that tower becomes part of a greater pattern of reverence and community. And just like in:
\[
f^\infty(v) = \lim_{n \to \infty} \sum_{w \in V} f^n(w)
\]
the family’s gesture reaches its deepest power as it repeats, multiplies, and grows into a symbolic whole that touches the community and extends beyond their individual acts.
My Writing as a Contribution to the Flow
Reflecting on this story, Chuseok tradition, and the concept of Jijang’s Fractal, I also see my own writings as a small contribution to this flow. Just as every small gesture connects us to something greater, my words, too, aim to be part of that larger network of compassion and connection. Each story, each thought, each sentence I write is like a small stone added to the tower – a humble offering, yet part of the infinite pattern of connection that we all create together. I feel one with Indra’s net.
The Wish of Jijang’s Fractal, it’s Chuseok tradition
Based on this thought, I share a Chuseok wish, something that goes beyond the moment and resonates with the essence of Jijang’s Fractal:
May this Chuseok remind us of the power of small deeds. Just as a stream begins with a single drop, our gestures of love and reverence contribute to the infinite connection of our community and ancestors. Let us cherish every stone, every action, as part of a greater whole, and remember that in every simple act lies an endless pattern of compassion.”
With Jijang’s Fractal in mind, Chuseok tradition reminds us that our smallest actions form part of a larger whole. It is a celebration of connection, not only with the past but also with the future and with each other. Every stone in the tower, every fractal in the river, every drop in the sea – everything is part of the same eternal network. Every action, every stone, every step is part of the eternal flow of water. Jijang’s Fractal shows us that what starts small can multiply into something infinite.
After you have bowed to those dear to you, take a moment to enjoy what has been offered to them. When you pour Makgeolli or Soju:
Geonbae 건배 – and drink one for me. It brings me joy to know that the infinite pattern of Jijang’s Fractal in Korea will continue, as the remaining food is shared with those in need.
I wish you a very pleasant Chuseok 2024. Should you wish to delve deeper into my work, please do not hesitate to do so promptly.
