A Look at the Tradition of Ancestor Worship in South Korea (in Comparison with that of Vietnam)

Abstract

This article analyzes the similarities and dissimilarities between South Korean and Vietnamese ancestor worship traditions. The similarities between the Vietnamese and Korean tradition of ancestor worship, particularly the features of filial piety and Confucianism, can be traced back to Han-Chinese origins. The dissimilarities arise from the geographical, socio-economic and cultural features of the different nations. These specific features of ancestor worship are unique to both the Vietnamese and South Koreans in the context of the East Asian cultural mosaic.