Korea - Seoul exhibit pays tribute to Year of the Rooster: ARIRANG NEWS

ARIRANG NEWS

Published on 28 Jan 2017

2017년은 정유년, 닭의 의미는?
The Year of the Monkey has passed and the Year of the Fire Rooster has arrived.

The rooster is one of the twelve zodiac animals that are known as guardian deities, and a museum in Seoul is paying tribute to the majestic creature with an exhibition... just in time for the New Year.

Kim Hyesung gives us a preview.

2017 is the year of the fire rooster.
The rooster symbolizes light and vitality as it breaks the dawn and heralds the beginning of a new day, and in Asia it's the tenth sign among the twelve zodiac animals.

"Roosters, along with tigers, dragons and dogs, have long been considered auspicious animals that drive out evil spirits. Our Korean ancestors used to paste paintings of roosters on their doors in the new year symbolizing their wish for good fortune."

Back when there were no alarm clocks, people woke up when roosters crowed, so roosters were considered a symbol of reliability and diligence. 

Roosters also signify advancement and honor, and in the Joseon Dynasty they represented the passage of the civil service examination, because their red combs looked like the hats worn by government officials.

"The exhibition doesn't just feature historical documents and paintings. Visitors can also find rooster-shaped household items used during the 19th and 20th centuries."

The exhibit showcases a lamp stand, a colorful pouch for a spoon and chopsticks, and a water dropper that was used to store water for grinding an ink stick.

There's even a rooster liquor bottle.

"I found it interesting in the value Koreans put in a chicken along with other signs of the zodiac...I feel like in other cultures that's not really present. This year I turn 24, in the year of the rooster. So I'm pretty excited to be here in the week of the Lunar New Year."

People are said to have the characteristics associated with the zodiac animal that corresponds to their birth year.

But vitality, strength, reliability and honor -- these are things that most everyone would want for a new year.

Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.