DeathAnniversary:Maxim
lastmod 2018-08-17created 2016-01-202 edits
How to set the jesa (ancestral rite) table differs from family to family and inevitably varies with the food prepared, so it is hard to give a single rule. Here are some of the maxims related to setting the jesa table for reference.
- Gobi hapseol (考妣合設): For a married couple, the male and female ancestors are served together.
- Sijeop geojung (匙楪居中): The dish holding the spoon and chopsticks goes in the center, in front of the spirit tablet.
- Banseo gaengdong (飯西羹東): Rice (me) goes on the west and soup (gaeng) on the east (the opposite of a table for the living).
- Jeokjeop geojung (炙楪居中): Grilled dishes (jeok) go in the center.
- Eodong yukseo (魚東肉西): Fish goes on the east, meat on the west.
- Dongdu seomi (東頭西尾): Heads face east, tails face west.
- Baebok banghyang (背腹方向): Grilled chicken and dried fish are placed back side up.
- Myeonseo byeongdong (麵西餠東): Noodles go on the west, rice cakes (tteok) on the east.
- Sukseo saengdong (熟西生東): Cooked vegetables (namul) go on the west, fresh kimchi on the east.
- Seopo donghae·hye (西脯東醢·醯): Dried meat or fish (po) goes on the west. Salted fish (jeotgal) and sikhye go on the east.
- Hongdong baekseo (紅東白西): Red fruits go on the east, white fruits on the west.
- Dongjo seoyul (東棗西栗): Jujubes go on the east, chestnuts on the west.
Additional table setting references are as follows.
- Joyul sii (棗栗枾梨): From the left, in the order of jujubes, chestnuts, persimmons, and pears
- Hongdong baekseo (紅東白西): Red fruits on the east, white fruits on the west
- Saengdong sukseo (生東熟西): Kimchi on the east, namul on the west
- Jwapo uhae (左脯右?): Po on the left, jeotgal on the right
- Eodong yukseo (魚東肉西): Fish on the east, meat on the west
- Dudong miseo (頭東尾西): Fish heads toward the east, tails toward the west
- Geonjwa seubu (乾左濕右): Dry foods on the left, wet foods on the right
- Jeopdong janseo (?東盞西): Plates on the east, cups on the west
- Jwaban ugaeng (左飯右羹): Me on the left, gaeng on the right
- Namjwa yeou (男左女右): The left side of the jesa table is for the man (考位), the right side for the woman (*位)