Chuseok 2026 falls on Friday, September 25. For families holding charye (ancestral rites), interest in how to prepare the Chuseok ritual table and how to write the jibang (paper memorial tablet) is growing. How to write the jibang is a topic searched nearly as often as food recipes. Since it is rarely used in everyday life, many people recheck ahead of the holidays how to write their ancestors' names, whether it must be written in Chinese characters, or whether a photograph can be used instead.

How to Write the Jibang... The Meaning of 'Hyungo Haksaengbugun Sinwi'

A jibang (紙榜) is a paper tablet symbolizing ancestors, used during charye or jesa (memorial rites) when no sinju (wooden ancestral tablet) is enshrined. Traditionally written vertically, it includes the relationship between the deceased and the jiju (ritual head), the deceased's status or rank, name or title, and an expression denoting the spirit's seat.

When honoring both parents together, the father's jibang is generally written on the left and the mother's on the right. However, the exact wording varies depending on the relationship between the deceased and the jiju, so applying a single phrase to every household is not appropriate.

The most widely used phrase for a father's jibang is 'hyungo haksaeng bugun sinwi (顯考學生府君神位).' 'Hyungo' is an honorific term for a deceased father; 'haksaeng' is said to be used when the deceased held no official government post; 'bugun' is an honorific for a man; and 'sinwi' refers to the seat of the deceased. For mothers, a format beginning with 'hyunbi (顯妣)' has traditionally been used, followed by the clan seat and family name. Since writing methods can differ by household and family lineage, it is advisable to first check any established ritual customs passed down in the family.

Korean-Language Jibang and Photograph Substitutions Are Possible... 'The Meaning of Charye Does Not Disappear Even If You Cannot Write a Jibang'

Some wonder whether the jibang must be written in Chinese characters. Today, some families write it in Hangul or use photographs of ancestors. Notably, the Sungkyunkwan Rite Standardization Committee's 'Charye Table Standardization Plan,' announced in September 2022, stated that performing charye with a photograph in place of a jibang is also acceptable. The implication is that failing to write the jibang exactly does not diminish the meaning of the rite itself.

Hongdongbaekseo and Joyulisi Are Not 'Mandatory Principles' in Old Etiquette Texts

The Chuseok charye table likewise does not have to follow complex rules. A representative table-setting formula that appears every holiday is 'hongdongbaekseo,' meaning red fruits are placed on the east side and white fruits on the west. 'Joyulisi,' arranging fruits in the order of jujubes, chestnuts, pears, and persimmons, is also familiar.

However, according to Sungkyunkwan, hongdongbaekseo and joyulisi are not found as mandatory principles for the charye table in old etiquette texts. While fruits are mentioned, the records do not specify types or arrangement order in detail. 'Eodongyukseo' (fish on the east, meat on the west), 'dudongmiseo' (fish heads facing east), and 'jwapouhye' (distinguishing the positions of dried fish and sikhye) are also difficult to regard as universally binding etiquette. Sungkyunkwan's guidelines place little significance on the positions of foods on the charye table.

Jeon Is Not a Mandatory Food... Six Basic Foods Suggested by Sungkyunkwan

Jeon (pan-fried dishes), which require considerable labor to prepare, are not mandatory either. Sungkyunkwan explains that old texts in fact contain records viewing fried or pan-cooked foods such as milgwa or yubyeong as unsuitable for ancestral rites. Therefore, preparing many kinds of jeon is not necessary for a proper charye.

The six basic foods Sungkyunkwan suggested for the Chuseok charye table are songpyeon, seasoned vegetables, grilled dishes, kimchi, fruit, and liquor. Meat, fish, and tteok may be added at the family's discretion. The number of dishes is also not a matter of 'the more, the better' — families may decide according to their circumstances.

Taboos on Peaches and Fish Ending in '-chi' Should Be Viewed with Discernment

Folk beliefs that peaches or certain fish must not be placed on the charye table also merit careful consideration. It is said that peaches drive away spirits and thus should not be offered, and there is a custom of avoiding red pepper powder and garlic due to their color or strong scent. The belief that fish with names ending in '-chi' — such as saury, hairtail, and mackerel — should not be offered is also well known.

However, Sungkyunkwan's standard plan does not designate these taboos as universally binding charye principles. Long-standing family customs may be respected, but they need not be accepted as absolute etiquette applicable to all households.

The Order of Charye and Seongmyo Is Also Up to the Family... 'Daerye Pilgan (大禮必簡)'

The order of seongmyo (grave visit) and charye can also be decided by the family. Rather than insisting on a fixed order, such as charye first and then seongmyo, families may consider their schedules and circumstances.

Ultimately, when preparing the Chuseok charye table, what matters more than memorizing countless 'correct answers' — from jibang writing to food placement — is the family deciding how to honor their ancestors. The principle Sungkyunkwan has emphasized, 'daerye pilgan (大禮必簡)' — the greater the rite, the simpler it should be — aligns with this.

The jibang may be written in the traditional way or replaced with a photograph. Fruits need not be lined up according to hongdongbaekseo, and many kinds of jeon need not be prepared. If the family has passed-down customs, continuing them is also a valid choice. Rather than seeking the true meaning of Chuseok charye in the number of dishes or a single character of the jibang, placing it in remembering ancestors and gathering the family's hearts together is closer to the simplified direction Sungkyunkwan has proposed.

[Jibang writing methods and charye/jesa customs may vary depending on the relationship between the deceased and the jiju, as well as region, family lineage, and household tradition. This article was compiled based on publicly available materials from Sungkyunkwan, and actual jibang writing and charye practices should be checked against each family's traditions. AI assisted in part with the writing of this article, and final review was performed by the editor.]