Juldarigi

Origins and history

The practice dates back to at least the fifteenth century in Korea. It serves as a divinatory tool for farming communities, where the outcome signals the expected quality of the autumn rice crop. Because the ropes resemble dragons associated with rain, the game was also performed during dry spells to encourage precipitation. UNESCO recognized these tugging rituals in 2015, listing them alongside similar traditions in Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

How the game works

Two teams representing the east and west sides of a village compete using massive ropes made of twisted rice straw. These ropes can reach two hundred meters in length and weigh up to forty tons. They are joined at the center by a wooden beam called a binyeomok. Players use smaller side-ropes as handles because the main ropes are too thick to grip directly. The match is typically brief, often decided by a single pull, though some contests go to best of three.

Rituals and beliefs

Ceremonies begin on the eve of the festival with prayers for victory and village safety. Participants guard their ropes against tampering, believing that stepping over them causes bad luck or affects conception. The connection of the ropes symbolizes sexual union and fecundity. The western team is traditionally favored to win, ensuring a prosperous harvest. Afterward, the winning team dissects the ropes, distributing the straw for its believed protective and nourishing properties.

Regional variations

Different areas have distinct forms of the tradition. In Gijisi, teams are divided by river direction rather than east and west. The Yeongsang ceremony occurs in March to commemorate historical events. Miryang features a unique crab tug-of-war where participants pull toward a central ring. A children's version called gosat juldarigi is played in streets before the main adult event, keeping the tradition alive across generations.

How Juldarigi is kept

Villagers gather on the eve of a festival to perform prayers known as goyu and gosa. Teams guard their respective ropes, which represent male and female forces, until dawn. A procession leads the ropes to the site, followed by a symbolic debate about their connection. The contest begins with cheers, usually ending quickly with the western team winning to ensure good fortune. Winners celebrate and then visit the losing captain's home in a mock funeral procession. The ropes are cut up, and the straw is sold or kept for protection.

When and where

It is held during lunar festivals such as Daeboreum or during droughts. The date varies by region, with some ceremonies moved to March for historical commemoration.

It is strongest in South Korea, particularly in rice-growing regions like Dangjin and Yeongsang. Similar practices exist in rural Southeast Asia.

What Juldarigi means

The game predicts the harvest and invokes rain through dragon symbolism. The rope connection represents sexual intercourse and fertility. Winning ensures abundance, while the distribution of straw provides spiritual protection and nourishment for the community.

Days Juldarigi is marked

Questions people ask about Juldarigi

See also

Bo BingA dice game played at Mid-Autumn, where mooncakes of many sizes are the prizesPunnukA tug of war in a river at harvest's end, kept by Tuwali-speaking villages in IfugaoJwibulloriA Korean New Year game of whirling fire-cans to clear fields and wish good luckDiwaliA five-day festival of lights celebrated across India and its diaspora to mark the victory of light over darkness.

Good reading and sources

• Juldarigi on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-13.