Eunsan Byeolsinjae means a ceremony for guardian deity held in Byeolsindang, a sanctuary, at Eunsan village, Eunsan-myeon, Buyeo-gun. Long ago, many Yeongsters here died from epidemic.
At a night, an old man dreamed that a general, who had died in battle for safeguarding Baekje, entreated him to bury him and his subordinates in a sunny place in exchange for clearing plague. After awaking from dream, he went to the place and found many bones scattered. The village people buried them in a good place and held exorcism for consoling their spirits. Then, epidemic disappeared and the village regained peace. Since then, the village people have held a ceremony for the soldiers. That is the very Eunsan Byeolsinjae.
Eunsan Byeolsinjae is held every three years on January or February, where about 100 people participate for approximately 15 days. Ahead of the ceremony, village seniors appointed staff of preparing for the ceremony. The staff consisting of healthy and honest people are called as military post name such as General, Colonel, Lieutenant, and Private. It is because Eunsan Byeolsinjae has a feature of a ceremony for General.
The chief officiating priest preparing for sacrificial offerings keeps them intact and prevent evils from coming close to the ceremony by covering straw mat on well used for it and installing a rope in the surroundings and scattering yellow and black sands. After cutting down trees at the side of totem pole and making paper flowers to be offered to spirits, operators go to a shrine with holding white paper in their mouths in order to dispel evils. The ceremony started at night and finished at dawn.
After holding exorcism, a shaman holds road festival for the prosperity of the village and people set up totem poles on all sides of the village.
Eunsan Byeolsinjae is a folk festive to console spirits of Baekje soldiers and pray for peace and prosperity of the village.