Trends and Challenges in the Study of the Baekje’s State Rituals

Baekje’s state rituals include the rites of the Dongmyeong Shrine, the rites of the State Mother Shrine, the rites of the Gutae Shrine, the joint rites for the heaven and the earth, and the rites for the heaven and five emperors. In the study of the rites of the Dongmyeong Shrine, the focus was on the location of the shrine, the basic nature of its ceremonies, and the causes of changes in its status. In the study of the rites of the State Mother Shrine, significant progress could not be made due to the scantiness of relatedrecords. In the study of the rites of the Gutae Shrine, a consensus on basic issues was not reached, but efforts were made to get a rough idea of what it was like at the time. As a result of active discussions in the study of the joint rites for the heaven and the earth, the true nature of the rituals, including the similarity between the combined this rituals and Chinese heaven-worship rituals(郊祀), was somewhat clarified. In the study of the rites for the heaven and five emperors, various perspectives were presented on the nature of the five emperors, as well as the timing and significance of the rituals, with consideration of the trends in Chinese heaven-worship rituals. Through the achievements of previous research, we have come closer to understanding the true nature of Baekje's state rituals. However, for furtheradvancement in related research, it is necessary to approach based on historical records, examine the interplay between royal authority and contemporary realities, maintain interest in societal and cultural foundations, and refer to com parative cases and excavation findings.