Suryukjae (Water and Land Ceremony), a ritual in which all the spirits of beings from both land and water are guided to the peaceful other world, was first performed during the early Joseon period. This ancient Buddhist rite has great historical and cultural significance and aesthetic merit, as confirmed by its appearance in numerous ancient texts, including Joseon wangjo sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty). The rite is performed night and day for the peace of all the living and the dead, whereas the Yeongsanjae (Celebration of Buddha's Sermon on Vulture Peak Mountain) was usually performed for the peace of individual beings.
A ritual ceremony called Araennyeok Suryukjae, currently preserved by Buddhists in the Gyeongsangnam-do area, is characterized by its wonderful integration of Buddhist ceremonial music and solemn ritual proceedings.