Catholic Purgatorial Notion and Ancestral Rites in Late Choseon Period

This article overviews perception of purgatory from the book named Brief Explanation about Purgatory (煉獄略說) in late Choseon period. From these studies, following observations are drawn. First, purgatory is not only the other space seperated from heaven and hell but certain condition appearing in this world. Second, souls in purgatory can not make themselves reduce the weight of punishment. Third, devoted adherents can help souls in purgatory to come out of purgatory and then it is also necessary for devoted adherents to save themselves and for the sake of God. Through perception of purgatory in late Choseon period, we can highlight some particular connections between ritual practices of purgatory and ancestral rites. First, there is common ground between souls in purgatory and ghost(鬼神) in Choseon period. And for the sake of God, it is possible that people pray for their deceased ancestor not God