korean mythology
DESCRIPTION
MitologiaTRANSCRIPT
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Koreanmythology
MoongoddessofGoguryeo
Koreanname
Hangul Hanja RevisedRomanization Hangugsinhwa
McCuneReischauer Han'guksinhwa
KoreanmythologyFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
KoreanmythologyconsistsofnationallegendsandfolktaleswhichcomefromallovertheKoreanPeninsula.TheoriginmaybeablendofKoreanShaministicreligion,Buddhist,Chinesemyths,ConfucianandTaoistlegendsandmyths.Thelegendsmayalsovarygreatlybyregion,evenwithinthecountry.Forexample,thepeopleofJejuIslandhaveaverydifferentlifestylefromthatofthemainlandandsocangeneratedifferentformsofthesamemyths.[1]
InMuism,theshamanisticreligion,animismwasdominantastheprimesourceforreligiouslifefortheKoreanpeople.Particularworshipofmountains,animals,plantsstemfromthebeliefthattheyhadsoulsandoftenshowupinthefolktalesaswellastalkabouttributesandsacrifices,whetherliteral,orfigurative.[2]
Atthesametime,thereweregodsthatoccupiedcertaindomainsandtheywouldoftenshowupinfolktalesasdistantprotectorsthatcalledonhumanswhenaskedtoratherthaninterferingwitheverydaylife.[2]
EarlyinKoreanhistory,theshamanisticreligionwasdominantandbecauseearlyKoreawasdividedoftenintosmallerdomains,suchasSillaandGoguryeo,Baekje,thefolktalesandmythstendedtodifferalsobythoseregions.WiththearrivalofBuddhisminthe34thcentury,themythsandnativereligionbegantochangeasdidthemyths.[3]WiththeadventofNeoConfucianism,thenativereligionwassuppressedbythegovernmentwhereshamanswereoftenkilledforpracticingandsomanyofthelegendseitherchangedorwereblendedintoexistinglegends.
Contents
1Koreanshamanism2Cosmology3Classification
3.1Creationmyths3.2Floodmyths3.3Theunderworldmyths3.4Birthandagriculturemyths3.5Mythsaboutshamans3.6Diseasemyths3.7Gashinmyths3.8Heromyths
4Folklore4.1Moderntreatments
5MythologicalFigures
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Ashaman(baksu)holdingakut.
5MythologicalFigures6Supernaturalbeings
6.1Yokwe(monster)6.2Gwishin(ghosts)6.3Guardians
7Folktales7.1TheSunandtheMoon7.2Bonpuli
8Seealso9References10Externallinks
Koreanshamanism
Koreanshamanism(or"Muism")hasalargeinfluenceontheKoreanpeople,thoughthereligionitselfhasgone"underground".[3]It,too,hasalargeinfluenceonthemyths.
EarlyinMuism,oftenmenwereequatedtobirdsandwomenwereoftenequatedtofishorlandanimals.ThisoftenheldtrueforlatermythsnotbasedinMuism.ExamplescanbeseenthroughtheSamgukYusawheremenoftentransformedintobirdsandtalesofwomenincludewaterorfish.Forexample,theearlygoddess,Yuhwa,wassaidtobeawaternymph.ButHaemosuwassaidtobeaskygod.InthetaleaboutKimSuro,KimSurowassaidtotransformintoabirdasdidhisopponent,buthiswife,HeoHwangOkwassaidtohavecomebyboatfromthesea.ThisisveryconsistentthroughouttheThreeKingdomsperiodasseenintheSamgukYusa.
Mountainswereoftenalsotalkedaboutbeingsacred,andoftenalsoshowupinmyths,legendsandfolktales.Kingswereoftendeliveredtothetopofmountains,godscamedowntomountains,andevenmountainspirits,calledsanshinwereworshipped.[3]
Cosmology
ThecosmologyofKoreahaschangedovertimeasnewreligionshavebeenimportedintothecountryandbeenslowlysyncretized.Also,therearelargerregionaldifferenceswiththeoldermythologyratherthanthenewermythologywhenthecountrybecameunited.
FromtheprehistorytotheThreeKingdomsera,itisthoughtthatKoreansdidn'tbelieveinheavenandhelltheybelievedinthe"NextLife"whichwasslightlybetterthantheonehereandhadnoparticularlocationorplace.Itwasnotinaparticulartime,butoutoftherealmoftimeitself.[3]
Sanshin,Bonhyasin,andgeneralswereoftenworshippedasgodsandtookpartinmanymythsandlegends.Aswellasmanyanimals,particularlytalkinganimalsasinthelegendofUngnyeo"BearWoman",whowasabearwhoturnedintoahuman.[3]
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Despitethisbasiccommonality,thereligionandmythsvariedalotbylocation.HaeMosu,JumongandYuhwaweregodsfromGoguryeo,butKoenegitto,GrandmotherSeolmundae,Koeulla,PuellaandYangeulwerefromJejuisland.Eachkingdomandspecificregionmayhavehadtheirownformofworship.[3]
ThischangedwiththeintroductionofBuddhism,whereBuddhismbothadoptedtraditionalpracticesandviceversa.Thisincludedthechangeoftheafterlife,whichgainedaheaven,hellanddifferentlevelsofhellwithitsometimeinthe4thfifthcentury.TheserealmsnowerecalledIseung,Yongwangguk,andJeoseung.TwootherrealmsarevaguelymentionedOkhwang,locatedinthesky,andJihaguk,locatedunderground.[4]
KoreansreferredtothemortalworldasIseung,meaningthisworld.ItwashometotheGashin,orhouseholdgods,manyBonhyangshin(villagegods)andJosangshin(ancestraldeities),aswellastheSanshin"mountaingods".Evilspirits(Gwishin),suchasMongdal(spiritsofunmarriedman)andSongaxi(spiritsofunmarriedwoman),alsooccupiedthisrealm,asdidDokkaebi,thetricksterspiritsofoldtools.CertaindeitiesregularlycrossedoverfromtheirabodeintoIseungthesewereChasa,theenvoygods.TheseincludedJeoseungChasa,thereapersofthedead,whofeaturesinmostdeathrelatedmythsOkhwangChasa,whobroughttheheroHwanguyangssitothePalaceofCheonhaintheSeongjuPuli[4]andgodssuchasChoribdongioftheGunungBonpuli.,[5]whooccasionallycrossedoverfromthesea.
Yongwanggukistheunderseakingdom,occupiedbytheYongwang,thefivegodsoftheoceantheirnamesareGwangdeokoftheeast,Gwangliofthesouth,Gwangtaekofthewest,andGwangyeonofthenorth[6]Thesegodscouldmarrybetweeneachotherforexample,intheSamseungHalmangBonpuli,thedaughterofGwangtaekmarriedGwangdeok.However,thereiswar,too,inYongwanggukintheGunungBonpuli,GwangtaekisslainbyGwangdeok'sarmy.
JeoseungisruledbythetenUnderworldgods,theYeoldaewang.TheYeoldaewangofferdifferentpunishmentsJingangshredssinnerstopieces,Soganburnssinnersinanironpot,Songyewhipssinnersandexilesthem,andOganofferstheblessedfiretowithstandthecoldandmakessinnerspassnakedthroughhisicyrealm.Yeomyeoripsthetonguesofthosewhoearnedmoneythroughinterest,Bingshinhurlssinnersinapitfulloflizards,spiders,andsnakes,Taesangrindsthefleshofsinnersinsideabarn,andPaengdeungshredssinnerswithasaw.ThosewhoaredestroyedinPaengdeung'srealmmustreincarnateintothetwelvebeasts.Doshiundressessinners,hangsthemonatree,andhitsthemruthlessly,andYeolsisendstheblessedintothevillageofSang,locatedinMt.Seokhyo,andsendssinnersintoadarkrealmwherethereisnolight.
ThereisalsoavaguementionofOkhwang,theabodeoftheskygods,andJiha,abodeoftheearthgods.InOkhwangisaPalacecalledCheonhainJiha,therearemanymonsters,femaledeities,andpinetrees.
Finally,thereissaidtobeadarkrealmthathasnolight.Thekingofthatrealmsendshisgigantichounds,theBulgae,tohuntthesunandthemoonandbringthemtohisrealmhowever,whentheBulgaebitethesunandthemoon,theyfindthattheyaretoohot/coldandrunawaytotheirrealm.WhentheBulgaebitesthesun,itiscalledasolareclipsewhentheybitethemoon,itisalunareclipse.
Classification
Justasdifferentexpertswererespectedequally,allKoreangodswereequallyrespectedintheirfields.Koreansviewedallgodsasequalbecausetheyweretheretosolveproblemsinpeopleslives.Therefore,inordertobetterunderstandKoreanoralmyths,itisimportanttosetthetypesofproblemsthatmayoccurineverydaylivingsituations.
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TheKoreanmythssampledfromdifferentregionsclearlydemonstratethattherearevariousgodswhotakeessentiallyidenticalroles,butappearindifferentplots.Forexample,MireukintheChangsegaandDosuMunjangintheChogamjearebothcreatorgods,buttheirmythisentirelydifferent.IntheChangsega,Mireukmakestheworldandeverythinginit,whileintheChogamje,DosuMunjangmakesonlytheworld,thesuns,andthemoons.ThroughoutKorea,mythstellofMireuk(NorthernKorea),theHumunbrothers(CentralKorea),orDaebyeol(SouthernKorea),whodestroyedeachofthetwosunsandmoons.Itisdifficulttoclassifythemasdifferentmyths.
Oppositely,therearemythswithasimilarplot,butadifferentroleforthecharacters.Forexample,themythofDanggeumAegiandtheHyeongbulbrothers(northernandcentralKorea)andthemythofQueenNogadanpungjajimyeongandtheChogongbrothers(southernKorea)havenearlythesameplotavirginhaspremaritalsexwithapriestbyaccident,andhavethreesons,whosearchouttheirfather.However,intheDanggeumAegimyth,DanggeumAegibecomesthegoddessofchildbirth,andhersonsbecomethegodsoflife.IntheNogadanpungjajimyeongmyth,QueenNogadanpungjajimyeongbecomesthegoddessofluck,andhersonsbecometheUnderworldgods.
Koreanmythstendtofocusontheroleplayedbythegodwhoistheprotagonistinthestory.Accordingly,ChoiexplainedKoreanmythsaccordingtotherolesofthegods.[1]
Instead,theGreatEncyclopediaoftheCultureoftheKoreanPeople()classifiesgodsintothreegroupsshamanisticdeities,villagedeities,andGashin,orhousedeities.[7]
Creationmyths
Theseparationofheavenandearth,thecreationofthesun,themoonandstars,theoriginoffireandwater,theoriginofclothingandcooking,thegenesisofhumans,andthefightoverthisworldandtheunderworldaresystematicallyorganizedandwellpresentedincreationmyths,whichconveythetrueessenceofmythologicalphilosophy.
Thesemythsarerarecomparedtoothermythsofthepeninsula,asthecreatordeitieshavenodirectconnectionwiththepeople.However,therearethreesurvivingmythsconcerningcreationtheChangsegaofHamheung,theSirumalofSeoul,andtheCheonjiwangBonpuliofJejuIsland.
Amongthese,theChangsegaretellsthecreationoftheworldandtheconflictbetweenthecreatorandhisusurper.ManythemesintheChangsegaareuniquetoKorea.AccordingtotheChangsega,Mireukpartedtheworldbyputtingfourcopperpillarsbetweentheearthandthesky.Hedestroyedeachofthetwosunsandtwomoonsandcraftedthestarswiththedestroyedsunandmoon.Mireukdiscoveredfireandwaterfromamouseaftertorturingit(asagifttothemouse,Mireukgaveitthebarnsoftheworld),andmadethefirstclothesfromakudzuvine.Hecreatedhumansfromfivegoldenbugsandfivesilverbugs.Thebugsgrewintohumansthesilveroneswerewomenandthegoldenonesweremale.
Suddenly,thedeitySeokgaattemptedtousurpMireukinthreecontests.Inthefirstcontest,whichjudgedwhocouldstretchtheirropesacrosstheEastSea,Seokga'ssilverropebroke,butMireuk'sgoldenropedidnot.Thus,Mireukclaimedvictory.
Inthesecondcontest,thedeitieshadtomaketheSeongcheonriverconnecttoallotherriversintheuniverse.Seokgacalledonrainstorms,buthecouldnotmaketheSeongcheonconnectwithallotherrivers.Mireukcalledonwinterice,andmadetheSeongcheonconnectwithallotherrivers(becausewaterexpandswhenfrozen).
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Inthefinalcontest,MireukandSeokgagrewamagnoliaflower.Whilethetwodeitiesweresleeping,thedeitythatthemagnoliareachedforwouldbethewinner.ThemagnoliareachedforMireuk,butSeokgaseveredthemagnoliaandputitinhislap.TheangeredMireukcursedtheearth,creatingprostitution,betrayal,mentaldisorder,bragging,andotherimperfectionsoftheworld.Seokga,theinjustvictor,thenimprisonedMireuk.
Inthreedays,Mireukfledhisprisonbytransformingintoamuskdeer.Inresponse,SeokgaledhisthreethousandprieststokillMireuk.Seokgakilledandatethemuskdeer,andsharedMireuk'sfleshwithhispriests.Buttwoofthepriestsrefusedtoeatthevenison.TheywerekilledbySeokga,andturnedintoalargerockandapinetree.However,peoplestilleatflowerpancakes(Hwajeon)inremembranceofthemurderedpriests.[8]
TheSirumalandtheCheonjiwangBonpulishareasimilarplot,butthestoryoftheCheonjiwangBonpuliismuchmorevibrantthantheSirumal(formoredetals,seeCheonjiwangBonpuli).
OtherMythologies
TheCreationoftheWorld
Atthebeginningtheworlddidnotexist.AdeitynamedYulryeo()andagoddessnamedMago()appeared.Yulryeothendied.Magointurngavebirthtotwogoddesses:Gunghee()andSohee().TheyinturneachgavebirthtotwoMenofHeaven()andtwoWomenofHeaven().
AftertheappearanceoftheHeavenlyPeople,Yulryeoisrevivedandthroughherrebirthheaven,earth,andtheoceanswerecreated,alongwithChi(soul)(),fire(),water(),andearth().Thesefourelementsinturnmixedandbecameherbsandplants,birdsandanimals.
Mago()decidestostaywithYulryeo,whosebodyhadnowbecometheworld,andtheHeavenlyPeopleruledalllivingthingsfromtheirheavenlyfortressnamedMagoseong()inhonorofthegoddess.
TheComingofHumankind
TherewerefourHeavenlyMenguardingeachcardinaldirectionofthefortress,andtheywereCheonggung(),Hwanggung()whowerechildrenofGunghwee,andHukso(),Baekso()whowerechildrenofSohwee.TheyinturnmarriedthefourHeavenlyWomen,andgavebirthtotwelvechildren,whowouldbecometheancestorsofthehumans.
TheseancestorswerepureandwerehavesaidtodrinkfromEarth'sMilk(),whichcamefromaspringinsidethecastle.Theycouldspeakwithoutmakingsounds,andactwithoutseeingandneverdied.Thustheylivedfortenthousandyearsundisturbed.
Thentherecameatimewhenthenumberofpeoplebecametoolarge.TherewasnotenoughofEarth'sMilk(or"Jiyu")togoaroundforeveryone.Becauseofthis,amanfromthelineofBaekso()bythenameofJiso()decidedtocedehismealofEarth'sMilkfivetimestohisneighbours(otherversionssaythathewaitedinlinebutthelinewassolonghenevergothisturn).Eventuallyhishungergrewintolerable,anddecidingtokillhimselfheheadedtowardsacliff,wherehesawagrapevinegrowingintheedges.Unabletosuppresshishunger,heatethegrapesandimmediatelyacquiredthefivetastesofsourness,bitterness,spiciness,sweetness,andsaltiness.ThisisknownastheIncidentoftheFiveTastes().
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Jiso()returnedtohispeopleandtoldthemofhisdiscovery.Soonhowever,thosewhoatefromthesegrapesbegantogrowteeth.Fromtheteethspewedasalivathatturnedintovenom.Thiswasbecausetheyhadeatenanotherlivingthinginordertostayalive.
Soontheywereabletosee,butwerenolongerabletoheartheheavens.Theirskinbecamecoarse,theirfeetheavy,andtheywerenolongerpure.Theygavebirthtomanyanimalresemblingchildrenandtheirlifespansbegantoshrink.
ThereeventuallycameapointwhenthepeopleofMagosung()beganblamingJiso()forthetransformation,andhealongwithhisfamilyandallthosewhohadeatenthegrapeswereforcedtoleaveMagosung().
AsthelineofJisowasleaving,however,Hwanggung(:,oneofthefourguardiansandadirectancestoroftheKoreanpeople)triedtoencouragethembysayingthatiftheycouldrecovertheirpurenature,theywouldbefreeoftheirmisery.
Uponhearingthis,thepeoplebecameconvincedthattheonlywaytobecomepureoncemorewastodrinkfromEarth'sMilkagain.Theythenstormedthecastleandoverwhelmedit,razingthefortresstoitsfoundationsinordertorevealthesourceofthespringthathadgiventhemEarth'sMilk.Thespring,however,begantoflowinalldirectionsandthereafterthemilkturnedintoinedibleearth,leavingnotonlytheoriginalperpetratorsbutalltheformerinhabitantsofthenowdestroyedcastletostarve.
Soonthereafterthereensuedamassivefamine,andeveryonewasreducedtodevouringnotonlygrapes,butallsortsofplantsandevenanimalsinanattempttosatiatetheirhunger.OfthemonlyHwanggung()cameforthtoMago()andbeggedherforforgiveness.Hesworehewouldnotrestuntilmankindcouldrecoveritspurenature.FromherheobtainedtheThreeHeavenlyHeirlooms,andgreatknowledge.Hethencalledtogetherallthepeopleoftheearth,taughtthemagriculture,andgaveeachclanleaderaHeavenlyHeirloomandthensentthemoffindifferentdirectionstopeopletheearth.
TheSettlingoftheWorld
Cheonggung()wenttotheEast,whereheestablishedChina.
Baekso()andhispeoplemovedtotheWestandbecamethepeopleofEuropeandtheMiddleEast.
Hukso()movedtotheSouth,intotheregionthatisnowIndiaandSoutheastAsia.
TheEstablishmentofKorea
Hwanggung()tookthreethousandfollowersandtheyalonewenttotheharshNorth,toaplacecalledCheonsanju(),meaning"landoftheheavenlymountain"wherethelandwascoldanddangerous.Hehaddonethisonpurpose,becausehewantedtobepurifiedoncemore.Uponarrival,Hwanggung()signedanoathswearingthathewouldrecoverhispurity.
AdditionalDetails
Hwanggung()ruledforathousandyears,usingtheHeavenlyHeirloom,whichgrantedhimpoweroverfireandthesun.Hwanggungeventuallyachievedhisgoalofselfpurification.TohisoldestsonYuin()hegavetheHeavenlyHeirloomasasignofhisrighttogovernthekingdom,whereastohistwoyoungersonshegavetheresponsibilityofgoverningoveraprovinceeach.HethendepartedtotheHeavenlyMountain()wherehebecameastonethatcouldspeakYulryeo'smessage,constantlyremindingmenoftheirpathtoinnocence.
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Yuin()ruledforanotherthousandyears.UsingtheHeavenlyHeirloom,hetaughthispeoplehowtotamefireandcookfood.HelaterleftfortheHeavenlyMountainaswellandgavetheheirloomtohisasonbythenameofHanin()[sometimespronounced"Hwanin"].Hanin()wasthelastoftheheavenlyrulers,whousedthepoweroftheHeirloomtobringabundantsunlightandgoodweather.UnderthethreethousandyearsofpeacefulreignsinceHwanggung(),thepeopleeventuallylosttheiranimallikeappearanceandslowlybeganrecoveringtheirimage.
Floodmyths
TherearethreerecordedfloodmythsinKorea.Inthesiblingintermarriagemyth,mankindcontinueditsexistencethroughthemarriagebetweenasiblingwhosurvivedagiganticflood..
IntheNamuDoryeongmyth,NamuDoryeongplayedasimilarroleinthecontinuationofourhistoryafterabigflood.NamuDoryeongwasthesonofalaureltreespirit,whosurvivedthefloodbyfloatingonthelaurel.Hefirstsavedacolonyofantsfromtheflood,thenaswarmofmosquitoes,untilhehadsavedalltheanimalsoftheworld.NamuDoryeongfinallysavedayounghumanboy,despitethelaurel'sadviceagainstit.
Aftertheflood,NamuDoryeongmetacroneandhertwodaughtersonMt.Baekdu.Thecrone'sfamilydidnotdiebecauseMt.BaekduwasthehighestmountaininKorea.ThecronegaveNamuDoryongacontest,andifNamuDoryeongwon,hecouldhaveherdaughter'shandinmarriage.NamuDoryeongwonthecontestbecauseoftheaidofaswarmofants.TheantsweretheveryantsthatNamuDoryeonghadsaved.
Thus,NamuDoryeongandtheboymarriedthecrone'stwodaughters,andtheyformedthenextraceofhumans.
Theunderworldmyths
Oneofthemostimportantthingsweneedtonoteinthismythisthattheunderworldcontrolsthedeathofpeople.Inotherwords,peoplewillgototheunderworldaftertheydie.Also,evenYeomra,theKingoftheUnderworld,canbecapturedbyanofficerinthemortalworld.
ThebestknowndeathmythistheChasaBonpulimyth.TheheroGangrimDoryeongisorderedtocaptureYeomra,KingoftheUnderworld,byhisking(Kimchiwonnim)inordertodiscoverthereasonforthemysteriousdeathsofthethreesonsofGwayanggaxi.WithhelpfromMunshin,thedoorgod,andJowangshin,thekitchengod,GangrimDoryeongcapturesYeomra.AftertestingGangrimDoryeong'swisdom,YeomratellsKimchiwonnimthatthemysteriousdeathsarebecausethethreesonsareactuallythethreeprincesofBeomul,whoweremurderedbyGwayanggaxi.TheychosetoberebornasGwayanggaxi'ssonstotakerevengeontheirkillers.GangrimDoryeongbecamethedeathgod,whoreapsdeadsoulsandbringsthemtotheunderworld.[9]
Inothermyths,theprotagonistcheatsdeath.ThisthemeisuniversalthroughoutKorea,andappearsintheformofHwangcheonHonshi(ofNortheastKorea),JangjaPuli(ofSouthwestKorea),SamaniBonpuli(ofJejuIsland),andthemythofGeneralSineui(SoutheastKorea).Inmostofthesestories,theprotagonistbribesthedeathgodsintocheatingdeath.
Birthandagriculturemyths
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Thetwomainelementsinthebirthmytharebirthandagriculture.Thebirthmythiscloselyrelatedtowomen,sinceonlywomenhavethesecretofreproduction.Thus,thethreeconceptsofbirth,agricultureandwomen(orgoddesses)aretheimportantkeywordsinunderstandingthebirthmyth.
ThemythsaboutSamshin(goddessofbirth)andtheSamsegyeong(thethreegodsofagriculture)areexamplesofthis.IntheSamshinmyth,bothofthemaincharacters(themaleovelantPrincessoftheDragonPalaceoftheEastSeaandthekindPrincessoftheKingdomofMyeongjin)arefemale.
IntheromanticSegyeongBonpulimyth,theprotagonististhewomanJacheongBi.Inthisstory,JacheongBidisguiisesherselfasaman,andgoestoschoolwiththeteenageddeityMunDoryeong.Aftersecretlypretendingshewasamanforthreeyears,shesendsaletteronaleafwhileMunDoryeongisbathing,tellingMunDoryeongthetruth.MunDoryeongandJacheongBisharelovethatnight,thenMunDoryeongleavesforHeaven.
MunDoryeongdoesnotreturn,andJacheongBisendsherslave,JeongsuNam,tologinthewoodsandfeedthecattle.However,JeongsuNamdevoursallthecattle,dropshisaxeinalake,andgetsallhisclothesstolen.However,JeongsuNamliestoJacheongBithathemetMunDoryeong,andtriestohaveanaffairwithJacheongBi.JacheongBikillsJeongsuNambypiercinghisearwithathornedbranch.JeongsuNam'ssoulfliesaway,turningintoanowl.
JacheongBiischasedoutofthehousebecauseshemurderedsomeone,andshefindsherselfweavingtheclothesforMunDoryeong'swedding.Shesignshernameintheclothes,andMunDoryeongreturnstoJacheongBihowever,JacheongBistabsMunDoryeongwithaneedle,chasinghimaway.
JacheongBiagaindisguisesherselfasamanandgoestothehouseofSaraDoryeong,whohasflowersthatcanrevivethedead(Hwansaengkkot).SheapologizestoJeongsuNam,who(intheformofanowl)hasbeenmagicallycursingSaraDoryeong.Theowldies,andSaraDoryeonggivesJacheongBihisthirddaughterandtheHwansaengkkot.BecauseJacheongBiisawomananddoesnotwanttohaveanaffairwithanotherwoman,JacheongBifleeswiththeHwansaengkkotandbringsJeongsuNambacktolife.However,Jacheongbi'sparentsconsideriteviltomakeadeadpersonbealiveagain,andchaseJacheongBiawayagain.
JacheongBiencountersMunDoryeong,andcomestoheavenwithhim.However,MunDoryeonghadalreadypromisedtomarrythedaughterofKingSeosu,arulerofHeaven.MunDoryeong'sfather,KingMunseon,tellsthetwowomenthattheonewhocouldcrossaburningtrailfilledwithkniveswouldbeMundoryeong'swife.ThedaughterofSeosuwangrefused,butJacheongBicrossedthebridge.Whenshewipedherblood,menstruationbegan.
WhenJacheongBi'snewhusband,MunDoryeong,isorderedtofightanarmyofrebelghosts,JacheongBisendsMunDoryeongtoSaraDoryeong'smansionwhileshefights.Shedestroystherebellingspirits,butSaraDoryeong'sthirddaughterdoesnotwantMunDoryeongtoleave.Thus,thethirddaughtersaddlsMunDoryeong'shorsebackwards.JacheongBiisangeredwhensheseesMunDoryeongridingwithhisbacktowardsher,andpartsfromMunDoryeong.JacheongBirejoinsJeongsuNam,andwithMunDoryeong,theybecomethegodsofagriculture.
Mythsaboutshamans
MostKoreanfolkloreispassedonbyashamanwhoperformsashamanisticceremonycalledakut.Shamansarethusresponsiblefortransmittingmyths.Shamansbelongtoadespisedsocialclass,soitisquiteintriguingthattheyservedastransmittersofmythswhicharesacredstories.Wecanfindthe
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answertothisquestionintheoriginmythofshamans.Inancienttimes,shamansbelongedtothesacredclasswellrespectedbythecommunity.Therefore,itisquiteunderstandablethatthereshouldbemythsabouttheancestorsofshamansi.e.theoriginmythofshamans.
TheancestralshamanisbelievedtobeBari.BariwastheseventhdaughterofKingOgu,butshewasabandonedininfancy.Becauseheabandonedhisdaughter,KingOgusuddenlyfellsick.KingOgu'swifediscoveredBari.AfterfindingoutthattheonlywaytocureKingOguofhissicknesswouldbetodrinkthewaterofMt.Dongdae,Baribeganherjourney.
First,Bariencounteredanoldmanwhowasplowingthefield.Baridecidedtoplowthefieldfortheoldman.Suddenly,hundredsofmagicalanimalsfellfromtheskyandplowedthefield.Inreturn,theoldmantoldBarithedirectionofMt.Dongdae.
Bariencounteredaforkontheroad.Barididnotknowwhichdirectiontotake,sosheaskedanoldwoman.Inreturn,Bariwashedtheoldwoman'sclothesandkilledthelicecrawlingoverher.Theoldwomanthentoldwhichtrailtotake,andgaveBariagoldenbellandabranchwiththreemagicalflowers.Infact,theoldwomanwasMago,thecreatoroftheworld.
Baricrossedarangeoftwelvemountains.Eachofthemountainswerefullofghosts,buttheirhowlingcouldnotstopBarifromcrossingthem.Finally,BariencounteredtheHwangcheonRiver,ariverthatonlythedeadcouldcross.TheguardsofHwangcheonforbadeBarifromridingtheboatthatcrossedtheriver.BarishowedthemtheflowersthatMagohadgivenher.TheflowerssignifiedthatBariwasagoddess,andtheguardsgavepermissionforBaritocrosstheriver.
WhenBarireachedtheUnderworld,shefoundafortressbuiltofironthorns.Whenshewavedtheflowers,thefortressmeltedawayintosmoke,andallthesinnersimprisonedinthefortressweresetfree.
Barithenreachedapinkriver.Thewaterofthisrivercouldmelthumanflesh.WhenBariwavedthebell,arainbowbridgeformedovertheriver.BaricrossedtherainbowbridgeandreachedMt.Dongdae.
InMt.Dongdae,Dongsuja,keeperofMt.Dongdae,marriedBariandhadthreechildren.OnlyafterthethirdchildwasborndidDongsujarevealthewaterofMt.Dongdae.TheHwansaengkkot,orflowersthatcouldrevivethedead,grewnexttothewater.Shetookeachoftheflowersandscoopedupsomeofthewater.
Whenshecameback,shefoundthatDongsujahadabandonedherandherthreechildren.Barireturnedtoherhomeinnotime,butfoundthatbothKingOguandthequeenweredead.ShebroughtherparentsbacktolifewiththeHwansaengkkot,andcuredthesicknesswiththewater.Baribecamethedeathgoddess,theguiderofthedeadtotheUnderworld.Shealsobecamethefirstshaman,andthepatronofalltheshamansinKorea.[10]
Diseasemyths
Diseasemythsareaboutthegodswhogiveallkindsofdiseasetous.TherepresentativemythistheSonnimgut.ThefiftythreeSonnimnearethedeitiesofsmallpox.However,eventheSonnimne,whobringsmallpox,cangrantlongevityandsuccess.
AccordingtotheSonnimgut,fiftythreesmallpoxgods,calledtheSonnimne,livedinChina.However,theSonnimnewantedtoliveinKorea.ThreeSonnimne,ledbythebeautifulgoddessGaxiSonnim,headedtoKorea.
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However,theycouldnotcrosstheYaluRiver.Oneday,aferrymansaidthatthethreegodscouldcrosstheYaluonhisboatifGaxiSonnimsharedlovewithhim.GaxiSonnimpromptlyseveredtheferryman'sheadwithadagger.Then,shegavedeadlysmallpoxtotheferryman'ssevensons,killingtheeldestsix.Theseventhsonsurvived,albeitcompletelydisabled.Then,theycrossedtheYaluontheferryman'sboat.
WhenthegodsreachedSeoul,theyattemptedtosleepinthehouseoftherichKimJangja,butwasrefused.Instead,theysleptintheshackofthekindcrone,NogoHalmi.AfterblessingNogoHalmi'sgranddaughterwithlongetivityandgoodluck,thetrioheadedtowardsKimJangja'smansion.
KimJangjahidhissonCheolhyeoninahighmountain,andburnedpeppersoneverystreet(pepperwassaidtodriveawaytheSonnimne).TheangeredSonnimneattackedCheolhyeon,firstluringhimoutofthemountainthenwhippinghim.TheSonnimnepiercedsilverneedlesinCheolhyeon'sjoints,andfinally,KimJangjapromisedtohaveasacrificemadefortheSonnimne.However,thepromisewasfalse.ThegreatlyangeredSonnimnekilledCheolhyon,andtookhimasthefiftyfourthSonnimne.
WhiletheSonnimnewerereturningtoChina,theyfoundthatNogoHalmilivedinKimJangja'smansionwithhergranddaughterandsoninlaw,whileKimJangjalivedasasickbeggarinNogoHalmi'sshack.WhenCheolhyeoncriedoutatthissituation,theSonnimnegaveKimJangjasomemoneyandcuredhissickness.OnlysincethendidCheolhyeontrulyjointheSonnimne.[11]
Gashinmyths
Mainarticles:Gashin,Jowangshin,Teojushin,MunjeonBonpuli,Nulgubjishin,Munshin,Cheukshin
TheGashinarepatronsofthehouse,therooms,andvariousobjects.Asthekeepersofthefamily,mythsabouttheGashinareaboutthepreventionofthedestructionofthefamily.
Forexample,intheMunjeonBonpuli,theevilgoddessoftheouthouse,Noiljadae(orherdaughter,dependingonthesource),killsYeosanBuinandattemptstokillthesevenchildren.However,Noiljadaesuicideswhenherplanisfoiledbytheseventhson,Nokdisaengin,andYeosanBuinisbroughtbacktolifethroughtheHwansaengkkotflowers.
IntheSeongjuPuli,theevilmagicianSojinhangattemptstoclaimtheearthgoddess.However,Sojinhangisdefeated,andheturnsintoaJangseung,ortotempole.HisdaughtersturnintotheSeonangshin.
IntheSeongjoPurimyth,theprotagonist,AnsimgukofSeongjo,abandonshiswife,GyehwaBuin.Asaresult,heisabandonedinabareisland,wherehelivesforthreeyearsasafurredbeast.
Heromyths
Koreanheromythstendtoblendwithothermyths.Forexample,theChasaBonpuliintroducedearlierisaprimeexampleofaheromythhowever,itisalsorelatedtothemythsconcerningtheUnderworld,andistreatedassuch.IntheChasaBonpulimyth,themortalGangrimDoryeongcapturesYeomra,KingoftheUnderworld,andbringshimtohishomeland.
AnotherheromythistheCheonjiwangBonpulimyth.Theprotagonist,Daebyeol,shootsdownthesunandthemoon,destroyingit.However,theCheonjiwangBonpuliismoreofacreationmyththanaheromyth.
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DepictionofHyeonmu,NorthernGuardianinthetombof
Anexampleofa'pure'heromythistheGunungBonpulimyth.IntheGunungBonpuli,thegiantWangJanggunkillstheDragonKingoftheWestSeawithanarrowattherequestoftheDragonKingoftheEastSea.TheDragonKingoftheEastSeagiveshisdaughter'shandinmarriage,andthegiantWangJanggunandhisthreesonsbecometheGunungshin,orwargods.
Folklore
KoreahasarichfolkloretraditionwithdeeplinkstoKoreanshamanism.Forexample,thefolkloreaboutSimcheong,agirlwhothrewherselfintotheoceans,isderivedfromtheSimcheonggutmyth.TheSimcheonggutmythwasoriginallyusedtocureeyedisease(Simcheongmiraculouslycuredherfather'sblindness),butduringthesuppressionofKoreanShamanismintheJoseonDynasty,themythevolvedintoafolktale.
OtherfolktalesinvolveKoreandeities.Inonefolklore,anaxemanencountersaSanshin,thegodsofindividualmountains.Sanshingivestheaxemangoldenandsilveraxes.
IntheByeongangsoeTaryeongfolklore,ByeongangsoeusesJangseung(totempoles)forfirewood.HereceivestherageoftheJangseung,andsuddenlydies.
Moderntreatments
RecentachievementsinkeepingKoreanfolklorealivehavebeenthe150partanimatedTVseries,"AnimentaryKoreanFolklore",tellingoldtalesanewbutwithtraditional2DKoreanstyledanimation.
InKoreaitself,thecomicseriesWithGodbroughtanationalinterestaboutKoreanmythology.ThecomicstarsdeitiessuchastheShiwang(tenkingsoftheUnderworld),GangrimDoryeong(deathgod),Jowangshin,andCheukshin.
Koreanmythologyhasalsogivenbirthtoseveralonlineroleplayinggames,mostnotablyNexusTK.
MythologicalFigures
CheonjiwangThesupremeruleroftheworld,fatherofDaebyeolandSobyeol.DaebyeolSupremeKingoftheUnderworld.ThetenShiwangarehislieutenants.SobyeolSupremeKingoftheMortalWorld.Sobyeolrulesthemortals,buthispowerislesserthanDaebyeol's.QueenBajiSupremeQueenoftheEarth.SheisCheonjiwang'swife,andthemotherofDaebyeolandSobyeol.Dae(soon)nimTheMoon,brotheroftheSun.Hae(sik)nimTheSun,sisteroftheMoon.CheonhaDaejanggunVillageGuardian&GeneralunderHeaven,husbandofJihayeojanggun.Heisrepresentedasatotempolewithascaryface,constructedinfrontofavillageentrance.JihayeojanggunVillageGuardian&GeneralunderEarth,wifeofCheonhaDaejanggun.Sheisrepresentedasatotempolewithalsoscarybutmorefeminineface,constructedinfrontofa
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villageentrancewithherhusband.Sheprotectsthevillagewithherhusband.SanshinMountaingodsGashinthepatronsofvariousroomsandobjectsinthehouseholdJowangshinaGashinthedeityoffireandthehearthTeojushinaGashinandtheearthdeityNulgubjishingodofgrainCheukshingoddessoftheouthouseSeongjushinthegodoftheactualhousesupremeleaderoftheGashinMunshinthedoorgodOeyangganshinthepatronofcattleandhorsesCheollyunggodofthespicepotsEobshingoddessofwealthSamshingoddessofchildbirthYongwangThefiveDragonKingsoftheseas,butnotnecessarilyadragon(usuallyanoldhuman).OgushinPrincessBari(seeabove)becametheOgushinafterrevivingherdeadparents.AftertheJeoseungChasa(deathgods)splitthesoulfromthebody,theOgushinguidesthemtotheUnderworld.HonshiSeonginthethreegodswhoavoidedtheJeoseungChasaandlivedforanadditionalsixtyyears.Theyprotectchildrenfromillness.JeoseungHalmangThegoddesswhobringsdeathtochildren.ShiwangTenkingsoftheUnderworld,whojudgethedeadineachindividualrealm.YeomraLeaderoftheShiwang.Sonnimne(seeabove)Fiftyfoursmallpoxdeities.OnlyfourarenamedGaxiSonnim,HobanSonnim,MubanSonnim,andCheolhyeon.SeonnyeoAngellikebeings.TheyarethefemalelieutenantsofCheonjiwang.TheonlynamedSeonnyeoisOneuli.JuhseungChasaGodsofdeath.Traditionallythree,thesegodsreapdeadsouls.Whentheyreadaperson'snamethreetimes,thepersondies.TheirleaderisGangrimDoryeong(alsoseeabove),amortalwhocapturedYeomra,KingoftheUnderworld.HislieutenantsareHaeWonmaekandYiDeokchun.Meanwhile,HwadeokChasareapsthosewhodiedonfires.YonggungChaasareapsthosewhodiedintheocean,DanmulChasatakesthosewhodrownedinwells,andTuseokChasareapsthosewhowerekilledbyrocksorstones.Sosamshin,goddessofcowbirthSeonangsin,tutelarydeityofthevillage
Supernaturalbeings
ChollimaYakchaChollidongigae,Manlidongigae:Dogswhogoes1000liaday,10000liadayBaeksaseum:Whitedeerwhichruns5000liadayGeumsaseum:GoldendeerlivingintheMt.Baekdu
Yokwe(monster)
Kumiho()Aninetailedfoxwhocanusepowerfulillusionsandcurses.Bulyeowoo()Afoxthatismorethan100yearsold,andcanbedisguisedasawoman.Dokkaebi()spiritswhokeepclubsandenjoymischievoustricks.Mostarebelievedtohavemagicalpowers.Imugi()Aformbeforeadragon.Aftertrainingfor1000years,itcantransformtothedragon.Samjokgu()Athreeleggeddogorthreeeyeddog.Thesearebelievedtorecognizethe
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Kumihosindisguise.Kkangcheoli()Afailedimugi.Haetae()Aprotectorspirit.Bulgasari()AnIroneatingmonster.
Gwishin(ghosts)
Gwishinarethedepartedsoulsofpeoplewhohavedied.
MoolGwishinadepartedsoulinwaterChonyoGwishinthedepartedsoulofavirginMongDalGwishinthedepartedsoulofanunmarriedmanDalGyalGwishinaghostwithanegg(DalGyal)head,whosefacehasnoeyes,nose,ormouth
Guardians
Samjoko()Athreeleggedbird.OnceconsideredthesymbolofthepowerandsunintheGoguryeokingdom.Kkoktu
Folktales
TheSunandtheMoon
TheSunandtheMoon(Hangul: )isaKoreanfolktaleaboutatigerwhogobblesupandimpersonatesthemotherofayoungboyandhissister.Asisterandbrotherarewaitingfortheirmomtogethome.However,theirmotherislateandthegirlbeginstogetcaughtupinherownimagination.Asuspiciousdeliverymanknocksonthedoor,andthesiblingstrynottoopenit.andintheendtheybothdie[12]
Bonpuli
MunjeonBonpuliIgongBonpuliCheonjiwangBonpuli
Seealso
KoreancultureKoreanliteratureListofKorearelatedtopics
References1. ChoiWonOh(2008),AnillustratedguidetoKoreanmythology,ISBN97819052466012. Kim,DukWhang,AhistoryofreligionsinKorea,19883. ChangSookyung/KimTaekonKoreanShamanismMuism(1998).4. AliveKoreanMythology5. "VirtualEncyclopediaofKoreanFolkReligionShamanismShamanisticMythsGunungBonpuli"
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(http://folkency.nfm.go.kr/minsok/dic_index.jsp?P_MENU=03&DIC_ID=2467&ref=T3&S_idx=1&P_FIELD=F03&cur_page=1).
6. "VirtualEncyclopediaofKoreanFolkReligionShamanismShamanisticDeitiesYongshin"(http://folkency.nfm.go.kr/minsok/dic_index.jsp?P_MENU=03&DIC_ID=2711&ref=T3&S_idx=41&P_FIELD=F02&cur_page=5).
7. http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=795112&mobile&categoryId=16278. Changsega,page16199. AliveKoreanMythology,page140158
10. AliveKoreanMythology,page9110911. AliveKoreanMythology,page687512. http://asianfolktales.unescoapceiu.org/folktales/read/korea_2.htm
Externallinks
AnimatedKBSTVSeries(http://english.kbs.co.kr/explore/what/1334186_11794.html)http://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/m1.htmhttp://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/m2.htmhttp://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/m3.htmhttp://www.koreatips.net/english/culture/tale.htmlhttp://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/0707love.htmChungAngUniversityFolkloreResearchCentre(http://www.cau.ac.kr/english/research/institutes.html?seq=18)
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