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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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