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Koreanmythology
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Koreanmythologyconsistsofnationallegendsand
folktaleswhichcomefromallovertheKorean
Peninsula.TheoriginmaybeablendofKorean
Shaministicreligion,Buddhist,Chinesemyths,
ConfucianandTaoistlegendsandmyths.Thelegends
mayalsovarygreatlybyregion,evenwithinthe
country.Forexample,thepeopleofJejuIslandhavea
verydifferentlifestylefromthatofthemainlandand
socangeneratedifferentformsofthesamemyths.[1]
InMuism,theshamanisticreligion,animismwas
dominantastheprimesourceforreligiouslifeforthe
Koreanpeople.Particularworshipofmountains,
animals,plantsstemfromthebeliefthattheyhad
soulsandoftenshowupinthefolktalesaswellastalk
abouttributesandsacrifices,whetherliteral,or
figurative.[2]

Koreanmythology

MoongoddessofGoguryeo
Koreanname
Hangul

Hanja

RevisedRomanization

Hangugsinhwa

McCuneReischauer

Han'guksinhwa

Atthesametime,thereweregodsthatoccupied
certaindomainsandtheywouldoftenshowupin
folktalesasdistantprotectorsthatcalledonhumanswhenaskedtoratherthaninterferingwitheveryday
life.[2]
EarlyinKoreanhistory,theshamanisticreligionwasdominantandbecauseearlyKoreawasdivided
oftenintosmallerdomains,suchasSillaandGoguryeo,Baekje,thefolktalesandmythstendedtodiffer
alsobythoseregions.WiththearrivalofBuddhisminthe34thcentury,themythsandnativereligion
begantochangeasdidthemyths.[3]WiththeadventofNeoConfucianism,thenativereligionwas
suppressedbythegovernmentwhereshamanswereoftenkilledforpracticingandsomanyofthe
legendseitherchangedorwereblendedintoexistinglegends.

Contents
1Koreanshamanism
2Cosmology
3Classification
3.1Creationmyths
3.2Floodmyths
3.3Theunderworldmyths
3.4Birthandagriculturemyths
3.5Mythsaboutshamans
3.6Diseasemyths
3.7Gashinmyths
3.8Heromyths
4Folklore
4.1Moderntreatments
5MythologicalFigures

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5MythologicalFigures
6Supernaturalbeings
6.1Yokwe(monster)
6.2Gwishin(ghosts)
6.3Guardians
7Folktales
7.1TheSunandtheMoon
7.2Bonpuli
8Seealso
9References
10Externallinks

Koreanshamanism
Koreanshamanism(or"Muism")hasalargeinfluenceonthe
Koreanpeople,thoughthereligionitselfhasgone
"underground".[3]It,too,hasalargeinfluenceonthemyths.
EarlyinMuism,oftenmenwereequatedtobirdsandwomen
wereoftenequatedtofishorlandanimals.Thisoftenheldtrue
forlatermythsnotbasedinMuism.Examplescanbeseen
throughtheSamgukYusawheremenoftentransformedinto
birdsandtalesofwomenincludewaterorfish.Forexample,
theearlygoddess,Yuhwa,wassaidtobeawaternymph.But
Haemosuwassaidtobeaskygod.InthetaleaboutKimSuro,
KimSurowassaidtotransformintoabirdasdidhis
opponent,buthiswife,HeoHwangOkwassaidtohavecome
byboatfromthesea.Thisisveryconsistentthroughoutthe
ThreeKingdomsperiodasseenintheSamgukYusa.
Ashaman(baksu)holdingakut.

Mountainswereoftenalsotalkedaboutbeingsacred,andoften
alsoshowupinmyths,legendsandfolktales.Kingswereoften
deliveredtothetopofmountains,godscamedowntomountains,andevenmountainspirits,called
sanshinwereworshipped.[3]

Cosmology
ThecosmologyofKoreahaschangedovertimeasnewreligionshavebeenimportedintothecountry
andbeenslowlysyncretized.Also,therearelargerregionaldifferenceswiththeoldermythologyrather
thanthenewermythologywhenthecountrybecameunited.
FromtheprehistorytotheThreeKingdomsera,itisthoughtthatKoreansdidn'tbelieveinheavenand
helltheybelievedinthe"NextLife"whichwasslightlybetterthantheonehereandhadnoparticular
locationorplace.Itwasnotinaparticulartime,butoutoftherealmoftimeitself.[3]
Sanshin,Bonhyasin,andgeneralswereoftenworshippedasgodsandtookpartinmanymythsand
legends.Aswellasmanyanimals,particularlytalkinganimalsasinthelegendofUngnyeo"Bear
Woman",whowasabearwhoturnedintoahuman.[3]

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Despitethisbasiccommonality,thereligionandmythsvariedalotbylocation.HaeMosu,Jumongand
YuhwaweregodsfromGoguryeo,butKoenegitto,GrandmotherSeolmundae,Koeulla,Puellaand
YangeulwerefromJejuisland.Eachkingdomandspecificregionmayhavehadtheirownformof
worship.[3]
ThischangedwiththeintroductionofBuddhism,whereBuddhismbothadoptedtraditionalpracticesand
viceversa.Thisincludedthechangeoftheafterlife,whichgainedaheaven,hellanddifferentlevelsof
hellwithitsometimeinthe4thfifthcentury.TheserealmsnowerecalledIseung,Yongwangguk,and
Jeoseung.TwootherrealmsarevaguelymentionedOkhwang,locatedinthesky,andJihaguk,located
underground.[4]
KoreansreferredtothemortalworldasIseung,meaningthisworld.ItwashometotheGashin,or
householdgods,manyBonhyangshin(villagegods)andJosangshin(ancestraldeities),aswellasthe
Sanshin"mountaingods".Evilspirits(Gwishin),suchasMongdal(spiritsofunmarriedman)and
Songaxi(spiritsofunmarriedwoman),alsooccupiedthisrealm,asdidDokkaebi,thetricksterspiritsof
oldtools.CertaindeitiesregularlycrossedoverfromtheirabodeintoIseungthesewereChasa,the
envoygods.TheseincludedJeoseungChasa,thereapersofthedead,whofeaturesinmostdeathrelated
mythsOkhwangChasa,whobroughttheheroHwanguyangssitothePalaceofCheonhaintheSeongju
Puli[4]andgodssuchasChoribdongioftheGunungBonpuli.,[5]whooccasionallycrossedoverfrom
thesea.
Yongwanggukistheunderseakingdom,occupiedbytheYongwang,thefivegodsoftheoceantheir
namesareGwangdeokoftheeast,Gwangliofthesouth,Gwangtaekofthewest,andGwangyeonofthe
north[6]Thesegodscouldmarrybetweeneachotherforexample,intheSamseungHalmangBonpuli,
thedaughterofGwangtaekmarriedGwangdeok.However,thereiswar,too,inYongwanggukinthe
GunungBonpuli,GwangtaekisslainbyGwangdeok'sarmy.
JeoseungisruledbythetenUnderworldgods,theYeoldaewang.TheYeoldaewangofferdifferent
punishmentsJingangshredssinnerstopieces,Soganburnssinnersinanironpot,Songyewhipssinners
andexilesthem,andOganofferstheblessedfiretowithstandthecoldandmakessinnerspassnaked
throughhisicyrealm.Yeomyeoripsthetonguesofthosewhoearnedmoneythroughinterest,Bingshin
hurlssinnersinapitfulloflizards,spiders,andsnakes,Taesangrindsthefleshofsinnersinsideabarn,
andPaengdeungshredssinnerswithasaw.ThosewhoaredestroyedinPaengdeung'srealmmust
reincarnateintothetwelvebeasts.Doshiundressessinners,hangsthemonatree,andhitsthem
ruthlessly,andYeolsisendstheblessedintothevillageofSang,locatedinMt.Seokhyo,andsends
sinnersintoadarkrealmwherethereisnolight.
ThereisalsoavaguementionofOkhwang,theabodeoftheskygods,andJiha,abodeoftheearthgods.
InOkhwangisaPalacecalledCheonhainJiha,therearemanymonsters,femaledeities,andpinetrees.
Finally,thereissaidtobeadarkrealmthathasnolight.Thekingofthatrealmsendshisgigantic
hounds,theBulgae,tohuntthesunandthemoonandbringthemtohisrealmhowever,whenthe
Bulgaebitethesunandthemoon,theyfindthattheyaretoohot/coldandrunawaytotheirrealm.When
theBulgaebitesthesun,itiscalledasolareclipsewhentheybitethemoon,itisalunareclipse.

Classification
Justasdifferentexpertswererespectedequally,allKoreangodswereequallyrespectedintheirfields.
Koreansviewedallgodsasequalbecausetheyweretheretosolveproblemsinpeopleslives.Therefore,
inordertobetterunderstandKoreanoralmyths,itisimportanttosetthetypesofproblemsthatmay
occurineverydaylivingsituations.
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TheKoreanmythssampledfromdifferentregionsclearlydemonstratethattherearevariousgodswho
takeessentiallyidenticalroles,butappearindifferentplots.Forexample,MireukintheChangsegaand
DosuMunjangintheChogamjearebothcreatorgods,buttheirmythisentirelydifferent.Inthe
Changsega,Mireukmakestheworldandeverythinginit,whileintheChogamje,DosuMunjangmakes
onlytheworld,thesuns,andthemoons.ThroughoutKorea,mythstellofMireuk(NorthernKorea),the
Humunbrothers(CentralKorea),orDaebyeol(SouthernKorea),whodestroyedeachofthetwosuns
andmoons.Itisdifficulttoclassifythemasdifferentmyths.
Oppositely,therearemythswithasimilarplot,butadifferentroleforthecharacters.Forexample,the
mythofDanggeumAegiandtheHyeongbulbrothers(northernandcentralKorea)andthemythof
QueenNogadanpungjajimyeongandtheChogongbrothers(southernKorea)havenearlythesameplot
avirginhaspremaritalsexwithapriestbyaccident,andhavethreesons,whosearchouttheirfather.
However,intheDanggeumAegimyth,DanggeumAegibecomesthegoddessofchildbirth,andhersons
becomethegodsoflife.IntheNogadanpungjajimyeongmyth,QueenNogadanpungjajimyeong
becomesthegoddessofluck,andhersonsbecometheUnderworldgods.
Koreanmythstendtofocusontheroleplayedbythegodwhoistheprotagonistinthestory.
Accordingly,ChoiexplainedKoreanmythsaccordingtotherolesofthegods.[1]
Instead,theGreatEncyclopediaoftheCultureoftheKoreanPeople()classifies
godsintothreegroupsshamanisticdeities,villagedeities,andGashin,orhousedeities.[7]

Creationmyths
Theseparationofheavenandearth,thecreationofthesun,themoonandstars,theoriginoffireand
water,theoriginofclothingandcooking,thegenesisofhumans,andthefightoverthisworldandthe
underworldaresystematicallyorganizedandwellpresentedincreationmyths,whichconveythetrue
essenceofmythologicalphilosophy.
Thesemythsarerarecomparedtoothermythsofthepeninsula,asthecreatordeitieshavenodirect
connectionwiththepeople.However,therearethreesurvivingmythsconcerningcreationthe
ChangsegaofHamheung,theSirumalofSeoul,andtheCheonjiwangBonpuliofJejuIsland.
Amongthese,theChangsegaretellsthecreationoftheworldandtheconflictbetweenthecreatorand
hisusurper.ManythemesintheChangsegaareuniquetoKorea.AccordingtotheChangsega,Mireuk
partedtheworldbyputtingfourcopperpillarsbetweentheearthandthesky.Hedestroyedeachofthe
twosunsandtwomoonsandcraftedthestarswiththedestroyedsunandmoon.Mireukdiscoveredfire
andwaterfromamouseaftertorturingit(asagifttothemouse,Mireukgaveitthebarnsoftheworld),
andmadethefirstclothesfromakudzuvine.Hecreatedhumansfromfivegoldenbugsandfivesilver
bugs.Thebugsgrewintohumansthesilveroneswerewomenandthegoldenonesweremale.
Suddenly,thedeitySeokgaattemptedtousurpMireukinthreecontests.Inthefirstcontest,which
judgedwhocouldstretchtheirropesacrosstheEastSea,Seokga'ssilverropebroke,butMireuk'sgolden
ropedidnot.Thus,Mireukclaimedvictory.
Inthesecondcontest,thedeitieshadtomaketheSeongcheonriverconnecttoallotherriversinthe
universe.Seokgacalledonrainstorms,buthecouldnotmaketheSeongcheonconnectwithallother
rivers.Mireukcalledonwinterice,andmadetheSeongcheonconnectwithallotherrivers(because
waterexpandswhenfrozen).

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Inthefinalcontest,MireukandSeokgagrewamagnoliaflower.Whilethetwodeitiesweresleeping,
thedeitythatthemagnoliareachedforwouldbethewinner.ThemagnoliareachedforMireuk,but
Seokgaseveredthemagnoliaandputitinhislap.TheangeredMireukcursedtheearth,creating
prostitution,betrayal,mentaldisorder,bragging,andotherimperfectionsoftheworld.Seokga,theinjust
victor,thenimprisonedMireuk.
Inthreedays,Mireukfledhisprisonbytransformingintoamuskdeer.Inresponse,Seokgaledhisthree
thousandprieststokillMireuk.Seokgakilledandatethemuskdeer,andsharedMireuk'sfleshwithhis
priests.Buttwoofthepriestsrefusedtoeatthevenison.TheywerekilledbySeokga,andturnedintoa
largerockandapinetree.However,peoplestilleatflowerpancakes(Hwajeon)inremembranceofthe
murderedpriests.[8]
TheSirumalandtheCheonjiwangBonpulishareasimilarplot,butthestoryoftheCheonjiwang
BonpuliismuchmorevibrantthantheSirumal(formoredetals,seeCheonjiwangBonpuli).
OtherMythologies
TheCreationoftheWorld
Atthebeginningtheworlddidnotexist.AdeitynamedYulryeo()andagoddessnamed
Mago()appeared.Yulryeothendied.Magointurngavebirthtotwogoddesses:Gunghee
()andSohee().TheyinturneachgavebirthtotwoMenofHeaven()and
twoWomenofHeaven().
AftertheappearanceoftheHeavenlyPeople,Yulryeoisrevivedandthroughherrebirthheaven,
earth,andtheoceanswerecreated,alongwithChi(soul)(),fire(),water(),andearth
().Thesefourelementsinturnmixedandbecameherbsandplants,birdsandanimals.
Mago()decidestostaywithYulryeo,whosebodyhadnowbecometheworld,andthe
HeavenlyPeopleruledalllivingthingsfromtheirheavenlyfortressnamedMagoseong()
inhonorofthegoddess.
TheComingofHumankind
TherewerefourHeavenlyMenguardingeachcardinaldirectionofthefortress,andtheywereCheong
gung(),Hwanggung()whowerechildrenofGunghwee,andHukso(),
Baekso()whowerechildrenofSohwee.TheyinturnmarriedthefourHeavenlyWomen,and
gavebirthtotwelvechildren,whowouldbecometheancestorsofthehumans.
TheseancestorswerepureandwerehavesaidtodrinkfromEarth'sMilk(),whichcamefrom
aspringinsidethecastle.Theycouldspeakwithoutmakingsounds,andactwithoutseeingandnever
died.Thustheylivedfortenthousandyearsundisturbed.
Thentherecameatimewhenthenumberofpeoplebecametoolarge.TherewasnotenoughofEarth's
Milk(or"Jiyu")togoaroundforeveryone.Becauseofthis,amanfromthelineofBaekso()
bythenameofJiso()decidedtocedehismealofEarth'sMilkfivetimestohisneighbours
(otherversionssaythathewaitedinlinebutthelinewassolonghenevergothisturn).Eventuallyhis
hungergrewintolerable,anddecidingtokillhimselfheheadedtowardsacliff,wherehesawagrape
vinegrowingintheedges.Unabletosuppresshishunger,heatethegrapesandimmediatelyacquired
thefivetastesofsourness,bitterness,spiciness,sweetness,andsaltiness.ThisisknownastheIncident
oftheFiveTastes().

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Jiso()returnedtohispeopleandtoldthemofhisdiscovery.Soonhowever,thosewhoate
fromthesegrapesbegantogrowteeth.Fromtheteethspewedasalivathatturnedintovenom.Thiswas
becausetheyhadeatenanotherlivingthinginordertostayalive.
Soontheywereabletosee,butwerenolongerabletoheartheheavens.Theirskinbecamecoarse,their
feetheavy,andtheywerenolongerpure.Theygavebirthtomanyanimalresemblingchildrenandtheir
lifespansbegantoshrink.
ThereeventuallycameapointwhenthepeopleofMagosung()beganblamingJiso(
)forthetransformation,andhealongwithhisfamilyandallthosewhohadeatenthegrapeswere
forcedtoleaveMagosung().
AsthelineofJisowasleaving,however,Hwanggung(:,oneofthefourguardiansanda
directancestoroftheKoreanpeople)triedtoencouragethembysayingthatiftheycouldrecovertheir
purenature,theywouldbefreeoftheirmisery.
Uponhearingthis,thepeoplebecameconvincedthattheonlywaytobecomepureoncemorewasto
drinkfromEarth'sMilkagain.Theythenstormedthecastleandoverwhelmedit,razingthefortresstoits
foundationsinordertorevealthesourceofthespringthathadgiventhemEarth'sMilk.Thespring,
however,begantoflowinalldirectionsandthereafterthemilkturnedintoinedibleearth,leavingnot
onlytheoriginalperpetratorsbutalltheformerinhabitantsofthenowdestroyedcastletostarve.
Soonthereafterthereensuedamassivefamine,andeveryonewasreducedtodevouringnotonlygrapes,
butallsortsofplantsandevenanimalsinanattempttosatiatetheirhunger.OfthemonlyHwanggung
()cameforthtoMago()andbeggedherforforgiveness.Hesworehewouldnotrest
untilmankindcouldrecoveritspurenature.FromherheobtainedtheThreeHeavenlyHeirlooms,and
greatknowledge.Hethencalledtogetherallthepeopleoftheearth,taughtthemagriculture,andgave
eachclanleaderaHeavenlyHeirloomandthensentthemoffindifferentdirectionstopeopletheearth.
TheSettlingoftheWorld
Cheonggung()wenttotheEast,whereheestablishedChina.
Baekso()andhispeoplemovedtotheWestandbecamethepeopleofEuropeandtheMiddle
East.
Hukso()movedtotheSouth,intotheregionthatisnowIndiaandSoutheastAsia.
TheEstablishmentofKorea
Hwanggung()tookthreethousandfollowersandtheyalonewenttotheharshNorth,toa
placecalledCheonsanju(),meaning"landoftheheavenlymountain"wherethelandwas
coldanddangerous.Hehaddonethisonpurpose,becausehewantedtobepurifiedoncemore.Upon
arrival,Hwanggung()signedanoathswearingthathewouldrecoverhispurity.
AdditionalDetails
Hwanggung()ruledforathousandyears,usingtheHeavenlyHeirloom,whichgrantedhim
poweroverfireandthesun.Hwanggungeventuallyachievedhisgoalofselfpurification.Tohisoldest
sonYuin()hegavetheHeavenlyHeirloomasasignofhisrighttogovernthekingdom,
whereastohistwoyoungersonshegavetheresponsibilityofgoverningoveraprovinceeach.Hethen
departedtotheHeavenlyMountain()wherehebecameastonethatcouldspeakYulryeo's
message,constantlyremindingmenoftheirpathtoinnocence.
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Yuin()ruledforanotherthousandyears.UsingtheHeavenlyHeirloom,hetaughthispeople
howtotamefireandcookfood.HelaterleftfortheHeavenlyMountainaswellandgavetheheirloom
tohisasonbythenameofHanin()[sometimespronounced"Hwanin"].Hanin
()wasthelastoftheheavenlyrulers,whousedthepoweroftheHeirloomtobringabundant
sunlightandgoodweather.UnderthethreethousandyearsofpeacefulreignsinceHwanggung(
),thepeopleeventuallylosttheiranimallikeappearanceandslowlybeganrecoveringtheirimage.

Floodmyths
TherearethreerecordedfloodmythsinKorea.Inthesiblingintermarriagemyth,mankindcontinuedits
existencethroughthemarriagebetweenasiblingwhosurvivedagiganticflood..
IntheNamuDoryeongmyth,NamuDoryeongplayedasimilarroleinthecontinuationofourhistory
afterabigflood.NamuDoryeongwasthesonofalaureltreespirit,whosurvivedthefloodbyfloating
onthelaurel.Hefirstsavedacolonyofantsfromtheflood,thenaswarmofmosquitoes,untilhehad
savedalltheanimalsoftheworld.NamuDoryeongfinallysavedayounghumanboy,despitethe
laurel'sadviceagainstit.
Aftertheflood,NamuDoryeongmetacroneandhertwodaughtersonMt.Baekdu.Thecrone'sfamily
didnotdiebecauseMt.BaekduwasthehighestmountaininKorea.ThecronegaveNamuDoryonga
contest,andifNamuDoryeongwon,hecouldhaveherdaughter'shandinmarriage.NamuDoryeong
wonthecontestbecauseoftheaidofaswarmofants.TheantsweretheveryantsthatNamuDoryeong
hadsaved.
Thus,NamuDoryeongandtheboymarriedthecrone'stwodaughters,andtheyformedthenextraceof
humans.

Theunderworldmyths
Oneofthemostimportantthingsweneedtonoteinthismythisthattheunderworldcontrolsthedeath
ofpeople.Inotherwords,peoplewillgototheunderworldaftertheydie.Also,evenYeomra,theKing
oftheUnderworld,canbecapturedbyanofficerinthemortalworld.
ThebestknowndeathmythistheChasaBonpulimyth.TheheroGangrimDoryeongisorderedto
captureYeomra,KingoftheUnderworld,byhisking(Kimchiwonnim)inordertodiscoverthereason
forthemysteriousdeathsofthethreesonsofGwayanggaxi.WithhelpfromMunshin,thedoorgod,and
Jowangshin,thekitchengod,GangrimDoryeongcapturesYeomra.AftertestingGangrimDoryeong's
wisdom,YeomratellsKimchiwonnimthatthemysteriousdeathsarebecausethethreesonsareactually
thethreeprincesofBeomul,whoweremurderedbyGwayanggaxi.Theychosetoberebornas
Gwayanggaxi'ssonstotakerevengeontheirkillers.GangrimDoryeongbecamethedeathgod,who
reapsdeadsoulsandbringsthemtotheunderworld.[9]
Inothermyths,theprotagonistcheatsdeath.ThisthemeisuniversalthroughoutKorea,andappearsin
theformofHwangcheonHonshi(ofNortheastKorea),JangjaPuli(ofSouthwestKorea),Samani
Bonpuli(ofJejuIsland),andthemythofGeneralSineui(SoutheastKorea).Inmostofthesestories,the
protagonistbribesthedeathgodsintocheatingdeath.

Birthandagriculturemyths

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Thetwomainelementsinthebirthmytharebirthandagriculture.Thebirthmythiscloselyrelatedto
women,sinceonlywomenhavethesecretofreproduction.Thus,thethreeconceptsofbirth,agriculture
andwomen(orgoddesses)aretheimportantkeywordsinunderstandingthebirthmyth.
ThemythsaboutSamshin(goddessofbirth)andtheSamsegyeong(thethreegodsofagriculture)are
examplesofthis.IntheSamshinmyth,bothofthemaincharacters(themaleovelantPrincessofthe
DragonPalaceoftheEastSeaandthekindPrincessoftheKingdomofMyeongjin)arefemale.
IntheromanticSegyeongBonpulimyth,theprotagonististhewomanJacheongBi.Inthisstory,
JacheongBidisguiisesherselfasaman,andgoestoschoolwiththeteenageddeityMunDoryeong.
Aftersecretlypretendingshewasamanforthreeyears,shesendsaletteronaleafwhileMunDoryeong
isbathing,tellingMunDoryeongthetruth.MunDoryeongandJacheongBisharelovethatnight,then
MunDoryeongleavesforHeaven.
MunDoryeongdoesnotreturn,andJacheongBisendsherslave,JeongsuNam,tologinthewoodsand
feedthecattle.However,JeongsuNamdevoursallthecattle,dropshisaxeinalake,andgetsallhis
clothesstolen.However,JeongsuNamliestoJacheongBithathemetMunDoryeong,andtriestohave
anaffairwithJacheongBi.JacheongBikillsJeongsuNambypiercinghisearwithathornedbranch.
JeongsuNam'ssoulfliesaway,turningintoanowl.
JacheongBiischasedoutofthehousebecauseshemurderedsomeone,andshefindsherselfweaving
theclothesforMunDoryeong'swedding.Shesignshernameintheclothes,andMunDoryeongreturns
toJacheongBihowever,JacheongBistabsMunDoryeongwithaneedle,chasinghimaway.
JacheongBiagaindisguisesherselfasamanandgoestothehouseofSaraDoryeong,whohasflowers
thatcanrevivethedead(Hwansaengkkot).SheapologizestoJeongsuNam,who(intheformofanowl)
hasbeenmagicallycursingSaraDoryeong.Theowldies,andSaraDoryeonggivesJacheongBihis
thirddaughterandtheHwansaengkkot.BecauseJacheongBiisawomananddoesnotwanttohavean
affairwithanotherwoman,JacheongBifleeswiththeHwansaengkkotandbringsJeongsuNambackto
life.However,Jacheongbi'sparentsconsideriteviltomakeadeadpersonbealiveagain,andchase
JacheongBiawayagain.
JacheongBiencountersMunDoryeong,andcomestoheavenwithhim.However,MunDoryeonghad
alreadypromisedtomarrythedaughterofKingSeosu,arulerofHeaven.MunDoryeong'sfather,King
Munseon,tellsthetwowomenthattheonewhocouldcrossaburningtrailfilledwithkniveswouldbe
Mundoryeong'swife.ThedaughterofSeosuwangrefused,butJacheongBicrossedthebridge.When
shewipedherblood,menstruationbegan.
WhenJacheongBi'snewhusband,MunDoryeong,isorderedtofightanarmyofrebelghosts,Jacheong
BisendsMunDoryeongtoSaraDoryeong'smansionwhileshefights.Shedestroystherebellingspirits,
butSaraDoryeong'sthirddaughterdoesnotwantMunDoryeongtoleave.Thus,thethirddaughter
saddlsMunDoryeong'shorsebackwards.JacheongBiisangeredwhensheseesMunDoryeongriding
withhisbacktowardsher,andpartsfromMunDoryeong.JacheongBirejoinsJeongsuNam,andwith
MunDoryeong,theybecomethegodsofagriculture.

Mythsaboutshamans
MostKoreanfolkloreispassedonbyashamanwhoperformsashamanisticceremonycalledakut.
Shamansarethusresponsiblefortransmittingmyths.Shamansbelongtoadespisedsocialclass,soitis
quiteintriguingthattheyservedastransmittersofmythswhicharesacredstories.Wecanfindthe

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answertothisquestionintheoriginmythofshamans.Inancienttimes,shamansbelongedtothesacred
classwellrespectedbythecommunity.Therefore,itisquiteunderstandablethatthereshouldbemyths
abouttheancestorsofshamansi.e.theoriginmythofshamans.
TheancestralshamanisbelievedtobeBari.BariwastheseventhdaughterofKingOgu,butshewas
abandonedininfancy.Becauseheabandonedhisdaughter,KingOgusuddenlyfellsick.KingOgu's
wifediscoveredBari.AfterfindingoutthattheonlywaytocureKingOguofhissicknesswouldbeto
drinkthewaterofMt.Dongdae,Baribeganherjourney.
First,Bariencounteredanoldmanwhowasplowingthefield.Baridecidedtoplowthefieldfortheold
man.Suddenly,hundredsofmagicalanimalsfellfromtheskyandplowedthefield.Inreturn,theold
mantoldBarithedirectionofMt.Dongdae.
Bariencounteredaforkontheroad.Barididnotknowwhichdirectiontotake,sosheaskedanold
woman.Inreturn,Bariwashedtheoldwoman'sclothesandkilledthelicecrawlingoverher.Theold
womanthentoldwhichtrailtotake,andgaveBariagoldenbellandabranchwiththreemagical
flowers.Infact,theoldwomanwasMago,thecreatoroftheworld.
Baricrossedarangeoftwelvemountains.Eachofthemountainswerefullofghosts,buttheirhowling
couldnotstopBarifromcrossingthem.Finally,BariencounteredtheHwangcheonRiver,ariverthat
onlythedeadcouldcross.TheguardsofHwangcheonforbadeBarifromridingtheboatthatcrossedthe
river.BarishowedthemtheflowersthatMagohadgivenher.TheflowerssignifiedthatBariwasa
goddess,andtheguardsgavepermissionforBaritocrosstheriver.
WhenBarireachedtheUnderworld,shefoundafortressbuiltofironthorns.Whenshewavedthe
flowers,thefortressmeltedawayintosmoke,andallthesinnersimprisonedinthefortressweresetfree.
Barithenreachedapinkriver.Thewaterofthisrivercouldmelthumanflesh.WhenBariwavedthe
bell,arainbowbridgeformedovertheriver.BaricrossedtherainbowbridgeandreachedMt.Dongdae.
InMt.Dongdae,Dongsuja,keeperofMt.Dongdae,marriedBariandhadthreechildren.Onlyafterthe
thirdchildwasborndidDongsujarevealthewaterofMt.Dongdae.TheHwansaengkkot,orflowersthat
couldrevivethedead,grewnexttothewater.Shetookeachoftheflowersandscoopedupsomeofthe
water.
Whenshecameback,shefoundthatDongsujahadabandonedherandherthreechildren.Barireturned
toherhomeinnotime,butfoundthatbothKingOguandthequeenweredead.Shebroughtherparents
backtolifewiththeHwansaengkkot,andcuredthesicknesswiththewater.Baribecamethedeath
goddess,theguiderofthedeadtotheUnderworld.Shealsobecamethefirstshaman,andthepatronof
alltheshamansinKorea.[10]

Diseasemyths
Diseasemythsareaboutthegodswhogiveallkindsofdiseasetous.Therepresentativemythisthe
Sonnimgut.ThefiftythreeSonnimnearethedeitiesofsmallpox.However,eventheSonnimne,who
bringsmallpox,cangrantlongevityandsuccess.
AccordingtotheSonnimgut,fiftythreesmallpoxgods,calledtheSonnimne,livedinChina.However,
theSonnimnewantedtoliveinKorea.ThreeSonnimne,ledbythebeautifulgoddessGaxiSonnim,
headedtoKorea.

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However,theycouldnotcrosstheYaluRiver.Oneday,aferrymansaidthatthethreegodscouldcross
theYaluonhisboatifGaxiSonnimsharedlovewithhim.GaxiSonnimpromptlyseveredthe
ferryman'sheadwithadagger.Then,shegavedeadlysmallpoxtotheferryman'ssevensons,killingthe
eldestsix.Theseventhsonsurvived,albeitcompletelydisabled.Then,theycrossedtheYaluonthe
ferryman'sboat.
WhenthegodsreachedSeoul,theyattemptedtosleepinthehouseoftherichKimJangja,butwas
refused.Instead,theysleptintheshackofthekindcrone,NogoHalmi.AfterblessingNogoHalmi's
granddaughterwithlongetivityandgoodluck,thetrioheadedtowardsKimJangja'smansion.
KimJangjahidhissonCheolhyeoninahighmountain,andburnedpeppersoneverystreet(pepperwas
saidtodriveawaytheSonnimne).TheangeredSonnimneattackedCheolhyeon,firstluringhimoutof
themountainthenwhippinghim.TheSonnimnepiercedsilverneedlesinCheolhyeon'sjoints,and
finally,KimJangjapromisedtohaveasacrificemadefortheSonnimne.However,thepromisewas
false.ThegreatlyangeredSonnimnekilledCheolhyon,andtookhimasthefiftyfourthSonnimne.
WhiletheSonnimnewerereturningtoChina,theyfoundthatNogoHalmilivedinKimJangja's
mansionwithhergranddaughterandsoninlaw,whileKimJangjalivedasasickbeggarinNogo
Halmi'sshack.WhenCheolhyeoncriedoutatthissituation,theSonnimnegaveKimJangjasomemoney
andcuredhissickness.OnlysincethendidCheolhyeontrulyjointheSonnimne.[11]

Gashinmyths
Mainarticles:Gashin,Jowangshin,Teojushin,MunjeonBonpuli,Nulgubjishin,Munshin,Cheukshin
TheGashinarepatronsofthehouse,therooms,andvariousobjects.Asthekeepersofthefamily,myths
abouttheGashinareaboutthepreventionofthedestructionofthefamily.
Forexample,intheMunjeonBonpuli,theevilgoddessoftheouthouse,Noiljadae(orherdaughter,
dependingonthesource),killsYeosanBuinandattemptstokillthesevenchildren.However,Noiljadae
suicideswhenherplanisfoiledbytheseventhson,Nokdisaengin,andYeosanBuinisbroughtbackto
lifethroughtheHwansaengkkotflowers.
IntheSeongjuPuli,theevilmagicianSojinhangattemptstoclaimtheearthgoddess.However,
Sojinhangisdefeated,andheturnsintoaJangseung,ortotempole.Hisdaughtersturnintothe
Seonangshin.
IntheSeongjoPurimyth,theprotagonist,AnsimgukofSeongjo,abandonshiswife,GyehwaBuin.Asa
result,heisabandonedinabareisland,wherehelivesforthreeyearsasafurredbeast.

Heromyths
Koreanheromythstendtoblendwithothermyths.Forexample,theChasaBonpuliintroducedearlieris
aprimeexampleofaheromythhowever,itisalsorelatedtothemythsconcerningtheUnderworld,and
istreatedassuch.IntheChasaBonpulimyth,themortalGangrimDoryeongcapturesYeomra,Kingof
theUnderworld,andbringshimtohishomeland.
AnotherheromythistheCheonjiwangBonpulimyth.Theprotagonist,Daebyeol,shootsdownthesun
andthemoon,destroyingit.However,theCheonjiwangBonpuliismoreofacreationmyththanahero
myth.

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Anexampleofa'pure'heromythistheGunungBonpulimyth.IntheGunungBonpuli,thegiantWang
JanggunkillstheDragonKingoftheWestSeawithanarrowattherequestoftheDragonKingofthe
EastSea.TheDragonKingoftheEastSeagiveshisdaughter'shandinmarriage,andthegiantWang
JanggunandhisthreesonsbecometheGunungshin,orwargods.

Folklore
Koreahasarichfolkloretraditionwithdeeplinksto
Koreanshamanism.Forexample,thefolkloreabout
Simcheong,agirlwhothrewherselfintotheoceans,
isderivedfromtheSimcheonggutmyth.The
Simcheonggutmythwasoriginallyusedtocureeye
disease(Simcheongmiraculouslycuredherfather's
blindness),butduringthesuppressionofKorean
ShamanismintheJoseonDynasty,themythevolved
intoafolktale.
OtherfolktalesinvolveKoreandeities.Inone
folklore,anaxemanencountersaSanshin,thegods
ofindividualmountains.Sanshingivestheaxeman
goldenandsilveraxes.

DepictionofHyeonmu,NorthernGuardianinthe
tombof

IntheByeongangsoeTaryeongfolklore,
ByeongangsoeusesJangseung(totempoles)for
firewood.HereceivestherageoftheJangseung,andsuddenlydies.

Moderntreatments
RecentachievementsinkeepingKoreanfolklorealivehavebeenthe150partanimatedTVseries,
"AnimentaryKoreanFolklore",tellingoldtalesanewbutwithtraditional2DKoreanstyledanimation.
InKoreaitself,thecomicseriesWithGodbroughtanationalinterestaboutKoreanmythology.The
comicstarsdeitiessuchastheShiwang(tenkingsoftheUnderworld),GangrimDoryeong(deathgod),
Jowangshin,andCheukshin.
Koreanmythologyhasalsogivenbirthtoseveralonlineroleplayinggames,mostnotablyNexusTK.

MythologicalFigures
CheonjiwangThesupremeruleroftheworld,fatherofDaebyeolandSobyeol.
DaebyeolSupremeKingoftheUnderworld.ThetenShiwangarehislieutenants.
SobyeolSupremeKingoftheMortalWorld.Sobyeolrulesthemortals,buthispowerislesser
thanDaebyeol's.
QueenBajiSupremeQueenoftheEarth.SheisCheonjiwang'swife,andthemotherofDaebyeol
andSobyeol.
Dae(soon)nimTheMoon,brotheroftheSun.
Hae(sik)nimTheSun,sisteroftheMoon.
CheonhaDaejanggunVillageGuardian&GeneralunderHeaven,husbandofJihayeojanggun.
Heisrepresentedasatotempolewithascaryface,constructedinfrontofavillageentrance.
JihayeojanggunVillageGuardian&GeneralunderEarth,wifeofCheonhaDaejanggun.Sheis
representedasatotempolewithalsoscarybutmorefeminineface,constructedinfrontofa
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villageentrancewithherhusband.Sheprotectsthevillagewithherhusband.
SanshinMountaingods
Gashinthepatronsofvariousroomsandobjectsinthehousehold
JowangshinaGashinthedeityoffireandthehearth
TeojushinaGashinandtheearthdeity
Nulgubjishingodofgrain
Cheukshingoddessoftheouthouse
SeongjushinthegodoftheactualhousesupremeleaderoftheGashin
Munshinthedoorgod
Oeyangganshinthepatronofcattleandhorses
Cheollyunggodofthespicepots
Eobshingoddessofwealth
Samshingoddessofchildbirth
YongwangThefiveDragonKingsoftheseas,butnotnecessarilyadragon(usuallyanold
human).
OgushinPrincessBari(seeabove)becametheOgushinafterrevivingherdeadparents.Afterthe
JeoseungChasa(deathgods)splitthesoulfromthebody,theOgushinguidesthemtothe
Underworld.
HonshiSeonginthethreegodswhoavoidedtheJeoseungChasaandlivedforanadditionalsixty
years.Theyprotectchildrenfromillness.
JeoseungHalmangThegoddesswhobringsdeathtochildren.
ShiwangTenkingsoftheUnderworld,whojudgethedeadineachindividualrealm.
YeomraLeaderoftheShiwang.
Sonnimne(seeabove)Fiftyfoursmallpoxdeities.OnlyfourarenamedGaxiSonnim,Hoban
Sonnim,MubanSonnim,andCheolhyeon.
SeonnyeoAngellikebeings.TheyarethefemalelieutenantsofCheonjiwang.Theonlynamed
SeonnyeoisOneuli.
JuhseungChasaGodsofdeath.Traditionallythree,thesegodsreapdeadsouls.Whentheyreada
person'snamethreetimes,thepersondies.TheirleaderisGangrimDoryeong(alsoseeabove),a
mortalwhocapturedYeomra,KingoftheUnderworld.HislieutenantsareHaeWonmaekandYi
Deokchun.Meanwhile,HwadeokChasareapsthosewhodiedonfires.YonggungChaasareaps
thosewhodiedintheocean,DanmulChasatakesthosewhodrownedinwells,andTuseokChasa
reapsthosewhowerekilledbyrocksorstones.
Sosamshin,goddessofcowbirth
Seonangsin,tutelarydeityofthevillage

Supernaturalbeings
Chollima
Yakcha
Chollidongigae,Manlidongigae:Dogswhogoes1000liaday,10000liaday
Baeksaseum:Whitedeerwhichruns5000liaday
Geumsaseum:GoldendeerlivingintheMt.Baekdu

Yokwe(monster)
Kumiho()Aninetailedfoxwhocanusepowerfulillusionsandcurses.
Bulyeowoo()Afoxthatismorethan100yearsold,andcanbedisguisedasawoman.
Dokkaebi()spiritswhokeepclubsandenjoymischievoustricks.Mostarebelievedto
havemagicalpowers.
Imugi()Aformbeforeadragon.Aftertrainingfor1000years,itcantransformtothe
dragon.
Samjokgu()Athreeleggeddogorthreeeyeddog.Thesearebelievedtorecognizethe
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Kumihosindisguise.
Kkangcheoli()Afailedimugi.
Haetae()Aprotectorspirit.
Bulgasari()AnIroneatingmonster.

Gwishin(ghosts)
Gwishinarethedepartedsoulsofpeoplewhohavedied.
MoolGwishinadepartedsoulinwater
ChonyoGwishinthedepartedsoulofavirgin
MongDalGwishinthedepartedsoulofanunmarriedman
DalGyalGwishinaghostwithanegg(DalGyal)head,whosefacehasnoeyes,
nose,ormouth

Guardians
Samjoko()Athreeleggedbird.Onceconsideredthesymbolofthepowerandsuninthe
Goguryeokingdom.
Kkoktu

Folktales
TheSunandtheMoon
TheSunandtheMoon(Hangul: )isaKoreanfolktaleaboutatigerwhogobblesupand
impersonatesthemotherofayoungboyandhissister.Asisterandbrotherarewaitingfortheirmomto
gethome.However,theirmotherislateandthegirlbeginstogetcaughtupinherownimagination.A
suspiciousdeliverymanknocksonthedoor,andthesiblingstrynottoopenit.andintheendtheyboth
die[12]

Bonpuli
MunjeonBonpuli
IgongBonpuli
CheonjiwangBonpuli

Seealso
Koreanculture
Koreanliterature
ListofKorearelatedtopics

References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

ChoiWonOh(2008),AnillustratedguidetoKoreanmythology,ISBN9781905246601
Kim,DukWhang,AhistoryofreligionsinKorea,1988
ChangSookyung/KimTaekonKoreanShamanismMuism(1998).
AliveKoreanMythology
"VirtualEncyclopediaofKoreanFolkReligionShamanismShamanisticMythsGunungBonpuli"

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6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

KoreanmythologyWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

(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).
"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).
http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=795112&mobile&categoryId=1627
Changsega,page1619
AliveKoreanMythology,page140158
AliveKoreanMythology,page91109
AliveKoreanMythology,page6875
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.htm
http://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/m2.htm
http://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/m3.htm
http://www.koreatips.net/english/culture/tale.html
http://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/0707love.htm
ChungAngUniversityFolkloreResearchCentre
(http://www.cau.ac.kr/english/research/institutes.html?seq=18)
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