Korean Shamanism

By: Brett Powell Ray

Etymology

In English, Muism or (mugyo) in Korean

Mu, , or is the base for Shaman
This refers to the indigenous religious beliefs of the Korean people

Whats a Shaman?
Shaman or (Mudang) serve as a medium who commune with the gods for humans.

What does a shaman do?

Mudang hold services (, gut) which have many functions or purposes like:
Calling for good fortune Curing illnesses Exorcising spirits Appeasing patron gods Guiding spirits of the deceased to the world of the dead

Tradition
The tradition itself is very eclectic, not exclusive like later religions
For example, Christianity is an exclusive religion which does not allow following other faiths. When Christianity came to Korea, missionaries demonized Muism.

System of pantheistic gods is somewhat unorganized and general The cosmology includes many (essentially infinite) gods, spirits, ghosts, demons, etc.

Muism and Buddhism

Buddhism had large success in Korea and largely replaced indigenous religion, yet the legacy and tradition of Muism has influenced Korean Buddhism and both traditions are said to have similarities in such matters as cosmology

Where is it practiced?
South Korea: 8% of the population
Certain regions in Korean, particularly in the south, are known for shamanistic traditions

North Korea: an estimated 16% of the pop.

Little information of modern practices Similar practices are also found in Siberia, Mongolia, Manchuria as long as on the Islands of Jeju and Ryukyu (Japan)

History
Shamanistic traditions date back to prehistoric times and are based in agricultural societies Shamanism wasnt necessarily popular among Confucian believers, but did have a lot of influence on Korean Buddhism Today, modern mudang are oriented toward serving the spiritual needs of urban individuals