An illustrated guide to Korean mythology / Choi Won-Oh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ch'oe, Wŏn-o.

Series:

Brill eBook titles 2010

Standardized Title:

Hanʼguk sinhwa. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Legends--Korea.

Legends.

Tales--Korea.

Tales.

Mythology, Korean.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (330 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Folkestone [England] : Global Oriental, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This highly engaging volume by one of Korea’s leading scholars of comparative mythology – the the first study of its kind in English – provides a valuable introduction to centuries-old beliefs, myths and folk tales relating to Cosmology and Flood, Birth and Agriculture, Messengers of the Underworld, Shamans, Disease, Good Fortune, Love and Family, Gods of Village Shrines, and Heroes. Containing thirty traditional stories, the book is fully illustrated throughout and contains a wide variety of Korean art, including rare shamanist paintings, as well as the work of some contemporary Korean artists. All the stories, based on Korean oral tradition, have been retold by the author according to their main plot and meaning because the original texts’ songs by shamans, containing many obsolete words and obscure idioms, are not easily understood today. The original title and source, including text notes, are provided at the end of each story. The author’s Introduction sets out the historical background and significance of the myths that appear here. He also provides full details of each of the Korean gods and their roles in mythology. While being a welcome addition to the literature on Korean culture for the non-specialist, An Illustrated Guide to Korean Mythology also provides an invaluable reference source for scholars and researchers in the fields of East Asian Mythology and Anthropology, as well as Korean History, Religion and Literature.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / W. Choi

Introduction: Understanding Korean Myths / W. Choi

The Korean Gods / W. Choi

1. The Formation Of Heaven And Earth / W. Choi

2. Shoot For A Sun, Shoot For A Moon / W. Choi

3. A Man And A Woman Who Became The Gods Of The Sun And The Moon / W. Choi

4. Origin Of The Seven Stars Of The Great Bear / W. Choi

5. The Great Flood / W. Choi

6. The Grandmother Goddess Of Birth / W. Choi

7. Chach’ŏngbi Agriculture Goddess / W. Choi

8. Ch’ilsŏng, Grain Protection Goddess / W. Choi

9. Tanggŭm-aegi And The Three Chesŏk Gods / W. Choi

10. Samani Lived Three Thousand Years / W. Choi

11. Sama Changja And His Scapegoat Horse / W. Choi

12. Kangim Went Down To The Underworld To Capture The King Of Hades / W. Choi

13. Paridegi, Goddess Who Guides Dead Souls To The Underworld / W. Choi

14. The Three Brothers Who Became Shamans To Save Their Mother / W. Choi

15. If You Are A Great Shaman, Do You Possess The Gift Of Miracles? / W. Choi

16. Kaksi Sonnim, The Smallpox Goddess / W. Choi

17. A Benefit For All Sick Children / W. Choi

18. Kamŭnjang-agi, The Goddess Of Good Fortune / W. Choi

19. Onŭli, The Goddess Of Fortune-Telling / W. Choi

20. Bride Ch’ŏngjŏng And Her Sacrificial Death For Love / W. Choi

21. Hallakkungi, The Flower Warden God In The Sŏch’Ŏn Flower Garden / W. Choi

22. The House God And The House-Site Goddess / W. Choi

23. The Snake Goddess Migrated To Cheju Island / W. Choi

24. Gods Protecting A Village / W. Choi

25. Cheju Island’s Divine Gods / W. Choi

26. Sir Paekju And Sir Kŭmsang, Witchcrafters / W. Choi

27. A Hero Who Killed Poly-Headed Generals / W. Choi

28. Kunung, The Warrior God Of Preventing Misfortune / W. Choi

29. Tribute Of One Hundred Head Of White Horses / W. Choi

30. General Paek, Lake Ch’ǒnji Protecting God On Mount Paekdu / W. Choi

Further Reading / W. Choi.

Notes:

Originally published in Korea in two volumes.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [319]).

ISBN:

1-282-48613-6

9786612486135

90-04-21325-2

OCLC:

753480449

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9781905246601.i-320 DOI