Shamanism

Question 1

What is Shamanism

Answer 1

ancient healing tradition, way of life, way to connect with nature

Question 2

Shaman

Answer 2

무당
female: 만신
male: 박수

Question 3

who can be a shaman?

Answer 3

-in ancient times: political leaders -> the role of officiants in services for worshipping heavenly spirits -> origin of shaman
ex: 단군 - the founder of 고조선
차차웅 - title for the King of Silla
-korean shaman categorised in two:
1. Possessed Shaman
2. Hereditary Shaman

Question 4

Hereditary Shaman 세습무

Answer 4

-inherits the calling -> part of a family trade
-regions south of Han river
-not experiencing possession
-training in the shamanic practice
-directly channels the language of the gods through his or her body

Question 5

Possessed Shaman 강신문

Answer 5

-experience direct contact with the gods and naturally interconnected
-내림굿 - possession ritual
-not inherited
-possess a strong sense of spirituality
-agent that delivers the god’s words

Question 6

Descent of Spirit 신내림

Answer 6

-phenomenon of being possessed by a spirit in a transcendental state of mind
bingui (possession)
jeopsin (contact with spirit)
gangsin (descent of spirit)
manga (loss of self)
-shaman’s body is possessed by a spirit and her consciousness is also seized
-half-conscious state, retaining self-control and adjusting to one’s surroundings
-excessive stimulation of the senses

Question 7

Mountain God

Answer 7

산신
-village guardian deity
-animism: natural physical entities possess a spiritual essence
-often transformed to the tiger or sinseon
-단군 -> became 산신

Question 8

단군 -founder of 고조선 2333-108 BCE

Answer 8

-worshipped as a deity in korean folk religion
-interpreted as shaman:
-the ruler of Gojoseon
-ritual officiant of the highest authority
-deification as Josang= Ancestral God, 산신 of Gojoseon

Question 9

God of Deceased Ancestors

Answer 9

말명
-the soul of a deceased female -> all deceased souls
-garment tailored, kept inside a small widow basket -> to ensure the safety of the surviving family
-ancestor died young or without gettin married -> can incur harm -> must be worshipped as 말명

Question 10

General Choe Yeong 최영 장군

Answer 10

-military commander in late Goryeo
-one of several martial gods worshipped in Korean shamanism originated from historical figures
-tragic life led him -> to be deified
-most widely worshipped among martial gods

Question 11

Dragon King 🌊

Answer 11

용왕
-deity of the river and sea
-overseeing peace in the house
-good health and longevity in the family
-harvest, catch, safe sailing
-dragon = devine creature that appears throughout Korean mythology
-communities worshipped as water god -> holding divine powers to control rainfall

Question 12

Clown god

Answer 12

창부씨
- a deity in charge of entertainment and the arts
- a famous clown died and was enshrined, or deified
-A character of artistic and theatrical spirit -> requires a loud and entertaining performance by musicians and dancers

Question 13

Village Guardian Deity

Answer 13

서낭
- Comprised of a stone stack altar, a divine tree (sinsu) marked with five-colored ribbons (osaekcheon)
-Promote solidarity and cooperation in the community
- Served as facilities to guard and protect the village with the help of divine pow
- for preserving the welfare and prosperity of the community, and for treating illnesses and eradicating bad fortune
- A venue of worship (seonangdang) is located at the entrance of the village, the foot of a mountain, or flat, open spaces

Question 14

Ancestor God

Answer 14

조산
- Include all immediate and extended family, both male and female
- all other deceased souls including those who died before marriage, who died a tragic or untimely death
- Quite different from shamanic rituals or Confucian memorial services:
-Rice or mulberry paper is kept inside earthenware jars or baskets as sacred entity
-Replace each year, sometimes accompanied by a shamanic ritual

Question 15

House Guardian God

Answer 15

성주
- The highest deity in the house
- A building god born when a new house is built, when a family moves to a new house, or when a new family is for
- Oversees every element related to the household:
Secure the safety of construction
Protect the family, furniture and appliances
Bring peace and good fortune in the family
Brings cattle, grains, rice paddies and silk clothing to the home
Ensures the longevity of parents and proliferation of offspring

Question 16

Kitchen God

Answer 16

조왕
- A fire god that governs the kitchen and oversees the fortunes of the family and the health and w
- The kitchen is also a space for the women of the house, and thus Jowang is a deity worshipped by the wife in the family or her mother-in-law.

Question 17

Goddess of Childbearing

Answer 17

삼신
- a shamanic deity and household god that oversees the birth and growth of children
- Believed that humans are born with the blessing of Samsin, and their lifespan is determined by Chilseong(Seven Stars)
- Worship rituals are held on seasonal holidays
Seol(Lunar New Year)
Harvest holiday Chuseok
Jeongwoldaeboreum (Great Full Moon)
Dongji (Winter Solstice)
- Replace the grains contained in sacred entities and on occasions related to childbirth, child illness, or other troubles in the family

Question 18

Shaman Gods and Deities

Answer 18

Mountain God 산신
Founder of 고조선 - 단군
God of deceased ancestors 말명
General Choe Yeong
Dragon King 용왕
Clown God 창부씨
Village guardian deity 서낭
Ancestor God 조상
House Guardian God 성주
Kitchen God 조왕
Goddess of Childbearing 삼신

Question 19

Shamanic ritual

Answer 19

굿
- A ritual officiated by a shaman, with a table of sacrificial offerings (gutsang) for the gods, and accompanied by song, dance, music and perform
- A point of encounter between humans and divinity
- The most important goal is to resolve a state of deprivation and acquire peace for the future
- four elements: shaman clothes, music, dance, and song
- There is usually a group of shamans and musician
- 2-5 shamans and at least 5 musicians with traditional instruments. Korean drum, or changgo - the most important one - , a large drum, a fiddle, a gong, and pipes.
- Usually there are three goals of the ceremony:
bring a luck
cure physical or mental illness
pacify a deceased spirit
- 12 stages:
1. purify stage, food, instrument: normal cloth
2.greeting to the gods: normal cloth
3. to deceased spirit: yellow coat + fan
4. for General Choe Young: military uniform
5. for house master god: red coat
6. for god of smallpox: sleeveless coat + soldiers hat
7. to the tutelary gods
8. for births, longevity & prosperity in farming: white coat + flowered hat
9. god of measles: baggy dress and small crown
10. for ancestors spirit who protects the family: military uniform + red hat
11. to god of public entertainers: military uniform
12. bows to greet all of the gods and all the spirits who participated in the ritual

-Categorized into private rituals and village rituals
-Private rituals include:
well-wishing rituals to pray for longevity and good fortune
healing rituals to cure diseases
underworld entry rituals to help lead the dead peacefully to the other world

-Village rituals are aimed at:
preventing calamities that might befall the community
maintaining peace and promoting communal unity

Question 20

Possession Ritual

Answer 20

내림굿
- A ritual for healing one who is possessed or afflicted with spirit sickness -> initiating her into her calling as a shaman
- new name bestowed by the shaman officiating the ritual
- spiritual parent and spiritual offspring
-shaman’s protégé and assistant, training in all the skills and procedures of shamanic rituals including song and dance, ritual arrangements and food preparation

Question 21

Grievance Cleansing Ritual

Answer 21

씻김굿
- refers to underworld entry rites observed in the Jeolla provinces
- divided into three sections
1.focus on praying for the fortunes and well-being of the living
2.ritual for the deceased, and is made up of segments for comforting and appeasing the spirit of the dead
3. for seeing off the deities that have gathered at the ritual venue, taking place by the gate of a home or at the entrance of an alley.

Question 22

Illness Ritual

Answer 22

병굿
- to heal those suffering from illness
-vary by cause of the illness:
1. If one has fallen sick due to a grievance held by an ancestor -> underworld entry ritual
2. If the illness has been caused by an evil spirit or ghost -> rituals like pudakgeori or yeongjangchigi are staged, both typical shamanic rites for overall healing

Question 23

Goblin Ritual

Answer 23

도깨비굿
- for chasing away Dokkaebi, or goblins, believed to be the causes of fire or contagious diseases
-In traditional communities, dokkaebi are creatures with both negative and positive characteristics
-often perceived as culprits of fire or as spirits that bring smallpox -> must be eradicated through shamanic rituals to keep the village safe

Question 24

Ritual for Big Catch

Answer 24

풍어제
- Held in the coastal region
- to pray for peace in the village, safety for the fishermen at sea, and a big catch
- Offered to the sea deity 용왕

Question 25

Types of Shamanism Rituals

Answer 25

Shamanic Ritual 굿
Possession Ritual 내림굿
Grievance Cleansing Ritual 씻김굿
Illness Ritual 병굿
Goblin Ritual 도깨비굿
Ritual for Big Catch 풍어제