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Ancestor God
조상 ( 祖上 , Josang )
Josang is a god widely worshipped in Korean folk religion, which in narrow terms refers to one’s immediate ancestors or offspring, but in broader terms refers to any deceased relative or unrelated soul that can affect the family. As a household god, Josang refers to one’s immediate ancestors or offspring, but they are viewed as transcendental beings rather than blood relations. On the other hand, Josang as a shamanic god includes all immediate and extended family, both male and female, and all o
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Clown God
창부씨 ( 昌夫氏 , Changbussi )
Changbussi, or Clown God, is a deity in charge of entertainment and the arts. Alternate versions of the name include Changbu and Changbudaesin. It is believed that a famous clown died and was enshrined, or deified. Good fortune rituals (jaesugut) held in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions include a segment dedicated to Changbussi, a character of artistic and theatrical spirit that requires a loud and entertaining performance by musicians and dancers. The deity is also responsible for protecting the
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Collector God
걸립신 ( 乞粒神 , Geollipsin )
Geollipsin, or Collector God, is a deity that helps spirits or good fortune enter the house and be greeted. Geollip refers to the collection of grains or goods for a collective effort that serves a specific cause related to the public good and solidarity. It seems that this spirit of fundraising and participation has been developed into a conceptual deity. Geollipsin is a shamanic god, often enshrined in the image of Daegam (State Official God), which oversees material fortune, and is also calle
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Dangun, Founder of Gojoseon
단군 ( 檀君 , Dangun )
Dangun is the founder of Korea’s first kingdom Gojoseon (2333-108 B.C.E.) and is also worshipped as a deity in Korean folk religion. Earliest records on Dangun appear in 13th century historical texts including Samgungyusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) and Jewangungi (Songs of Emperors and Kings). Dangun’s status in Korean history was firmly established during Joseon, when his tomb was identified and state-organized rituals were launched to worship him as the national founder. During the Gr
Korean Folk Beliefs -
General Choe Yeong
최영 장군 ( 崔瑩 將軍 )
Choe Yeong Janggun (1316-1388) was a military commander in late Goryeo (918-1392), revered and later deified, as a defender of the state against the invasions of the Red Turbans (Honggeonjeok) and the Japanese, and maintained peace by sending reinforcements to Yuan China and suppressing domestic turmoil. General Choe Yeong is one of several martial gods worshipped in Korean shamanism originated from historical figures. While serving as the highest chancellor in the 14th year of the reign of King
Korean Folk Beliefs -
General Im Gyeong-eop
임경업 장군 ( 林慶業 將軍 )
Im Gyeong-eop Janggun was a great commander in late Joseon and is worshipped in shamanism as a martial deity. Im Gyeong-eop (1594-1646) was a revered general who won wide public support for his outspoken opposition against China’s Qing dynasty, newly founded by Manchus, and continued loyalty for the declining Ming, but in the end died a tragic death in prison. He collaborated with Ming in resisting against the Qing forces to overcome the disgrace of the Manchu invasion of Joseon in 1636, but fai
Korean Folk Beliefs -
God of Ancestral Roots
본향 ( 本鄕 , Bonhyang )
Bonhyang is a god that signifies one’s origins, generally referring, in a shamanic ritual, to the god that oversees the ancestral roots of the family that has commissioned the rite. Bonhyang, in Korean folk religion, is an abstract deity, one that does not appear in shamanic paintings. The myriad gods in Korean shamanism each have their responsibilities, practicing their goodwill directly on humans, but Bonhyang does not come in direct contact with them. The term is also used to refer to one’s r
Korean Folk Beliefs -
God of Deceased Ancestors
말명 ( 万明 , Malmyeong )
Malmyeong is a broad term that refers to the dead in Korean folk religion. When the dead being refered to by the term are related by blood, the term signifies ancestors at large. In narrow terms Malmyeong refers to the soul of a deceased female, but broadly it can be used for all deceased souls. It can also refer to an ancestor who has died with a grievance and appears often in family members’ dreams, in which case a garment is tailored for the ancestor and kept inside a small willow basket at h
Korean Folk Beliefs -
God of Origins
가망 ( 感应 , Gamang )
Gamang is the god that oversees the origins of all the deities in Korean folk religion, in charge of opening the gates of the heavens for the spirits and humans to meet. Since Gamang signifies the shamanic origins, the segment for cleansing impurities inviting the gods (bujeong cheongbae) in the rituals of the Seoul area start out with the incantation of “Yeongjeonggamang Bujeonggamang, ” to invite these deities. In shamanic rituals, Gamang must be addressed prior to Bonhyang, the deity that ove
Korean Folk Beliefs -
Goddess of Childbearing
삼신 ( 三神 , Samsin )
Samsin is the goddess of childbearing, a shamanic deity and household god that oversees the birth and growth of children. It is believed that humans are born with the blessing of Samsin, and their lifespan is determined by Chilseong (Seven Stars). Samsin is also called Grandmother Samsin, Grandfather Samsin, Grandmother Sejun or Grandmother Jiang, Jiang and Sejun referring to Jewang and Sejon, respectively, both deities originated from Buddhism and related to the god of childbirth Jeseok. The or
Korean Folk Beliefs
