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Abandoned Princess Bari
바리공주 ( 钵里公主 , Barigongju )
The shamanic myth“ Barigongju” narrates the origins of an underworld deity and is recited as part of deathappeasing shamanic rites including the underworld entry rituals jinogigut, ogugut, mangmugigut and the grievance cleansing ritual ssitgimgut. The following version of“ Barigongju” is considered one of the most complete: Jusanggeummama (His Majesty the King) and Jungjeonbuin (Lady Queen) are to be wed, but when they seek the advice of Dajibaksa of Cheonhagung (Palace Under Heaven), he imposes
Korean Folk Literature -
Abolition of Goryeo Burial
고려장 없어진 유래 ( Goryeojang )
This tale explains how the practice of goryeojang was abolished. Goryeojang refers to the practice of carrying away the elderly when they reach a certain age and abandoning them in the mountains or plains and there are two folk narratives transmitted in relation to the abolition of this practice. The first defines goryeojang as the ancient practice of abandoning those over sixty, leaving them to die. Once there was a man who carried his elderly father (or mother) on his back on a wooden carrier
Korean Folk Literature -
Acquiring Fortune Through Thousand-Coin Divination
천량점 치고 잘 된 사람
This prophecy tale narrates the story of a poor man who, thanks to a prophecy purchased at a steep price, overcomes a series of crisis and acquires fortune. A young man left his wife behind and boarded a pollack fishing ship to Hamgyeong Province. Several months later, upon the completion of the fishing trip, the young man visited a fortuneteller to find out how things were at home. The fortuneteller carried out three divination readings, charging a thousand coins for each“: On your return journ
Korean Folk Literature -
Animal Tale
동물담 ( 动物故事 , Animal Tale )
This category of folk tales feature personified animals as the main characters. The Korean tradition of animal tales goes back to [Dangun](/topic/Dangun, FounderofGojoseon) myth, chronicled in Samgungnyusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), which features a bear and a tiger as mythological animals, competing inside a cave to become human. Other early publications of Korean animal tales include “Tale of Rabbit and Tortoise” in the chapter on Kim Yu-sin in Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdo
Korean Folk Literature -
Animals Boast of Their Age
동물 나이 자랑 ( Animals Boast of Their Age )
This animal fable narrates the story of animals competing over who is the oldest, which ends in the toad’s victory. A long time ago, rabbit, turtle and toad were arguing over who was the oldest among them. Rabbit was the first to boast that he had been born during the time of the ancient celestial emperor Tianhuang. Then turtle offered that he had been born in the time of the first creator Pangu, which far preceded Tianhuang’s era. Toad, after listening to rabbit and turtle argue, began weeping.
Korean Folk Literature -
Annotated Collection of Village Tales
촌담해이 ( 村谈解颐 , Chondamhaei )
Chondamhaei is a collection of droll tales compiled by Gang Hui-maeng (1424-1483) in early Joseon. A full edition of this book does not currently remain and the exact number of tales contained in the book is unknown. Gang’s introduction mentions eight narratives, about the deception of the peony; the foolish servant’s trick; the mad servant playing matchmaker; mole’s wedding; the young monk who stole a persimmon; the cunning hare’s judgment; of Hongseon who had blind faith in the heavenly hat; a
Korean Folk Literature -
Arang Shrine
아랑각 ( 阿娘阁 , Aranggak )
The legend of Aranggak narrates the story of Arang Shrine, located in the bamboo grove near the pavilion Yeongnamnu in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, and the haunted spirit of Maiden Arang. The narrative was transmitted orally in the verse form of gwachesi (state examination verse) among the literati of the Yeongnam region in late 19th century, in various different versions. A version of the poem is included in Dongyahwijip (Collection of Tales from the Eastern Plains) and the tale is also
Korean Folk Literature -
Archenemy Reborn as Son
아들로 태어난 원수 ( Archenemy Reborn as Son )
This tale narrates the story of a haunted spirit reborn as the sons of his archenemy, who take revenge by dying on the day of their success in the state examination. Narratives about the revenge of haunted spirits is found in the shamanic myth “Chasabonpuri (Origin of Underworld Messenger Chasa)” and the shamanic song “Jimgajegut (Ritual for Jimgaje)” from Hamgyeong Province. The motif of being reborn as the offspring of an enemy for the purpose of revenge appears in a wide range of narratives i
Korean Folk Literature -
Assorted Collection of Ancient Humor
고금소총 ( 古今笑丛 , Gogeumsochong )
Gogeumsochong is a collection of droll tales, comprising eleven different humor anthologies compiled from early to late Joseon. A mimeograph edition of the collection’s first volume was published anonymously in 1959, which was preceded by Joseongogeumsochong (Assorted Collection of Ancient Humor from Joseon) in 1947, the first edition of which included Eosurok (Records to Chase Away Languor); the second edition including Chondamhaei (Annotated Collection of Village Tales); and the third Eomyeons
Korean Folk Literature -
Assorted Writings of Yongjae
용재총화 ( 慵斋丛话 , Yongjaechonghwa )
Yongjaechonghwa is a collection of miscellaneous writings by Seong Hyeon (1439-1504), pen name Yongjae, from early Joseon. The book was first published in the 20th year of King Jungjong’s reign (1525) and currently held in collection at the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies are a three-volume three-chapter manuscript edition and a lithograph edition; a five-volume five-chapter woodblock edition housed at the Yonsei University Library; and an incomplete edition at the Korea University Libra
Korean Folk Literature
