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Page;The shaman traditions of the central region of the Korean Peninsula have been brought to light as the main theme of a book on shamans and their religious art.
The National Folk Museum has published the research book "Shamanism of Korea," which focuses on the shaman traditions in Seoul and Hwanghae Province, now in North Korea.
"Shamanism existed in Korea even before Buddhism or Christianity were introduced. It is considered to hold the vestiges of the primordial life and soul of the Korean people as a folk religion," says the author Yang Jong-seung.
Catholic and Protestant missionaries and Japanese colonialists tried to eradicate the practice, which they considered pagan and antagonistic to the new rationality of science, but the tradition survived such prejudices and reemerged. Yet, it wasn't until its confrontation with industrialization that shamanism finally began to lose its hold on Korean culture and folk religion. This decrease in significance is what had inspired Yang to preserve the tradition in writing.
Based on extensive field research and interviews with practicing shamans, the 191-page anthropological study explores every facet of the two main shaman traditions in central Korea. The chapters include studies on spiritual possession, shaman paraphernalia and rituals.
According to the author, who also works as research fellow at the museum, the Seoul-originated shaman ritual, which became the model of the shamanistic style of Kyonggi Province, was part of a refined form of shamanism used by the royalty to ward off bad spirits and facilitate their well-being, Yang notes.
The paraphernalia used by shamans in Seoul and Kyonggi areas include the three-pronged spear, long knives, bells and fans. A "changgu" (the hourglass-shaped drum) and a fiddle provide the background music during the ceremony, but more instruments are added depending on the size and difficulty of the "gut" (exorcist ritual).
On the other hand, shaman rituals in Hwanghae Province were known more for their dynamic quality than their refinement. Frenzied dancing and showmanship are characteristic aspects of this type of ritual, explains the author.
The traces of this provincial tradition can be found in far-off islands in South Korea such as Paengnyong and Yonpyong islands in the West Sea.
The predominant spirits revered in these regions revolve around military generals of dynastic times, such as Im Kyong-op who fought against the invading Chinese army in the early 17th century. The general's spirit is believed to have been reincarnated as a mountain spirit, and his supernatural power is believed to be among the greatest of all local spirits.
"Symbolizing the energy and fanfare of its distinguished military history, these legendary military figures are believed to promise special powers for shamans and local people alike," says the author.
In addition to a chapter devoted to archiving the entire rendition of spirit-inviting chants, the anthropological book also details the lives of 12 shamans and the ways in which they came to possess their powers. Prior to their transformation, the lives of these people were often filled with tragedy and misfortune. They and their family members were frequently met with ailments and financial problems.
Interpreting these repeated tragedies to be a sign of other worldliness, they were advised to seek the spirit mother, who trained them to become shamans.
"Since a shaman is born through a demanding training process of apprenticeship under the auspices of a godmother shaman, shamanism offers a rare glimpse into the past life of Koreans," the author writes.
For more information on the book and the author, call +82-2-725-5964.
Updated: 11/02/1999
by Choe Yong-shik Staff reporter
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