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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 76-15,821 OWENS, Donald Dean, 1926- KOREAN SHAMANISM; ITS COMPONENTS, CONTEXT, AND FUNCTIONS. The U n iversity o f Oklahoma,Ph.D., 1975 Anthropology, cultural Xerox University Microfilms, AnnAmo ,Michigan48106 THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILIVIED EXACiLY AS RECEIVED. THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE KOREAN SHAMANISM: ITS COMPONENTS, CONTEXT, AND FUNCTIONS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY DONALD DEAN OWENS Norman, Oklahoma 1975 DISSERTATION KOREAN SHAMANISM; ITS COMPONENTS, CONTEXT, AND FUNCTIONS Korean shamanism corresponds in all essential elements to the classical form of shamanism found in the northern re gions of East Asia from which the name shaman is assumed to have been derived. However, after analyzing the historico- cultural factors in the formation of Korean shamanism, this study shows that Korean shamanism has undergone a synthesis with aspects of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, resulting in mutual sharing and diversification which may be described as syncretistic. Due to these eclectic influences, and the manner in which it has accommodated itself to Korean society, Korean shamanism has assumed specialized forms of expression. A primary objective of this research is to place Korean shamanism in a functional relationship to the socio economic systems of Korean society. Considerable attention is given to the impact of foreign socio-religious influences upon Korean culture. Nevertheless, grounded as it is upon important foundational myths, Korean shamanism has helped to perpetuate a strong nationalistic sentiment in Korean society. Closely related to the common concerns of society, Korean shamanistic ritualism, on a contingent basis or a calendrical basis, centers around several functionally discern ible types of shamanistic practitioners. In turn, these sha mans are divided into two distinct classes: those who enter the vocation by inspiration, the mutang, and those whose profession is considered to rest upon hereditary principles, the tangol. While these two classes of shamans often exist side by side, historical precedence has tended to confine their activities to distinct geographical areas of Korea. Korea is considered to be a male oriented society; however, this study identifies certain factors which contrib ute to a marked female dominance in matters of shamanistic religious practice. Further, a comparison with two other shamanistic complexes, reveals a relatively low incidence of sorcery and witchcraft in Korean shamanism, and an attempt is made to explain why ideas of sorcery play such a minor part in Korean shamanism. 11 KOREAN SHAMANISM: ITS COMPONENTS, CONTEXT, AND FUNCTIONS APPROVED BY 7. xL./X ^ /t-'- /t- t'*- DISSERTATION COMMITTEE 111 CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................... vi ROMANIZATION OF KOREAN WORDS ....................... x Chapter I. THE FORMATION OF KOREAN SHAMANISM............ 1 Korean Language Equivalents for Shamanism 5 The Origin of Korean Shamanism 9 Origin Myths of Korean Shamanism 13 Common Themes in Foundation Myths 26 Synthesis of Korean Shamanism with Aspects of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism 31 Notes 41 II. THE COSMOLOGY AND SUPERNATURAL PANTHEON IN KOREAN SHAMANISM ............................ 47 The Heavenly Spirits 65 The San-sin or Mountain Spirits 76 To-joo or Spirits of the Soil 83 Sung-joo or Household Gods 87 Water Spirits 96 Spirits of Human Origin 105 Other Supernatural Spirits or Manifestations of Power 112 Notes 119 III. THE PRACTITIONERS OF KOREAN SHAMANISM......... 124 The "Self-made” Shamans 137 The Tangol or Hereditary Shamans 143 The Mutang or God-appointed Shamans 149 The Pansoo or Chambong 156 The Chikwan or Geomancer 161 The Ilkwan and Other Diviners 164 Notes 168 IV. RITUALISM IN KOREAN SHAMANISM..... ............. 171 Crises, or Non-periodic Rituals 178 Cyclical, or Fixed Rituals 218 Notes 231 IV V. KOREAN SHAMANISM— COMPARED WITH TWO OTHER SHAMANISTIC SYSTEMS ..................... 236 Ideology and Concepts Regarding Supernaturalism 240 Functional Aspects of Shamanism 246 Shamanistic Practitioners 251 Procedures in Shamanistic Ritualism 259 Ritual Paraphernalia 268 Summary 269 Notes 273 VI. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF KOREAN SHAMANISM AND CONCLUSIONS................................ 275 Korean Shamanism is Eminently Syncre- tistic in Nature 277 Female Practitioners Occupy a Promi nent Position in Korean Shamanism 282 Korean Shamanism is Characterized by Two Discrete Orders of Shamanistic Practitioners, Distinguished by Hereditary and Geographical Considerations 287 Korean Shamanism Has a Low Incidence of Sorcery 292 Korean Shamanism is a Force in the Revitalization of Contemporary Movements 295 GLOSSARY OF KOREAN TERMS ............................ 302 ILLUSTRATIONS ......................................... 317 REFERENCES CITED .................................... 321 PREFACE The intent of this study is to present a comprehen sive account of Korean shamanism. In order to illuminate the subject and keep it within the anthropological per spective, interpretations of shamanism from the anthropo logical literature are incorporated when they make a con tribution to the understanding of the subject. Having lived in Korea for a period of eleven years, 1 have gained first-hand knowledge of Korean culture and command of the spoken and written Korean language. During the 1971-72 academic year 1 carried out a field study which centered on the nature of the shamanistic complex in Korea. This inquiry, therefore, is based on available literature in English and the Korean language, and on the results of field studies. While empirical in nature, this study attempts to go beyond the merely descriptive and historical aspects. It explores the functions and functional relationships of Korean shamanism, the role of Korean shamanism with respect to the individual and society, and the nature and character of changes which have occurred within it over time. In order to provide a systematic treatment and analysis of Korean shamanism, the study proceeds along the following lines: v i Chapter I consists of a clarification of the terms used in connection with Korean shamanism and the shamanistic complex as found in the literature. The formation of Korean shamanistic concepts is analyzed through a review of the myths and legends which have some bearing on its development. Since contemporary shamanism in Korea cannot be understood without knowing something about the contributions to it of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, changes arising from contact with these three religious systems are considered, providing insights concerning diffusion and cultural dynamics. Chapter II is devoted to a discussion of the Korean shamanistic cosmology and the pantheon of supernatural beings who are believed to traffic with mankind. The development of this pantheon is seen to relate closely to the basic needs of the Korean people and suggests a functional rela tionship of shamanism in human experience. Chapter III identifies and classifies the various types of Korean shamanistic practitioners, their roles in society, and the regional variations which exist among them. Chapter IV provides descriptions and interpretations of shamanistic rituals within the Korean cultural context. Many shamanistic rituals are born of crises, but the study indicates that seasonal rituals also play an important role. In Chapter V an attempt is made to illuminate Korean shamanism by comparing its shamanistic techniques