This essay gives a general overview of the history of shamanism in Korea's culture but concentrates primarily on the ramifications of prejudice against its pracitice in modern day Korean culture.

Shamanism in Korea

Shamanism is the earliest form of religion associated with Korea. Evidence from quaint cultural relics estimate it to have existed in the Korean peninsula from in the beginning 1,000 B.C. Shamanisms spread is thought to be firmly correlated with the countrys strong agricultural economy of the Iron Age (Trampas 1). Despite its of import role in Korean culture dating book binding to its early civilizations, shamanism has suffered a long and arduous history. brook persecution dating back to the Yi dynasty, advocates of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity have unsuccessfully attempted to deplete its practice (Hur and Hur 34). Shamanisms presence in Korea has frequently been characterized as superstitious and primitive, both scorned by the elite intellectuals, and rejected by conflicting religions. Nevertheless, despite efforts throughout the nations history to extinguish shamanism and its long-standing practices, it has remained a deeply rooted part of the Korean people.

Shamanisms pervasion of the Korean culture can be appreciated in spite of appearance the context of the foundation myths. These myths served to explain the founding of Korea and its divine kings and founders. Passed eat up from generation to generation, foundation myths once served to explain the mysterious, but instanter remain as an essential part of Korea folklore.



Tangun, the mythological primogenitor of the Korean people and the founder of Old Chos?n, the first accede of Korea, is held to have been birthed from the joining of a bear and the son of the supernal King Hwanung (Lee 1). Chumong, Koguryos shaman king, was descended from the son of the Emperor of Heaven and his break away who was impregnated by the sun shining on her (Lee 8). Similarly, Pak Hy?kk?se, progenitor of the Pak set of Ky?ngju (Lee 14), Kim Suro, founder of Kaya (Lee 18) and Kim Alchi, the thirteenth king of Silla (Lee 27) all have...

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