Korean mythology

Korean mythology consists of two distinct collections of stories. One group is known as literary mythology. These are written accounts found in traditional historical records. The other group is oral mythology. This collection is much larger and more diverse than the written one. It consists of shamanic narratives sung by shamans during religious ceremonies called gut.

Literary mythology is primarily composed of state-foundation myths. These stories describe the birth and reign of a kingdom's first ruler. They often include supernatural elements regarding the founder's birth or departure. These myths are heavily historicized. This means they are recorded so closely to history that it is hard to separate fact from myth. Many of these stories are preserved in Hanja, which is the writing system used for classical Chinese.

State-foundation myths are categorized into northern and southern types. In northern myths, such as those for Goguryeo, the founder is the child of a celestial male and an earthly female. In southern myths, such as those for Silla, the founder begins as an object that descends from the heavens. This object then marries an earthly woman.

These stories serve to explain the origins of specific dynasties and lineages. They were often used to provide legitimacy to a ruling state.

The myth of Gojoseon is the most significant foundation story. Gojoseon was the first Korean kingdom. The legend features King Dangun, the son of Hwanung and a bear-turned-woman. Hwanung was the son of the sky god Hwanin. He descended to Mount Taebaek with three thousand followers. To become human, a bear and a tiger had to eat garlic and mugwort for one hundred days. The bear succeeded and became a woman.

Dangun eventually became a mountain god after ruling for fifteen centuries.

Oral mythology is considered a "living mythology" by its practitioners. It is a sacred religious truth within the context of shamanic rituals. Unlike written myths, these narratives are regularly revised during each performance. They feature a wide array of gods, humans, and stories about the beginning of the world. These stories often address themes like divine retribution or humans ascending to divinity.

Shamanic mythology is also divided into five distinct regional traditions.

The traditions of Jeju Island are particularly unique and divergent. One major narrative is the Jeseok bon-puri. In this story, a girl is impregnated by a supernaturally potent priest. She gives birth to triplets who eventually become gods.

Another famous tale is that of Princess Bari. Her father abandoned her because she was a girl. She later uses a flower of life to resurrect her dead parents.

These stories remain sacred to those who participate in the rituals.

Academic study of these myths has evolved over time. Early historians like Choe Nam-seon and Yi Pyong-do focused on literary state-foundation myths.

It was not until the 1960s that scholars began studying the oral shamanic corpus. Researchers like Kim Yeol-gyu and Hyeon Yong-jun applied new methods to these songs. Since the 1990s, scholars have also looked at village-shrine myths and feminist interpretations. This helps connect Korean mythology to the broader study of neighboring cultures and social systems.