essay

The system of belief in Korean rural communities

asian peoples and their cultures : continuity and change (8) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 185-199

By: Cho, Oak-La.

Abstract
In this article, Cho examines village-level religious beliefs and practices, in which he includes folk religion, ancestor worship, and shamanism. According to Cho, 'Religious activity is at the very center of the life of the villagers; it is the single most important element in their lives and it controls and influences their behavior and hopes at every turn (185).' Villagers believe that ancestral and animisitic spirits influence their well-being and destiny. The village's patron deity, who is responsible for the general prosperity of the village, resides in a shrine located near a big tree, or on top of a nearby mountain, and is worshipped by villagers once, or twice a year. The household also has its spirits who can cause sickness and misfortune if not properly cared for. Victims of accidental deaths are usually not worshipped and become wandering ghosts. They are potentially harmful and can cause sickness, family disharmony, or economic problems. To alter such a fate, a shaman must dispel the anger of such spirits in a special ceremony called a KUT. According to Cho, the religion of rural Korea has survived to the present (1978), because it continues to provide the basis for community.
Subjects
Magical and mental therapy
Cult of the dead
General character of religion
Spirits and gods
Eschatology
Luck and chance
culture
Korea
HRAF PubDate
1998
Region
Asia
Sub Region
East Asia
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Types
Ethnologist
Indigenous Person
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 1997
Field Date
1977-1978
Coverage Date
1948-1978
Coverage Place
North Kyongsang Province, Republic of Korea
Notes
Oak-La Cho
Papers submitted before the First International Conference on 'Asian Peoples and Their Cultures: Continuity and Change,' held Dec. 8-10, 1980, in Seoul, Korea
Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-199)
LCCN
91107873
LCSH
Koreans