essay

Family and religion in contemporary Korea

religion and family in east asia • (11) • Published In 1984 • Pages: 185-199

By: Yi, Kwang-gyu.

Abstract

This is a study of Korean religion at the family level. Lee describes the various kinds of Korean households, and a typical layout of a home. He discusses the various gods associated with the home and the ways they are worshipped, a task usually preformed by the housewife. The gods include an ancestor god (CHO-SONG), House Master God (SONG-JU), Fire God (CHO-WANG), House Site God (T'O-JU), God of Wealth (OB), a storage area god (CHAE-SUK), God of the Toilet (CHU-DANG), and a God of the Gate (SU-MUN-JANG). Other gods which visit the home are the Goddess of Child and the Goddess of Wind. Also, Lee discusses the family ancestor worship rituals, which are conducted by the male head of the household. When a person dies, one soul remains in the home, where it resides on the household altar in a small box called a HON-BACK. Lee describes in detail the most important household ancestor rite, performed on the anniversary of a person's death. Although household gods have disappeared in the modern home, Lee says that the concern for family prosperity remains, and is expressed in other ways.

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

not specified

Coverage Date

1950-1980

Coverage Place

Republic of Korea

Notes

Kwang Kyu Lee

Includes bibliographical references (p. 199)

LCCN

82641261

LCSH

Koreans