Korean Mythology - Mythological Figures

Mythological Figures

• Cheonjiwang - The supreme ruler of the world, father of Daebyeol and Sobyeol.
• Daebyeol - Supreme King of the Underworld. The ten Shiwang are his lieutenants.
• Sobyeol - Supreme King of the Mortal World. Sobyeol rules the mortals, but his power is lesser than Daebyeol's.
• Queen Baji - Supreme Queen of the Earth. She is Cheonjiwang's husband, and the mother of Daebyeol and Sobyeol.
• Dal(soon)-nim - The Moon, brother of the Sun.
• Hae(sik)-nim - The Sun, sister of the Moon.
• Cheonha Daejanggun -Village Guardian & General under Heaven, husband of Jiha yeojanggun. He is represented as a totem pole with a scary face, constructed in front of a village entrance.
• Jiha yeojanggun - Village Guardian & General under Earth, wife of Cheonha Daejanggun. She is represented as a totem pole with also scary but more feminine face, constructed in front of a village entrance with her husband. She protects the village with her husband.
• Sanshin - Mountain gods
• Gashin - the patrons of various rooms and objects in the household
• Jowangshin - a Gashin; the deity of fire and the hearth
• Teojushin - a Gashin and the earth deity
• Nulgubjishin - god of grain
• Cheukshin - goddess of the outhouse
• Seongjushin - the god of the actual house; supreme leader of the Gashin
• Munshin - the door god
• Oeyangganshin - the patron of cattle and horses
• Cheollyung - god of the spice pots
• Eobshin - goddess of wealth
• Samshin - goddess of childbirth
• Yongwang - The five Dragon Kings of the seas, but not necessarily a dragon (usually an old human).
• Ogushin - Princess Bari (see above) became the Ogushin after reviving her dead parents. After the Jeoseung Chasa (death gods) split the soul from the body, the Ogushin guides them to the Underworld.
• Honshi Seongin - the three gods who avoided the Jeoseung Chasa and lived for an additional sixty years. They protect children from illness.
• Jeoseung Halmang - The goddess who brings death to children.
• Shiwang - Ten kings of the Underworld, who judge the dead in each individual realm.
• Yeomra - Leader of the Shiwang.
• Sonnimne (see above) - Fifty-four smallpox deities. Only four are named; Gaxi Sonnim, Hoban Sonnim, Muban Sonnim, and Cheolhyeon.
• Seonnyeo - Angel-like beings. They are the female lieutenants of Cheonjiwang. The only named Seonnyeo is Oneuli.
• Juhseung Chasa - Gods of death. Traditionally three, these gods reap dead souls. When they read a person's name three times, the person dies. Their leader is Gangrim Doryeong (also see above), a mortal who captured Yeomra, King of the Underworld. His lieutenants are Hae Wonmaek and Yi Deokchun. Meanwhile, Hwadeok Chasa reaps those who died on fires. Yonggung Chaasa reaps those who died in the ocean, Danmul Chasa takes those who drowned in wells, and Tuseok Chasa reaps those who were killed by rocks or stones.
• Sosamshin, goddess of cowbirth