Gwisin

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Gwisin
Hangul
귀신
Hanja
鬼神
RRgwisin
MRkwisin

In Chinese folklore, the guishen (鬼神, lit. "ghost deity") is a ghost or a spirit;[1] likewise, in Korean folklore, a gwisin or kwisin (Korean: 귀신, 鬼神) refers to a ghost[2] or spirit.[3][2]

The Japanese cognate kishin (鬼神) typically glossed as "demons and gods".[4] Note that Hinduist-Buddhist demons yaksha (yakṣa) and rakshasa (rākṣasa may also be expressed as types of guishen, i.e., yiecha-guishen (夜叉鬼神), etc.[1]

Korean legends

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There are a lot of legends about gwisin. Because they are a common form of ghost, children often make them up to scare others or parents tell stories to their children to teach them a lesson. The most common plot of a legend about gwisin is revenge,[5] for example revenge for the family of the ghost. Another popular tropes include men who cheat on their wives, and murder someone.

According to folklore, gwisin may be found in many places. It is claimed that when an individual dies but still has ties to the world of the living, such as in the case of revenge or caring for a loved one, their spirit remains on earth to complete the task before going on to the underworld.[5]

Appearances of gwisin often occur in high schools, a concept popularized with the release of Whispering Corridors, a Korean horror movie released in 1998.

Physical characteristics

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Folklore says that the gwisin ghosts are usually transparent, legless and float in mid-air.[5] Female gwisin or known as Cheonyeogwisin usually have white Hanbok (한복) which are worn for funerals.[5] They have long, drooping black hair and sometimes they are faceless, depending on their personality. Male gwisin are somewhat rare, and may appear different.

Comparisons

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The gwisin/kwisin is considered similar to a yogoe (Korean: 요괴, 妖怪, a yōkai/ayakashi or ghost[6]) or mamul (Korean: 마물. 魔物, a bogey[7]).[citation needed]

In Korea, gwisin are humans who have died, unlike the dokkaebi.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Poo, Mu-chou (2002). Ghosts and Religious Life in Early China. London and New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 154. ISBN 9781316514672.
  2. ^ a b Kim, Chongho (2018) [2003]. Korean Shamanism: The Cultural Paradox. London and New York: Routledge. pp. 76, 190. ISBN 978-1-138-71051-1.
  3. ^ Yun, Kyoim (2019). The Shaman's Wages: Trading in Ritual on Cheju Island. Korean Studies of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-295-74595-4.
  4. ^ Miller, Alan L. (1987a). "The Swan-Maiden Revisited: Religious Significance of 'Divine-Wife' Folktales with Special Reference to Japan". Asian Folklore Studies. 46 (1): 68. doi:10.2307/1177885. JSTOR 1177885.
  5. ^ a b c d e Dunbar, Jon (December 15, 2011). "Supernatural Creatures of Korean Mythology". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  6. ^ Kim So-woon (1992) [1968] Korean-Japanese Dictionary s.v. "요괴 [妖怪]", a ghost p. 672 b. Kōrai Shorin.
  7. ^ Kim So-woon (1992) [1968] Korean-Japanese Dictionary s.v. "마물 [魔物]", a bogy p. 304a . Kōrai Shorin.
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