STATEMENT

 

God is dead.

As in many countries with long and rich histories, there were many forms of gods and myths in Korea. But our god has disappeared in the indifference of the people, plagued with the stigmas of ignorance and discrimination, all while undergoing the changes that come from political ideology and industrialization.

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Every original culture has its own myths. The mythology emerges concurrently to the creation of the state, as the foundation of the authentic nature of the nation.

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There used to be many gods and myths in Korea, too. 

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Heroines in the creation myths: Mago Halmi, Geyang Halmae, and Seolmundae Halmang; heroes in the birth myth of the ancient Korean nations: Dangun and Jumong; the nature gods Yongwang (god of sea), Sanshin (mountain god), and Yeongdenugshin governing the wind; fertility and childbearing goddess Samshin Halmoni; village guardians such as Bonhyangshin and ancestor spirits; and numerous other gods, including those who oversee the kitchen and the bathroom. Warrior Generals who showed their great power throughout history were also deified and became the main characters of mythology—objects of worship by the people.

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However, during Joseon Dynasty, when Confucianism became the reigning ideology, these folklores and myths began to go missing from the records. Then, during the Japanese colonization, a great number of these mystical spiritual places were forcibly destroyed in order to exterminate Korean people's national and spiritual identity.

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Cultural and religious plundering by the Western and Japanese imperialism and the first modern government of Korea influenced by it  enforced a modernization policy called “Breaking of Superstition”, intended to abolish not only the Korean myths, but also the practices of shamanism and the Shindang (shrine). In the aftereffects of the rapid industrialization of Korea, the ancient traditions became superstitions, considered synonymous to ignorance, lack of education, and outdatedness. Those who practiced suffered disrespect and stigma.

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As the result, Mu-gyo (traditional Korean shamanism and folk ‘religion’,) which had been a crucial part of the birth and growth of our nation, was reduced to the significances of Mu-sok (traditional Korean shamanism and folk ‘practice’ or ‘acts’.)

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Feared or neglected, gods of Korea died in the name of politics and economy.

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The shrines featured in my photos are the last remaining, still-thriving spaces of Korean mythology and folklore. These are the places with traditions that have been passed down for hundreds of years and continue to be the source of faith in their village. Many of the “Shingwan” (the shaman priestess, the rite keeper, the guardian of the shrine) have been designated “intangible cultural assets” by the Korean government, so that they could continue the lineage of traditional faith and culture that is on the verge of extinction.

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The legends and mythology of these shrines and their gods are all different, and these myths have been orally transmitted via “Muga” (accounts and songs of Korean shamanism) by the Shingwans (shamans, priests, rite-keepers) of the shrines. Korean gods are believed to stay in the shrines, and Shingwans can channel them into their bodies during their rituals (Gut).

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In my photography, I posed each Shingwan who has guarded the shrine for generations with their successor at the shrine, the mythical hub and symbol of Korean people’s faith. The shrine and the shaman come together to combine their separate energies and magic, in order to invite forth a god. I documented that moment full of spiritual energy and magic into each shot.

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The people photographed here are called Manshin, Mudang, Shimbang, Dangol (various titles of Korean shaman priest/priestess). They offer rituals called “Gut” and give channeled oral prophecies. These are Shingwan or Jegwan (officiating priests) who have successfully been guarding these magical spaces for their gods.

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In modern times, rapid progress in science and philosophy has stressed that myths are no longer reliable. But without embracing these wonders of nature, spirits, and the life and death of human spirit, we cannot be free from the chaos and suffering of today’s world.

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Uncovering these old myths and the spiritual wisdom they contain is necessary to bring the peace and healing required to ease the confusion and despair modern people experience.

 

This project is a tangible progress and study of the myths and traditional spiritual beliefs of Korean people in the present age, as well as a way to reflect on what is being lost in the name of modernization and technological advancement.