Imbunche

CreatureChile · South AmericaLegendFear 9/10

Description

칠레 설화에 등장하는 Creature. In the Chilote folklore and Chilote mythology of Chiloé Island in southern Chile, the imbunche (Mapu

Origin & Background

In the legends and myths of Chiloé Island, the Imbunche (임분체) is known as a legendary monster that protects the entrance to a wizard's cave.

The Legend

According to the legend, the Imbunche is the first child who is less than 9 days old, kidnapped or sold by their parents to a wizard of Chiloé. The wizard transforms the child into a deformed, hairy monster. The Imbunche is used not only to guard the cave entrance but also as a tool for the wizards' revenge or curses. The Imbunche only leaves the cave in specific situations, and when needed by the wizards, it is dragged out to scare the villagers and announce misfortune.

In Popular Culture

The Imbunche has appeared several times in modern popular culture. In José Donoso's novel 'The Obscene Bird of Night', the Imbunche legend is reinterpreted by tying a boy in a sack to prevent growth and escape. Bruce Chatwin recounts the stories of Chiloé's magic and the Imbunche in his book 'In Patagonia'. Alan Moore features the Imbunche in 'Swamp Thing', and it is also mentioned in the 2014 TV series 'Constantine'. Additionally, the Imbunche appears in various other novels and animations, with its appearance and role being transformed in diverse ways.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Imbunche" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia