독각귀

SpiritKorea · East AsiaLegendFear 4/10

Description

한국 설화에 등장하는 Spirit. Dujiaogui (Chinese: 独脚鬼; pinyin: Dújiǎoguǐ) or dokkakgwi (Korean: 독각귀; Hanja: 獨脚鬼), is a legendary c

Origin & Background

The image of the Dokgakgwi is ancient and is believed to have been influenced by Chinese mythology. In the Chinese classic text 'Shan Hai Jing', there is a description of a one-legged mountain deity or monster called 'Gui' (夔), which is nicknamed 'Dokgak Oton' (独脚五通). This creature is said to live in the mountains, bringing disaster to those who harm it, and occasionally descending to rural villages to bestow blessings on crops. It is described as having an appearance similar to that of a cow and is often associated with storms while standing on one leg. This concept spread to Korea and merged with indigenous beliefs to form the Dokgakgwi. After the Six Dynasties period, characteristics of a deity that brings wealth or a lewd monster that attacks women were added, which is related to the migration of the Han people and the beliefs of ethnic minorities.

The Legend

The Dokgakgwi is a unique sub-type of Dokkaebi in Korean folklore, depicted as a mischievous, monster-like being. Generally, the Dokgakgwi is described as a grotesque, hairy humanoid that can move quickly on one leg. Traditionally, the Dokgakgwi appears wearing a hat and raincoat during dark weather, hopping on one leg with two glowing eyes visible beneath the hat. In some variations, it is depicted with only one eye and a frightening expression. They are known for challenging travelers to traditional wrestling matches, and due to their immense strength, they almost always win. Additionally, they enjoy playing tricks on humans, such as leading them astray in the forest or hiding their belongings.

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