Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa

CreatureKorea · East AsiaFolktaleFear 4/10

Description

한국 설화에 등장하는 Creature. Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa (Korean: 지하국대적퇴치 설화; lit. 'The Downthrow of the Fearsome Underworld E

Origin & Background

The legend of the defeat of the monsters from the underworld (Jihaguk daejuk toechi seolhwa) has been referred to as 'the legend of the defeat of the monsters from the underworld' or 'Jihaguk daejuk toechi seolhwa' since it was introduced to the Korean academic community by Son Jin-tae. This legend has been used as a motif in various biographical novels such as Geumwonjeon, Geumgyeongjeon, and Choi Chi-won jeon, and traces of it can also be found in other stories like 'Shen Yang Dong Ji' from the Chinese collection 'Jian Deng Xin Hua'.

The Legend

The legend of the defeat of the monsters from the underworld tells the story of a hero fighting a monster to rescue a maiden kidnapped by creatures from the underworld. The protagonist undergoes various trials and, after defeating the monster, marries the rescued maiden. This story encompasses themes of the protagonist's journey to find a bride and the eradication of the monster.

Variants

The protagonist of this legend appears in various forms such as a strong man, warrior, soldier, lazy person, hunter, or boy. The kidnapped woman is often depicted as a princess or a woman from a wealthy family, and in some variations, a deity guides the protagonist.

In Popular Culture

The legend of the defeat of the monsters from the underworld has been orally transmitted throughout Korea, with about 60 variations found in literature such as the Korean Oral Literature Series. This legend has influenced classical Korean novels, and its themes continue to be referenced in modern popular culture.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia