성황신

DeityKorea · East AsiaMythFear 3/10

Description

A deity from the folklore of Korea. Seonangshin (Korean: 서낭신) or Seonghwangsin (Korean: 성황신; Hanja: 城隍神) is the patron deity of the…

The Legend

Seonangsin (서낭신) is known as the guardian deity of villages in Korean mythology. She is the goddess of villages, boundaries, and war, and is one of the well-known deities in Korea. Seonangsin is believed to reside in a place called Seonangdang (서낭당), which can be a stone mound, a large rock, a house, or a sacred tree. Travelers would set up a Seonangdang along the road, and other travelers would add three stones to the Seonangdang to wish for a safe journey. Seonangsin is considered a being that defends against disease and misfortune, bringing luck and prosperity to travelers or villages. Most Seonangsin are female, although some exist as pairs of male and female. In Golmaegi Seonangdang (골매기 서낭당) located in Gangwon-do, it is believed that the god and goddess reside together as a family.

In Popular Culture

In fishing villages, there is a boat guardian deity known as Baeseonang (배서낭), who plays a role in preventing boats from sinking. Additionally, certain records mention a male form of Seonangsin called Malseonang (말서낭). Malseonang is the god of war, wielding a large sword in one hand and controlling a flying horse in the other, fully armored from head to toe, with a bow and quiver on his back. He is regarded as a being that vanquishes evil spirits known as gwishin (귀신) with his sword. Rituals for Seonangsin were held every three years, with smaller ceremonies taking place annually.

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