Song of Dorang-seonbi and Cheongjeong-gaksi

DeityKorea · East AsiaMythFear 3/10

Description

한국 설화에 등장하는 Deity. The Song of Dorang-seonbi and Cheongjeong-gaksi (Korean: 도랑선비 청정각시 노래) is a Korean shamanic narrativ

Origin & Background

The song of Dorangseonbi (도랑선비) and Cheongjeonggaksi (청정각시) is a Korean shamanic narrative recited during the traditional funeral ceremony called Mangmukgut (망묵굿) in Hamgyeongnam-do (함경남도), North Korea. This song is considered the most ceremonially significant and popular story among the various mythological tales conveyed in this ritual. Although Mangmukgut is no longer practiced in North Korea, this ritual and its stories continue to be passed down by a community of descendants of Hamgyeong refugees.

The Legend

Dorangseonbi and Cheongjeonggaksi are the central figures of the myth, with Dorangseonbi being the deceased husband and Cheongjeonggaksi his grieving wife. In all versions, Dorangseonbi marries Cheongjeonggaksi but dies shortly after their marriage. Grieving, Cheongjeonggaksi seeks help from a Buddhist priest, who gives her various tasks to reunite with her husband. The recurring tasks include plucking her hair to weave a rope, piercing her palm to pass the rope through, hanging or swinging on the rope, dipping her fingers in oil and lighting them on fire, and finally paving a rough mountain path with her bare hands. After completing all these tasks, Cheongjeonggaksi briefly reunites with her husband, but he dies or leaves again. In most versions, Cheongjeonggaksi ultimately commits suicide or dies in another way to reunite with her husband forever.

Variants

Several versions are known, including those from 1926, 1965, 1966, 1981, and 2019. Each version presents the tasks and events in the process of Cheongjeonggaksi reuniting with Dorangseonbi somewhat differently. For example, the 1926 version includes a scene where Cheongjeonggaksi goes to her husband's grave to pray, while the 1965 version depicts her hearing the news of her husband's death from a bird in a different manner. Additionally, in the 1966 version, Cheongjeonggaksi learns of her husband's death through the appearance of a bird that conveys his news.

In Popular Culture

This song is recited during the Dorang prayer of Mangmukgut and is considered the most important ritual in the funeral ceremony. Dorangseonbi and Cheongjeonggaksi are revered as deities who create the path for the souls of the deceased to the afterlife. This narrative illustrates the gap between life and death and suggests that shamanic rituals can enable a brief reunion with the deceased.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Song of Dorang-seonbi and Cheongjeong-gaksi" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia