Yeoksin (역신)

DeityKorea · East AsiaMythFear 9/10

Description

Deity of epidemics and pestilence, often called 'Mama Sonnim' (Smallpox Guest). So powerful that rather than fighting it, Koreans worshipped and appeased it with elaborate rituals

Origin & Background

Smallpox has plagued humanity since around 10,000 BC. The discovery of pustular rashes on the mummy of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses V is considered the oldest material evidence of smallpox. In Europe alone, smallpox caused the deaths of 400,000 people annually until the 18th century, and one-third of the visually impaired lost their sight due to smallpox. Among those infected, 20% to 60% died, and 80% of children who contracted the disease died. Smallpox also caused the deaths of 300 million to 500 million people in the 20th century. In 1967, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that 15 million people were infected with smallpox that year, with 2 million deaths.

The Legend

Smallpox is an infectious disease caused by the variola virus (variola major or variola minor). When infected, symptoms begin in the small blood vessels of the skin, mouth, and throat before spreading throughout the body. Characteristic vesicular rashes appear on the skin, which develop into fluid-filled blisters over time. The variola major virus causes much more severe symptoms than the variola minor virus, with a mortality rate of 30% to 35%. Variola minor has a lower mortality rate of about 1%. Smallpox is usually classified into four types: ordinary smallpox, modified smallpox, malignant smallpox, and hemorrhagic smallpox.

Variants

There are two clinical forms of smallpox. Variola major is more common and has more severe symptoms, including tremendous rashes and high fever. Variola minor is less severe and has a lower prevalence, with a mortality rate of 1% or less. In vaccinated individuals, variola sine eruptione may occur. This type has no rash after the incubation period, only fever.

In Popular Culture

Due to the terrifying nature of smallpox, gods related to smallpox were worshipped throughout the Old World. In China, there is a goddess of smallpox named Doujin Nanglang (痘疹娘娘). In Korea, there is a goddess of smallpox called Hogubyeolseong (호구별성). In India, the goddess Sitala, associated with smallpox, is regarded with both reverence and fear.

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