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A Study on the Aspect and Meaning of Evilness through Shaman Epic in Jeju Island

kang ji-yeon 1

1서강대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

With the fact that myth gives human beings behavioral norms in mind, this study focuses on the meaning of evilness in order to define both what deeds shamanism myth deals with significantly and fundamental features of those deeds. By focusing on causes of what brings about unpleasant feelings, this study analyzes the meaning of evilness so as to figure out what deeds main characters in Jeju bonpuri define as evilness and how they avoid them. In analyzing this, the way they control evilness in shamanism can be understood, and moreover, the definition of virtue that shamanism pursues can be identified. In Cheonjiwangbonpuri, a story about a god who governs earthly world, evilness stems from the feeling of lack, which arouses such emotions as greed and violence that make one extort and destroy things. These evil deeds hinder society, family, and religious community from continuing to exist. In shamanism myth, gods present the value of shamanism and put importance on the moral values through evilness. Also, they display vigilance on evilness that destroy these values and forbid evil deeds. In shamanism myth, there are other things that are defined as evil deeds. First, it is unethical deed of parents who do not conduct their roles as parents and do things against family ethics. Second, ignorant attitude of ordinary human beings who do not obey gods properly is considered evil deed. All of their deeds give ordeal to mythical characters and by overcoming this ordeal, mythical characters’ sacredness is realized. Consequently, evilness that shamanism myth deals with goes forward by transforming the state of disorder and chaos into that of order and organized. Through this, it promotes stability of society, family, and religious community, and deals with the essence of world that shamanism pursues. With the fact that myth gives human beings behavioral norms in mind, this study focuses on the meaning of evilness in order to define both what deeds Shaman Epic deals with significantly and fundamental features of those deeds. By focusing on causes of what brings about unpleasant feelings, this study analyzes the meaning of evilness so as to figure out what deeds main characters in Jeju bonpuri define as evilness and how they avoid them. In analyzing this, the way they control evilness in shamanism can be understood, and moreover, the definition of virtue that shamanism pursues can be identified. In Cheonjiwangbonpuri, a story about a god who governs earthly world, evilness stems from the feeling of lack, which arouses such emotions as greed and violence that make one extort and destroy things. In Shaman Epic, there are other things that are defined as evil deeds. First, it is unethical deed of parents who do not conduct their roles as parents and do things against family ethics. Second, ignorant attitude of ordinary human beings who do not obey gods properly is considered evil deed. All of their deeds give ordeal to mythical characters and by overcoming this ordeal, mythical characters’ sacredness is realized. These evil deeds hinder society, family, and religious community from continuing to exist. In Shaman Epic, gods present the value of shamanism and put importance on the moral values through evilness. Also, they display vigilance on evilness that destroy these values and forbid evil deeds. Through this, it promotes stability of society, family, and religious community, and deals with the essence of world that shamanism pursues.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.