Korean Mythology
Korean Mythology: The Complete Guide to Dangun, Bari, the Dokkaebi Tricksters, and the Shamanic Stories of the Peninsula
From Hwanin's Heaven to the Underworld and Back
The shamanic mythology of Korea: Dangun the founder, Bari the death-walker, the Yongwang Dragon Kings, the dokkaebi goblins, and the gumiho fox spirits.
$14.99
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Inside this book
What you will read
- 11 chapters, primary sources
- Instant PDF download
- Original ink illustrations
- Inline citations to original texts
- Designed for print quality
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- 01Hwanin's Heaven and the Descent of Hwanung
- 02Dangun: The Bear-Woman's Son and the Founding of Korea
- 03The Yongwang Dragon Kings and the Spirits of Water
- 04Bari Gongju: The Princess Who Walked into Death
- 05The Dokkaebi: Goblin Tricksters and Wrestling Spirits
- 06The Gumiho: Nine-Tailed Fox and Seducer of Scholars
- 07Jeoseung Saja and the Messengers of Death
- 08Shamanic Cosmology: The Three Worlds and the Mudang
- 09The Samguk Yusa and the Jewang Ungi: Recorded Myths
- 10Village Shrines, Mountain Gods, and Household Spirits
- 11Korean Mythology in Modern Memory and Practice
About this book
About this Korean mythology guide
The shamanic mythology of Korea: from Dangun's founding to Bari's walk through death, the dokkaebi's tricks, and the Dragon Kings beneath the waves.
Korean mythology begins with Hwanin, the heavenly emperor, and his son Hwanung, who descended to rule the earth. From their line came Dangun, founder of Korea, born of a bear-woman and a divine prince. The peninsula's stories are shamanic at their core: Bari, the abandoned princess, walked into the underworld to retrieve the water of life and became the first mudang. The Yongwang Dragon Kings ruled the seas. The dokkaebi, mischievous goblin spirits, haunted villages with tricks and wrestling matches. The gumiho, the nine-tailed fox, seduced and devoured. Jeoseung Saja, the death messengers, came for souls at their appointed hour.
This book draws on the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), the Jewang Ungi (Songs of Emperors and Kings), the Bari Gongju myth cycle, and recorded shamanic chants. Each chapter names the gods, the spirits, the heroes, and the texts that preserve them. Inline citations guide you to the primary sources.
Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.
What you will discover inside
- How Dangun, son of Hwanung and a bear-woman, founded the first Korean kingdom
- Why Bari the abandoned princess became the first shaman after walking into the underworld
- What the Yongwang Dragon Kings ruled beneath the seas and rivers of Korea
- The dokkaebi goblin spirits: tricksters, wrestlers, and bringers of fortune and chaos
- How the gumiho nine-tailed fox seduced scholars and consumed human livers
- The role of Jeoseung Saja, the death messengers who escorted souls to the afterlife
Korean mythology book at a glance
| Tradition | Korean mythology |
|---|---|
| Chapters | 11 chapters |
| Length | 150 pages |
| Sources | Drawn from the primary sources, cited inline |
| Reading level | Beginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch |
| Format | Print-quality PDF |
| Delivery | PDF within 24 hours |
Formats and editions
| Edition | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Instant PDF | Print-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours. | $7.99 |
| Paperback | A paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon. | Coming soon |
About the author
Guillaume Henry
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis
Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.
More about the authorKeep exploring Korean mythology
Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.
Read the complete Korean mythology guideQuestions about the Korean mythology book
When will I receive my PDF?
Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.
Is this book based on primary sources?
Yes. The book cites the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, compiled by Ilyeon in the 13th century), the Jewang Ungi (Songs of Emperors and Kings by Yi Seung-hyu), the Bari Gongju myth cycle as recorded in shamanic ritual texts, and transcriptions of mudang chants. References are given to the standard published translations (Ilyon's Samguk Yusa translated by Ha and Mintz, the Jewang Ungi in Peter Lee's Sourcebook of Korean Civilization) so you can read further.
How long is the book?
Eleven chapters, around 150 pages depending on the final layout. Designed to be read in evenings or in one long sitting.
Is this book for beginners or specialists?
Beginners welcome. The book explains every name, place, and concept from scratch. Specialists will find the source citations and translation notes useful for further reading.
Will there be a paperback on Amazon?
The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.
Why isn't there more about Buddhist figures like Ksitigarbha?
This book focuses on the indigenous shamanic mythology and the foundation myths recorded in the Samguk Yusa and Jewang Ungi. Buddhist figures entered Korea later and are treated in the chapter on cosmology where they intersect with shamanic practice, but the core narrative follows the pre-Buddhist and folk traditions: Dangun, Bari, the dokkaebi, the Yongwang, and the mudang spirit world.
What formats is this book available in?
Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.
What is the return policy?
The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.
Can I order from outside the United States?
Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.
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