Gwisin

Gwisin
Hangul	귀신
Hanja	鬼神
Revised Romanization	gwisin
McCune–Reischauer	kwisin

Gwisin (Korean: 귀신) are a type of deity, divinity, spirit or ghost in Korean folklore.^[1] They are considered similar to a yogoe (Korean: 요괴) or mamul (Korean: 마물). Unlike dokkaebi, gwisin are humans who have died.^[2]

According to folklore, gwisin may be found in many places. It is claimed that when an individual dies but still has ties to the world of the living, such as in the case of revenge or caring for a loved one, their spirit remains on earth to complete the task before going on to the underworld.^[2]

Legends

There are a lot of legends about gwisin. Because they are a common form of ghost, children often make them up to scare others or parents tell stories to their children to teach them a lesson. The most common plot of a legend about gwisin is revenge,^[2] for example revenge for the family of the ghost. Another popular tropes include men who cheat on their wives, and murder someone.

Appearances of gwisin often occur in high schools, a concept popularized with the release of Whispering Corridors, a Korean horror movie released in 1998.

Physical characteristics

Folklore says that the gwisin ghosts are usually transparent, legless and float in mid-air.^[2] Female gwisin or known as Cheonyeogwisin usually have white Hanbok (한복) which are worn for funerals.^[2] They have long, drooping black hair and sometimes they are faceless, depending on their personality. Male gwisin are somewhat rare, and may appear different.

References

^ Kim 2018, pp. 76, 190; Yun 2019, p. 175.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Jon Dunbar (December 15, 2011). "Supernatural Creatures of Korean Mythology". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.

Sources

Kim, Chongho (2018) [2003]. Korean Shamanism: The Cultural Paradox. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-71051-1.
Yun, Kyoim (2019). The Shaman's Wages: Trading in Ritual on Cheju Island. Korean Studies of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-74595-4.

External links

World of Human and Gwisin, Korea Creative Content Agency (in Korean)

[FOOTNOTEKim201876,_190Yun2019175-1] Kim 2018, pp. 76, 190; Yun 2019, p. 175.

[blog-2] Jon Dunbar (December 15, 2011). "Supernatural Creatures of Korean Mythology". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.

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