Korean shamanism (Musok) 무속 (한국 샤머니즘)
Korea's oldest living religion: the mudang (shaman) mediates between people and spirits — mountain gods, ancestors, the restless dead — through gut rituals of music, dance and costume. It heals, consoles the grieving and blesses new beginnings.
OriginThe Korean peninsula
WhenPrehistoric roots; continuous to today
TextsOral myths and chants (muga), such as the tale of Princess Bari
A practice you can try today
Gut (rituals), offerings at mountain spirit shrines (sansingak), praying with clean water at dawn (jeong-hwasu).
🕯 Pray in the Five-Colour Shrine Make your own caveSacred places
Related
Shamanism (Siberia & Central Asia)샤머니즘 (시베리아·중앙아시아)The word 'shaman' comes from the Evenki of Siberia: a person who travels in trance to the spirit world to heal and guide the community.Shinto신토The way of the kami — sacred presences in mountains, rivers, trees, ancestors and great people.Chinese folk religion중국 민간 신앙The everyday religion of hundreds of millions: honouring ancestors, local gods and heroes such as Guan Yu and Mazu, mixing Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian elements freely.
A short introduction written by CavePray from the sources below — not the official voice of any tradition. Follower numbers are rounded estimates that differ by survey. Tell us if something should be corrected.