What is 'tal-uipa'? (Feat. Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938(2023))

I will explore the story of 'Taluepa,' who appears in the legends of China, Japan, and Korea, but with slightly different characteristics in each country, with a focus on Korean legends.

The legendary figure of 'Taluepa'

'Taluepa' is a legendary figure from the story of 'Samdocheon,' which is passed down in some parts of Northeast Asia. In front of 'Samdocheon' stands a tree called 'Uiryongsu', and if the clothes of the deceased are hung on this tree, 'Taluepa' and 'Hyun Ui-ong' will measure the weight of the sins committed during their lifetime and lead them to the appropriate path. 'Hyun Ui-ong' plays the role of hanging the clothes of the deceased on 'Uiryongsu,' while 'Taluepa' is responsible for removing the clothes of the deceased. In other legends, 'Taluepa' is said to be the younger sister of King Yeomra, the ruler of the underworld.

Taluepa' in the Korean drama 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed

In 2020, the drama "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" brought the legend of 'Tal-ui-pa' to a wider audience in Korea. In the drama, 'Tal-ui-pa' appears as a character who supports and cares for the gumiho, a mythical creature, and is portrayed as the sister of King Yeomra. The drama also includes the aspect of measuring the weight of a dead person's sins at the 'Samdocheon' and guiding them to the appropriate path. However, in the drama, 'Tal-ui-pa' and 'Hyeon-ui-ong' are portrayed as a married couple, going beyond the simple roles they played in the original legend.

Taluepa' in the Korean drama 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed1938'

In the upcoming drama "Tale of the Nine-Tailed: 1938" which is scheduled to be released in May 2023, "Taluija" is also planned to appear. As the setting of "Gumiho: 1938" is that the protagonist, Gumiho, has time-traveled to 1938, most of the "Taluija" in the series will be set in 1938 except for the early part of the series.