What is the Korean meaning of Big Dipper? - Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938

In the drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed," Eobsin has seven stars, known as the Big Dipper, on his forehead. These stars hold special significance in Korea, and let's explore their meaning in the context of the drama.

Multiple meanings of the Big Dipper

The Big Dipper is the constellation that shines most brightly in the night sky. Because of this characteristic, various legends about the Big Dipper have been passed down, including in East Asia, including Korea. In this region, the shape of the Big Dipper has been seen not as a ladle but as a constellation of a ruler (gwan) and the procession carrying it. The significance of the Big Dipper is mentioned in "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938," reflecting a belief that has persisted for a long time in East Asian cultures.

Another perspective is to consider the stars themselves as deities. Revered as the Seven Star Deity (Chilseongsin), the constellation represents gods who govern the seven stars. People would look up to these stars, praying for their wishes, believing that they would intervene in human affairs, including most aspects of fortune and misfortune.

The Big Dipper in Tale of the Nine Tailed

In "Tale of the Nine Tailed," the meaning of the Big Dipper has not been explicitly revealed so far. Within the drama, references have been made to the significance of the Big Dipper in relation to wealth and death. Furthermore, when Eobsin departs, he passes on the meaning of the Big Dipper as a guide to the protagonist, Lee Yeon. Therefore, it is uncertain which of these three meanings will drive the story, but it is speculated that it may be used to aid in finding a path back to the present era for Lee Yeon, rather than representing wealth.