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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 ...

Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938: The Korean Legend of Samcheongapja-dongbangsak in Episode 1 "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" and the Korean Legend of Samcheongapja-dongbangsak The Korean legend of "Samcheongapja-dongbangsak" appears in the first episode of "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938." This mythical item has been referenced in a traditional children's song in South Korea, which goes: "Kim~ suhanmu~ Geobukiwa durumi~" followed by "Samcheongapja-dongbangsak." The folktale behind this song explains that an elderly couple gave their child a long name in the hopes of a long and healthy life. A passing monk heard the name and told the couple that if a child's name is long, they will live a long life. Most of the words that make up this name are associated with long life and prosperity, and "Samcheongapja-dongbangsak" is one of them. A real person in history, 'Dongbangsak' In Chinese history, there was a figure named ...

In Episode 8 of 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed', 'Agwi' is a demonic being that frequently appears not only in Korea but also in Buddhist culture. Let's take a closer look at 'Agwi(아귀)'. 'Agwi' in Buddhism In Buddhism, the beings that were greedy in life and become creatures that must die are called "hungry ghosts" or "pretas". These beings must endure suffering until their time as a hungry ghost is up, at which point they can be reborn. The type of suffering that they endure depends on what kind of hungry ghost they become, and what kind of hungry ghost they become depends on what they were greedy for in life. Hungry ghosts are a common figure in Buddhist cosmology across many cultures. Depending on the sect of Buddhism, there are slightly different explanations, but in some sects, it is mentioned that becoming an "agui" is a stage one goes through for reincarnation when the sin is not severe enough to fall into hell, but sti...

Let's learn about the legend of the tiger eyebrows that appears in episode 5 of the drama series "Tale of the Nine-Tailed". The 'Tiger Eyebrow' legend is a folk tale that has been passed down in Korea for a long time. The story goes like this: A man lived by farming after getting married. However, even after a long time had passed, he and his wife were unable to have children. He also suffered from various misfortunes in his work and became very miserable. Thinking that it would be better to die than to live like this, the man decided to enter a tiger's den and die. But an old man he met inside the tiger's den felt sorry for him after hearing his story and comforted him. The old man then plucked one of his own eyebrows and gave it to the man, telling him that if he put it on his own eyes, he would be able to see his past life. It turned out that the old man was actually a tiger in disguise, and what the man took with him was the tiger's eyebrow. The ...

In episode 8 of "Tale of the Nine-Tailed," a legendary being called "Eodukshin-i" appears. Let's find out what "Eodukshin-i" is in Korean folklore. The Meaning of the Word 'Eoduksini' "Eodukshin-i" is a type of monster that appears in Korean folklore. It is also known by other names such as "Adokshin-i" and "Adukgshin-i." According to the standard Korean language dictionary, it is listed as "Eodukshin-i" and is defined as a false appearance that appears on dark nights. For this reason, when introducing "Eodukshin-i" to foreigners, it is often explained using the word "darkness." The earliest literary record of "Eodukshin-i" dates back to the Goryeo Dynasty, but it wasn't until the Joseon Dynasty that it became fixed as an image of a monster in some folktales. Although considered a monster, "Eodukshin-i" in literature is portrayed as a fairy-like creature that ap...

Let's talk about the depiction of Hell briefly shown in episode 4 of Tale of the Nine-Tailed. The depiction of hell in <Tale of the Nine-Tailed> is different from that of Western culture. The depiction of hell in <Tale of the Nine-Tailed> is different from the Western concept, reflecting the cultural differences between the East and the West. The hell portrayed in the drama is largely based on the Buddhist concept of hell. 'Hanbing Hell' and 'Dosan Hell' According to Buddhism, the deceased undergo a judgment process for 49 days after their death, with a judgment period of 7 days each. Those who have committed many sins during their lifetime will undergo multiple stages of judgment. During this judgment, the hells that they pass through vary according to the type of sin they committed. Among them, there are "Hanbing Hell" and "Dosan Hell." 'Hanbing Hell' is described as a hell with an enormous ice sheet and is mainly where ...

Let's find out the meaning of the word 'guimunbang' briefly mentioned in episode 4 of 'Tale of the Nine Tailed'. What is 'Guimunbang' ? 'Guimunbang' is a term that means a door through which ghosts enter. In the East, there has been a belief that the geography where people live affects their destiny since ancient times, and a study called 'feng shui' has developed. In this study, the direction where the ghosts enter and bring bad luck is called 'gwimunbang'. 'Guimunbang' was believed to be an unlucky direction where ghosts enter in. In Eastern culture, there is a study called 'feng shui' that believes the geography of where people live has an impact on their destiny. The unlucky direction where ghosts enter was referred to as 'Guimunbang'. It was believed that the northeast and southwest directions were particularly unfavorable since they didn't get much sunlight and had a large temperature difference. Th...

In episode 3 of "Tale of the Nine-Tailed," a story about a seaside village and the events that occurred there is featured. Let's take a look at the 'Yongwang' that appears in this story. Who is the 'Yongwang' in Korean legend? 'Yongwang' is a figure from traditional legends who governs rivers, lakes, seas, and other bodies of water. Although the term 'Yongwang' has been used to refer to those who govern rivers or lakes, it is most commonly used to refer to gods who govern the sea. They have been recognized as a being who rules over various things related to water, not just the sea. They are also sometimes portrayed as a god who manages wind and rain, so it was very common for coastal fishing villages to hold rituals to worship 'Yongwang.' Since they share similar characteristics with the Western god, Poseidon, he is often mentioned when describing 'Yongwang.' The reason why they are called 'Yongwang' is because dra...

In the TV drama "The Queen Maker," the actress Kim Sae-byuk plays the role of Chae-ryung. She is a relatively unknown actress at this point. Let's take a look at this actress. Chae-ryung in The Queen Maker In the beginning of "The Queen Maker" series, a female executive of a major corporation appears as a character with anger management issues.  She cannot control her temper and ends up physically assaulting others, causing harm to her company after her actions are broadcasted to the public through the media. The character of Baek Jae-min, who is a decisive factor in causing major events in the drama, becomes the reason for his return to Korea. Kim Sae-byuk plays this role, and prior to her appearance in "The Queen Maker," she mostly worked on low-budget independent films rather than mainstream dramas. Kim Sae-byuk's representative work is the 2018 independent film "House of Humming" Kim Sae-byeok appears in the film "House of Hu...

I will explain 'bulgasal-i,' which appears in episode 2 of the 2020 Korean drama 'Tale of the Nine Tailed,' in the context of Korean culture and talk about the drama's setting. What is "bulgasal-i"? 'Bulgasari' is a supernatural creature from Korean folk legends. Mentions of this creature can be found in various texts, but one of the most striking accounts is from a book called 'Gyeyab-munrok' from the 19th century. According to the story, a woman named 'Bulgasal-i' gathered all the iron in her village and threw it into a river. Later, this iron was retrieved by Yi Seong-gye, who used it to found the Joseon Dynasty. In this story, 'Bulgasari' is portrayed as a creature that eats iron, and this is the most convincing portrayal of its nature. One of the most well-known characteristics of ' Bulgasal-i ' in Korean legends is that it eats iron. Due to this trait, in modern times it is mostly portrayed as a monster rel...

Let's take a look at the "Woorung" character that appears in "Gumiho: Tale of the Nine-Tailed." Woorung appears throughout the first season of "Gumiho: Tale of the Nine-Tailed" and also makes an appearance in season 2. Who is Woorung, the character that appears in "Gumiho: Tale of the Nine-Tailed"? Woorung, the character that appears in "Gumiho: Tale of the Nine-Tailed," is the owner of a traditional restaurant that serves Korean traditional food. He has a long-standing relationship with Yi Yeon, and most of the characters in the drama meet and eat at this restaurant. She is  a person who has been living for a long time, having lost her husband to the 'Eodugsini' who caused the legend. "Wooreonggaksi" in Korean traditional folktales. In the traditional Korean folktale, Woorung-gagsi is a female figure who secretly prepares meals for a farmer who lives alone. She was originally the daughter of a dragon king bu...

In May 2023, "Tale of Gumiho 1938" will be broadcasted. Before watching "Tale of Gumiho 1938", let's take a look at the characters from traditional Korean folktales that appeared in the episodes of the previous season, "Tale of Gumiho" Season 1. What is the "Jangseung Grandfather(장승할아버지)'"  The "Jangseung Grandfather" in "Tale of the Nine Tailed" can be found in Korean folktales. In Korea, it traditionally refers to a type of wooden totem pole erected in Korean villages to ward off evil spirits, and "할아버지" means "grandfather" in English. The Korean pronunciation is "Jangseung hal-abeoji". What is the "Jangseung Grandfather" in "Tale of the Nine Tailed"? Episode 1. Jangseung Grandfather helps Nam Jia, who is in danger due to Yi Rang's scheme. Nam Jia lost her parents in an accident in front of Yeogugae when she was young, and Jangseung Grandfather, who guarded th...

Meaning of gumiho The word "Gumiho" refers to a nine-tailed fox that appears in various Korean myths and legends. While some Western countries spell it as "Kumiho," the correct English spelling when using the Korean language is "Gumiho." It is also commonly referred to as the "Nine-tailed Fox" in myths and legends from Korea, China, and Japan. In Korean folklore, Gumiho is usually depicted as a female figure. The most widely known legend of Gumiho today involves a nine-tailed fox that seduces humans to consume their liver and repeats this act nine times before finally transforming into a human. How is the Gumiho in the drama "Tale of the Nine-Tailed(2020)" different? In this drama, the Gumiho is depicted as a male character, which is different from the traditional mythological depiction of a female Gumiho. Unlike the negative image of seducing humans to fulfill their desires, this Gumiho is portrayed as a romantic male who cannot forget...

In the first episode of the Korean drama 'Tale of the Nine Tailed', which aired in 2020, the character 'Yeowoo Nuni' appears. Let's find out what 'Yeowoo Nuni' is. "Yeowoo Nuni" is a traditional Korean folktale. 'Yeowoo Nuni' is a type of folk tale that has been passed down in some regions of South Korea. Among the many legends that have been passed down orally, this story belongs to the ones created particularly for the purpose of fear. The plot of the story is as follows: Once upon a time, a wealthy merchant who had three sons prayed with all his heart at a temple in a valley where many foxes lived, wishing to have a pretty daughter. Finally, his wish was granted and he got a lovely youngest daughter, whom the family cherished and loved dearly. However, unfortunate events began to happen in the household, with the livestock such as cows and horses that they raised dying one after another every night. As the father kept losing his precio...

The story of the Fox Pass, which appears in "The Tale of a Nine Tailed" is one of the legends that actually exist in Korea. Let's take a look at the story of the Fox Pass that was used as the subject of the drama. What is a Yeougogae? 'Yeougogae' is a compound word combining 'yeo-u' (meaning fox) and 'gogae' (meaning mountain pass), referring to a mountain pass that connects two areas blocked by mountains. It can be roughly translated to "Fox Pass" in English. In Korea, there is actually a place called 'Yeou-gogae', and there are many regions or villages with fox-related folktales, which may explain why there are so many places with that name all over the country. The Yeou-gogae featured in <Tale of the Nine-Tailed> is estimated to be in Gwacheon City, considering the fact that it is passed by a bus in Gyeonggi Province. The Yeougogae in Gwacheon is also known for a famous folktale called "Aeuyadam," which has be...

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 ...