[KS] Tangun and Korean Shamanism

[HKHogarth at aol.com]

Dear Dr. (?) Deutsch,

With reference to you recent emails,  my answers to your queries are as 
follows:

1.  It is true that there exists some confusion even among the Koreans 
regarding  the correct pronunciation of  Mani-san. But as I stated earlier, 
the officially accepted name (also used in Korean academia) appears to be 
Mani-san.  The confusion arises because of the Sino-Korean characters used 
for the mountain.  For example, at the entrance of the park leading to the 
summit and the Tan'gun Shrine, there stands a rock marked with Chinese 
characters  which should be pronounced 'Mari-san.'  Therefore, I myself used 
'Mari-san' for a long time, until I was correctly by several Korean scholars 
and also the editor of an emminent publishing company. 

2. There are numerous 'hakhoe' ('academies'), which specialize in research 
into Tan'gun, but most of them cannot be called 'academy' in the strict sense 
of the word.    The shrine on Kanghwa-do is maintained by Tan Tan Hakhoe, one 
of those research organizations; it is not the name of the shrine. According 
to Cho HUngyun,  there exist 12 such 'academies,'   33 religious 
organizations and 8 societies, specializing in Tan'gun.  But given the nature 
of the organizations, those figures are of course fluid. For details, please 
refer to the article by Prof. Cho (unfortunately written in Korean with lots 
of complex Chinese characters!)  in 'Tan'gun', ed. by Yun IhUm, published in 
1994 by Seoul National University Press, pp 332-352. 

3. I understand that Kim KUmhwa has retired.  Mr. Choe NamOk, the president 
of Taehan SUnggong KyOngshin YOnhaphoe (The Korean Sprit Worshippers' 
Association for Victory Over Communism-the largest society of Korean 
shamans), told me last month that she had recently given away all her 
shamanistic paraphernalia and no longer practised her profession. 

You may find her books of some interest.  In 1995, she published two books, 
(1) a sort of memoirs, commonly called 'sup'ilchip (essays)' in Korean, 
entitled 'PogUn nanugo hanUn p'ushige (Let's Share Good Fortune and Disperse 
Grievances)' , pub. by P'urUnsup, 303 pages, price 6,500 won,  and (2) a 
collection of her muga (shamanistic songs), entitled 'Kim KUmhwa Ui muga 
chip'  pub. by MunUmsa, 439 pages, price 35,000 won.  Neither book is 
academic in nature, but both are easy to read (in simple Korean with no 
Chinese characters) and make interesting reading, and provide some insights 
into Korean shamanism. 

As far as I know, the name of Kim KUmhwa's spirit daughter in Los Angeles  is 
Ch'ae Hia, not Park Hia (Please refer to  'Han'gugin Ui kut kwa mudang', by 
Hwang Rushi, 1988, pub. by MunUmsa, pp 32-41, and some other publications 
recording Ch'ae's initiation ritual held in 1981).  But there again, she may 
have married a Mr. Park, and changed her name since then!  Incidentally, I 
prefer to call a student shaman, a spirit daughter/son, to distinguish  
apprentice shamans from Catholic god sons/daughters. 

4. As for my books,  both are written in English. I understand that my first 
book is being reviewed somewhere.  Unfortunately the publisher of my second 
book,  Korean Shamanism and Cultural Nationalism, has been experiencing a 
cash flow problem.  So it will be a little difficult to expect them to send 
you a review copy.  Last time I asked them to send one to the editor of a 
journal, they just ignored me. However, I can arrange for a special discount, 
if you wish.  

Yours, 
Hyun-key Kim Hogarth (Dr.)

PS.    Incidentally I am a female anthropologist.


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