Korean Folk Belief Dictionary — Household Gods, Village Guardians & Rites
Korean folk belief grew from the idea that spirits live in every beam, kitchen hearth, village gate and mountain. Families made offerings for peace and abundance. This dictionary introduces the household gods, village guardians, ritual objects and rites as living cultural history.
Entries are based on public sources such as the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. They describe traditions and what people believed; they do not claim that any spirit or rite has a real effect. Enjoy them as folklore and culture.
🏠Household gods 2
🏠Seongju城主 · 成造 · The house godSeongju is the god that traditional Korean households believed protected the building itself, and he stands at the head of all the household gods. He lived in the great beam and the main floor of the house, and he was always part of the story of building and moving into a home.🔥Jowang竈王神 · The kitchen godJowang is the household spirit that traditional Koreans believed ruled the kitchen fire. A bowl of clean water on the hearth and a fire that was never allowed to die are the most familiar images of this belief.