Shamanism is a universal form of primitive religion that seeks the well-being of communities and individuals through magical practices. Shamans, the core of shamanism, have served as mediators between deities and humans since the era of hunter-gathere...
Shamanism is a universal form of primitive religion that seeks the well-being of communities and individuals through magical practices. Shamans, the core of shamanism, have served as mediators between deities and humans since the era of hunter-gatherer and pastoral societies, addressing fundamental issues of human life such as life, death, and abundance. In Korea, the mudang (shaman) has undertaken this mediatory role. Korean shamanism, which developed through various heavenly rituals (Jecheon uirye) during ancient theocratic societies, continues to be transmitted as unique local Gut(shamanic rituals) in modern society. Representative regional Gut manifest significant communal value, to the extent of being designated as national intangible cultural heritage today. Thus, Gut functions not merely as folklore but as a symbolic ritual embodying the Korean worldview. Among the various types of Gut currently transmitted, the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut is the standard form of Jaesu-gut, the most widely performed ritual today. Despite growing academic interest and accumulated research on Seoul-gut, detailed studies examining the specific philosophical frameworks internalized and implemented during the performance of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut remain insufficient.
Accordingly, this study aims to explore the philosophical foundation embedded in Seoul-gut, derive how it is internalized within the performance of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut, and ultimately clarify the philosophical significance embodied in the ritual. To achieve this, the study sequentially examines the philosophical background of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut, the composition of its ritual elements, the classification of its performance procedures (Jecha), and the shamanic significance of each procedure. Methodologically, this study applies literature review and ethnography. For the literature review, a systematic five-step process—establishing research questions and selecting keywords, searching and collecting literature, evaluating and selecting literature, analyzing and classifying literature, and systematizing the results—was applied to examine historical records, books, academic papers, theses, and online resources. For the ethnographic research, qualitative analysis based on contextual understanding was conducted by continuously collecting in-depth interviews, observational records, and photographs from 2002, when the researcher directly performed the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut, until the conclusion of this study. The main findings derived through this research process are as follows:
First, the philosophical foundation embedded in Seoul-gut, including the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut, is established upon the Ma-go Myth, the Tan-gun (progenitor of the Korean nation) Myth, and Sun-do thought. The concept of Bokbon (restoration of the fundamental value) in the Ma-go Myth is a ritual system aiming to restore the state of trinitarian unity prior to disharmony, and the Seoul Cheon-sin-gutperformed by the mudangsignifies this restoration through ritual. The concept of Hongik (helpful to and serving the people) in the Tan-gun Myth operated as a governing ideology with communal value rooted in humanitarianism. The current Seoul Cheon-sin-gut shares philosophical value with this, as it pursues an ideal world where a prosperous and happy human life is possible. The Samwon (three origins) of Sun-do thought—Heaven (Cheon), Earth (Ji), and Human (In)—is a practical discipline and governing philosophy that emphasizes social practice for the realization of Hongik Ingan and Jaese-ihwa (ruling the world by the principle of heaven), particularly highlighting the human role as the point of harmony and the center. This human-centric Sun-do thought aligns with the orientation of the current Seoul Cheon-sin-gut, through its performance, the mudang acts as a mediator connecting Heaven and Earth, practicing the principle of Daedong (great unity) between deities and humans. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut functions as a site for the ritual practice of Je (salvation/relief) on a profound level by establishing a practical performance field of Banmang-jeukjin (turning away from delusion to return to true nature).
Second, based on the Samwon theory of Heaven, Earth, and Human, the ritual elements of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut consist of three components, Heaven, Earth, and Human. Among these, Heaven represents the mudang mediating the myth's divinity. Earth refers to the ritual space (Gutcheong), serving as the stage and foundation where the myth is materialized. Human means the client family (Jaegajip), who undergoes a process of edification (Gyohwa) through the gut to achieve a harmonious state (Chihwa) guided by divine teachings. Moreover, each of these three elements comprises specific sub-elements. Heaven includes the mudang, ritual implements (mugu), ritual attire (mubok), ritual dance (mumu), shamanic songs (muga), and shamanic music (muak). Earth is subdivided into the ritual table (gutsang) and offerings (jemul), while Human is subdivided into the processes of harmony (Johwa), edification (Gyohwa), and governance/healing (Chihwa).
Third, based on the Samwon theory and myth-ritual theory, the primary performance procedures of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut are structured in the following order. Judangmullim, Bujeong-geori, Gamang-cheongbae, Jinjeok, Cheongungmaji-geori, Dodangmaji-geori, Gamang-geori, Sangsan-geori, Jeseok-geori, Seongju-geori, Changbu-geori, Gyemyeon-geori, and Dwitjeon-geori. These can be broadly divided into Anjeun-gut (performed while seated) from Judangmullimto Jinjeok, and Seon-gut (performed while stood) for all procedures following Cheongungmaji-geori. In Anjeun-gut, the mudang does not wear ritual attire and thus does not yet embody the deity. Acting as a proxy between deities and humans, the mudang invokes the names of the spirits on behalf of the client family and recites their wishes. In contrast, in Seon-gut, the mudang wears ritual attire and embodies the deity. While the mudang conveys wishes and requests to the deity on behalf of the client family in Anjeun-gut, the mudang in Seon-gut directly answers them, establishing a semantic distinction.
Fourth, the shamanic significance embedded in each performance procedure of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gutis summarized by major Geori as follows:
Judangmullim: Prior to the start of the performance, symbolizing the state before the birth of the universe, the performance of shamanic music creates the wave of Yullyeo (cosmic rhythm/harmony). The subsequent entrance of the client family signifies humanity's entry into the Sun-do myth after departing from Ma-go-seong.
Bujeong-geori: Represents Gyebul (purification ritual), washing away impurities and offering to Heaven, seeking Hongik through the invocation of the Samwon deities and the vow of Bokbon.
Gamang-cheongbae: Establishes the framework for Shin-in-habil (unity of deity and human) by invoking the deity who presides over Jaese-ihwa, initiating the unfolding of the principles of the Cheonbugyeong.
Jinjeok: Implements the process of harmony and unification of the Samwon (Heaven, Earth, and Human) by performing Pungryu, which symbolizes the Sun-do of the Korean people.
Cheongungmaji-geori: Materializes Jimse (the nascent world) created by Yullyeoin the ritual space, demonstrating the transmission process of Cheonbu(heavenly talisman) from Ma-go to Tan-gun.
Dodangmaji-geori: Depicts the formation process of land, sea, mountains, and rivers, which act as spaces for cultivating and proving (Sujeung) the manifestation of heavenly sounds (Cheoneum).
Gamang-geori: A process of Haewon (resolving grievances), where sound is tuned through the resonance of Heaven and Earth, ensuring no resentment of ancestors remains under the flawless law of Yullyeo (Muyeoyulbeop).
Sangsan-geori: Reenacts Hwanung's opening of Heaven (Gaecheon) to establish Shinsi for the realization of Hongik Ingan, and Jaese-ihwa, which governs human life.
Jeseok-geori: Ritually embodies the birth of Joseon, founded by Tan-gun in succession to Hwanung's Shinsi, and Budo, the ideal capital.
Seongju-geori: Represents the process of establishing order and stability in the residential space by having Seongjo (the household deity) protect each family.
Changbu-geori: Signifies defense against misfortune and sudden disasters affecting human life by reenacting the myth of Tan-gun's son, Buru, who transmitted flood control methods to prevent floods.
Gyemyeon-geori: Carries the meaning of distributing Cheonbu to community members and edifying them through the act of sharing rice cakes, the sacrificial offering of the Gut.
Dwitjeon-geori: Symbolizes the continuous effort to achieve purification and edification by establishing Sodo (sacred precincts), such as Seonghwang, even in external domains outside of Shinsi and Budo.
Following the discussion of these primary findings, this study derives the following shamanic implications:
First, the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut functions as a religious ritual seeking the well-being of the community and the individual, operating fundamentally upon the philosophical basis of Singyo (divine teaching) and Sun-do/Seonga thought, which unfold the community-centric will of Cheonung. Thus, the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut holds communal value as a structured and systematized output of the collective consciousness that has contributed to expressing a unique identity throughout the millennia of Korean history.
Second, the rituals of the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut fully encompass the three elements of general religion: founder, doctrine, and religious order. The founders are Hwanin, Hwanung, and Tan-gun, who form the philosophical basis of the ritual, the religious order is the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut ritual itself, and the doctrine corresponds specifically to the structure, performance, and offerings of the ritual. Analyzing these structural systems holds academic significance in exploring and establishing the doctrine from an elemental perspective of religion.
Third, the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut functions as a communal mechanism internalizing the inherent collective consciousness of the Korean people, guiding them toward the fulfillment of wishes with the assistance of all cosmic deities through the mudang. Originating as a heavenly ritual in the long history of the Korean peninsula, the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut continues to be transmitted in modern times as a shamanic ritual aiming for the happiness and well-being of the community, operating as a mechanism that illuminates national identity. This provides the rationale for why the Seoul Cheon-sin-gut must be fully preserved, maintained under active social interest and protection, and continuously transmitted to future generations.