Dokkaebi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dokkaebi | |
|---|---|
 A dokkaebi caused by abandoned broom |
|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul: |
도깨비
|
| Hanja: |
n/a
|
| Revised Romanization: | dokkaebi |
| McCune-Reischauer: | tokaebi |
The Dokkaebi is a mythical creature that appears in many old Korean myths. Although usually frightening, it could also represent a humorous sprite or goblin with grotesque looks. Although these creatures loved mischief and playing mean tricks on bad people, they also rewarded good people with wealth and blessings. The most common objects that are said to become a Dokkaebi are usually useful every-day implements that have been abandoned by their owners or left in perpetual disuse and include such wide-ranging objects like brooms, fire-pokers, pestles, flails, and sometimes even trees smeared with maiden's blood. Different versions of the Korean Dokkaebi mythology assign different attributes to them. In some cases they are considered harmless but nevertheless mischievous, usually playing pranks on people or challenging wayward travellers for a Si-rum (Korean wrestling) match for the right of passage.
They are different from ghosts (귀신) in that they are not formed by death of a human being, but rather by the transformation of an inanimate object.
They are roughly analogous to the oni of Japanese folklore, but Korean Dokkaebi is neither harmful nor formidable.
