Learning about South Korean’s Beliefs of Tutelary Spirits (In Comparison to Vietnam)

Abstract

This article compares the belief system of tutelary spirits among the South Korean and the Vietnamese. The tutelary spirits originate from the Han culture, have spread throughout East Asia to Korea and Vietnam. The author describes the status of tutelary spirits in each country. The communal temples of the Vietnamese are usually rather large and impressive, but those of the South Korean are small, gloomy and often deserted. The worshiping of the tutelary spirits among the South Korean community is considered to be relegated to the status of folklore, in contrast there is a strong Confucian influence in Vietnam. The nature of the worship of the tutelary spirits between the South Korean and the Vietnamese is after all to worship the landlord of the village community.