Gawp

Gawp (Jeju: ᄀᆞᆸ) is a cosmological concept in Jeju Island shamanism referring to the divide between heaven and earth, humans and non-humans, and the living and the dead.[1]

• In the Jeju creation myth, a gawp between heaven and earth is said to be created from the original mingled state of the universe. Later, the god Daebyeol-wang creates a gawp between humans and non-humans when he numbs the tongues of animals, plants, and rocks so that they can no longer speak, and physically separates the living from the dead.[1]
• In the Buldo-maji, a series of rituals held for fertility gods, shamans create a gawp between Saengbul-halmang, the goddess of childbirth and patron of young children, and Gusamseung-halmang, the goddess of dead children who send illnesses to kill babies and bring them under her dominion.[2]
• In the Durin-gut, a ritual held to cure mental illnesses, shamans endeavor to create a gawp between the human patient and the malevolent dokkaebi that has entered their body and is responsible for the insanity.[3]

References

Citations

1. Kim S. 2011, pp. 79-81.
2. Kang J. 2015.
3. Ko K. & Kang J. 2006, p. 23.

Works cited

• 강정식 (Kang Jeong-sik) (2015). Jeju Gut Ihae-ui Giljabi 제주굿 이해의 길잡이 [A Primer to Understanding Jeju Ritual]. Jeju-hak Chongseo. Minsogwon. ISBN 9788928508150. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
• 고광민 (Ko Kwang-min); 강정식 (Kang Jeong-sik) (2006). National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (ed.). Jeju-do Chuneun-gut 제주도 추는굿 [The Dancing Ritual of Jeju Island]. Pia. ISBN 89-86148-28-5. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
• 김선희 (Kim Sun-hee) (2011). "'Bepo-doeop-chim'-ui changjo-sinhwa-jeok seonggyeok" 「베포도업침」의 창조신화적 성격 [The nature of the Bepo-doeop-chim as a creation myth]. Yeongjueomun. 22: 61–90. ISSN 1598-9011. Retrieved June 8, 2020.