In Korea, mu(Korean shamanism) constitutes an important part of people's lives. For example, Koreans hold a gosa(sacrifice offered to the spirits) before embarking on a new project, to invoke the spirits for good fortune. To these Koreans, mu is more than a religion. It is a way of life. Mudangs(Korean shamans) predict future events and act as mediators between the living and the dead through a gut(shamanistic ritual involving the spirits). In this sense, mudangs can be seen ...more

In Korea, mu(Korean shamanism) constitutes an important part of people's lives. For example, Koreans hold a gosa(sacrifice offered to the spirits) before embarking on a new project, to invoke the spirits for good fortune. To these Koreans, mu is more than a religion. It is a way of life. Mudangs(Korean shamans) predict future events and act as mediators between the living and the dead through a gut(shamanistic ritual involving the spirits). In this sense, mudangs can be seen as equivalent to high priests, and gut as religious rituals. In their prime, mudangs performed gut for the well-being of not only individuals, but also whole towns and even the whole country. less