Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/226



Superstitions from Corea.—In spite of the early civilisation of the country, the only subject of historical interest which we saw in our travels was a curious structure resembling a rude altar, consisting of one massive slab, placed horizontally on small blocks of granite, which supported it on three sides, leaving the other side open and a hollow space some sixteen feet by ten feet beneath. Of these quasi-altars several were standing in the valleys; but, though it must have cost immense labour to place these stones in position, no legend was current to account for their existence, except one which connected them with the Japanese invasion at the end of the sixteenth century, when the invaders were said to have erected them to suppress the influences of the earth (ti chi). Whatever their origin, they have been left undisturbed.

Of the influence of superstition over the people constant evidence is seen, in offerings to the spirits of the mountains in the shape of rags tied to branches of shrubs, heaps of stones at the top of mountain ridges, long ropes hanging from trees, shrines two or three feet high placed by the roadside, and, most quaint of all, in thick planks set in the ground, with one face rudely hewn and painted to represent a human head, with teeth fiercely prominent. These figures are said to be intended to keep foxes out of the villages, and thus protect the people from their spells and witchery. Beyond these few objects and a Buddhist temple, near a fine figure of Buddha cut in the rock not far from the north gate of Söul, there was no trace of any religious feeling having any hold upon the people. Had we gone a few miles farther north we were assured we should have found at Chin Kang Shan not only the most beautiful scenery in Corea, but mountains thickly studded with temples, to which pilgrims throng in summer; but we neither saw any such nor any trace of religious observances among the people even at the new or full moon. We were told, however, of sacrifices being offered to the mountain spirits