Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/229

Rh for them to drive the evil spirit out of some one that is sick.

The services of the mudang and the pansu are called for in deciding lucky days for marriages, funerals, days for starting on a journey, and many other things of common everyday life. Every village has its days when special feasts are given in honor of the spirits, and on these occasions the mudang and the pansu take part.

It is impossible to go far in any direction without seeing the evidences of spirit worship. Every house has its group of presiding spirits. The spirit or master of the house site is usually to be found in the back yard, and his abode consists of an earthen vessel containing some unhulled rice covered over with a bunch of rice straw in the shape of a small booth. There is the abode of the master of the house, which is made by a mudang. She makes it of paper, which is folded several times, with rice and money between the folds; then it is thoroughly soaked in wine, after which it is thrown against the ridgepole or other part of the house, where it sticks fast and remains as the residing place of the master of the house. There is also the spirit to whom the women look for special blessings. It is always found in the women's department, and is made by filling a three-cornered bag with rice and hanging it in a place set apart for the purpose. There are other spirits too numerous to mention, all of which must come in for a part of the worship of every house. The spirits of departed relatives come in for much attention. They must be fed and clothed,