Kraken

Kraken

 

 

 Kraken is a very famous Monster. This monster appear in many kind of  book and movie.
For example, in Mobydick of Herman Melville, Giant squid fights with a sperm whale.
And in Pirates of the Caribbean, Kraken attacks a ship with scary power.
Kraken was the subject of fear. In fact, octopus was called as devil fish in northern Europe.
Actually, northern Europeans didn't eat the octopus or squid.

Kraken live in the northen ocean. Generally, Appearence of the Kraken is like a octopus or squid. 

But an accurate appearence is not exist. In the legend of Judaism and Christianity, Kraken is two
monstrous fish which was born at the Creation and live as the end of the world.

 Here is a information for Kraken.
"Size of Kraken's back is 2.5km, So we cannot see the whole Kraken's body. If you see this monster,
you can get a feeling that many small island are gathered and flotages,small fishes surround the around. Kraken give out strong smell to attract many fishes, then eat the fishes.
Kraken not only eat but also excrete during a few month. By the way, Kraken's excreta had smell to
attract the fishes too.  Looks like as arms, several thing is thick as sail of Medium-sized shipping
and slippery. Kraken has a quiet nature. So, Kraken didn't attack people or ship vainly."

As well as, Here is a example of Kraken's character.
"A bishop discovers a Kraken which come up on the beach, but he think that the monster as a rock.
 So, he said Mass on the rock. Kraken waited for the Mass politely. Then the end of Mass, Kraken disappeared to sea slowly."

 Occasionally, this monster brings big fish. So Kraken was believed mild monster at sometimes.
But in  the East, Kraken was not mentioned. And Asian do not scary the octopus or squid.
Maybe, in my opinion, Kraken was not appeared in the East.







 



Bulgasari

Bulgasari

 

 

 Bulgasari is a fabled monster in Korea and China etc.

bulgasari eat iron, defeat nightmare and smallpox.

According to a Korean language dictionary,  'body is bear, nose is elephant, eye is rhino ,fur is needle, tail is cow, leg is tiger.' But, Bulgasari's appearance was recorded as a various appearance.

So, Bulgasari's look vary in different localities. And now, remaining the Bulgasari's stories are more than 20. For this reason, Bulgasari's pictures varies as artists. But the pictures have something in common. In summary, body is like bear, head and nose is like elephant.
 According to a book of the Joseon Dynasty era, "Unknown monster was there. so, I made an attempt to kill the monster, but the monster ate many iron. so, I could not kill. Therefore, the monster was called as 'Can't killing  (不可殺  - Chinese pronunciation : Bul Ga Sal).' If throw this monster on fire,
the monster not dead and body is on fire from end to end. then invade private houses. so these houses are burned."

 Here is more detailed story.

<<Bulgasri Story>>
In Goryeo (Korean Dynasty and the past than Joseon) era, there was Ki Jong-Lang of Buddhist monk. Accidentally, he received divination with 'You can take 100 sons.'from fortune-teller.  After that, to take 100 sons, he forms a connection with women who came to pray at Buddhist temple. So, he gained 99 sons. Then, he tries to rape a wife of minister. But he was caught and put on the wanted list. So, he visited a younger sister's house to ask help. But the younger sister want to accuse brother to get for a reward. Husband of the sister who knows this fact killed his wife because husband thought that  his wife betrayed moral laws. then Husband helps with his wife's brother.
In return, monk gives a monster which was made by rubbing rice paste. This monster looked like a small bug start eating small needles. then ate chopsticks,spoon,scissiors,hoe and etc. Eventually, this monter is getting bigger as more eating iron in Goryeo. Then, Goryeo tries to kill this monster but not died. So, this monster was called as 'Can't killing (不可殺 - Chinese pronunciation : Bul Ga Sal).'  Goryeo used last means that burn the monster.
However, Bulgasari was not died. With body that had burned,this monster wander on Goryeo's territory. As a result, all territory ran into danger with fire. Goryeo's King has declared that a men who kill this monster can received goverment position and treasure. So, He attached a amulet which was given from monk(Wife's brother) at the Bulgasari's body. Then, Bulgasari vomitted all iron and vanished. As a result, He received not only a goverment position but also treasure and lived happily.

 Bulgasari has a heroic feature. This monster has appeared at caotic time and neutralized hierarchy.
In addition, transimission aspects of Bulgasri show a greed of immoral human.

You can see Bulgasari's ectype if you visit Gyeonghoeru of KyungBok Palace. People believed that Bulgasari stone statue will protect fire. so people made this statue.


 

Dokkebi

Dokkebi
I'll introduce Korea Dokkebi in a folktale.

Dokkebi is different from Normal Ghost.
Dokkebi was not formed after a man died.
I heard that this monster was born by object that people are used as a tool of daily life.
In other words,  Old broom,straw shoes,furniture  and etc are turned into Dokkebi at night.
Drizzling rain or drab day and at dusk, Dokkebi wander in the form of fire,
then, many Dokkebi gather together and dance,sing a song.
but this dance and song is terrible, so if you see this action, you must cover eyes and close ears.
Dokkebi is playful. He was deceptive or mocking people.
But If you become familiar with Dokkebi, you can receive treasure.
Dokkebi's properties was dark, So He live in cave or old tree.

There are many different tale about Dokkebi.
for example, Dokkebi has the strength of Hercules, so he put a cow on the roof of a house
or carry dog dung on rice paddy and etc.
Seeing this, Dokkebi is simple.

incidentally, Dokkebi like widow. so he visit widow and live together.
and here is one folktale.
<<widow story>>
once upon a time, a widow lived.
she make love with a certain men.
the men gives money to widow.
but gradually she lose much weight.
someday, a neighbor grandmother inquire of the whole story.
she told her story.
grandmother say "It's Dokkebi! if the men visit you today, ask what him fear."
That night, she ask what him fear, and he answered, "I'm afraid of horse head and horse blood
, are you afraid of what?" "I'm afraid of money."

Next day, widow buy a horse and hang up horse head and sprinkle blood.

Dokkebi run away.
and irritated Dokkebi throw much money her house.

she said "Oh! terrible. I'm scared.

I'm scared.!"

 

 

After a few days,  Dokkebi   realized that he was deceived.                        
so, he scattered gravel on her rice paddy.
she said aloud, "this year, farming will good. if dog dung was scattered my rice paddy,
my farming will not good."
Dokkebi heard this and he scatter dung on her rice paddy.
Widow's laugh is nonstop.
Dokkebi realized that she deceived him again.
irritated Dokkebi shouted the whole village, "Hey people,Do not believe woman said!"

Dokkebi;s apperance varies from country to country. (china, japan and etc.)

Totoro - Dokkebi character of Japan

Dokkebi of Japan

Typical Korea Dokkebi's appearance is as follows: resemble human,

                                                                                  impression tougher,disheveled hair,

                                                                                  a heavy beard and hairy,

                                                                                  herculean strength,stupid

                                                                                  like grain wine,

                                                                                  like rice cake coated with mashed red-beans

                                                                                  like alcohol and meat.

                                                                                  like human.

 

"Korea Dokkebi is like a farmhand.

body is big, and hairy.

smell odor from body

Dokkebi is different from Ghost.

Ghost is evil shape, and scorn human.

but Dokkebi is not.

act like a human, connect human relationship.

Dokkebi has humane qualities."

 

According to circumstances, Dokkebi gives good fortune.
but if you meet Dokkebi in Dokkebi's site, you should ssireum.

because,Dokkebi's ridicule capture you.
thus, we cannot refusal.
During ssireum with Dokkebi, we can't remember reality,
so before we knows, the day passed.
we are exhasuted, and fall in a faint.
To win this ssireum with Dokkebi, we throw down real leg.
because, one leg is fake leg.
but, actually only a wise man can.
playful Dokkebi has nature that want stay with people.
So, Korea's Dokkebi in a folktale is not wicked Monster.