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Jowangshin (in Hangul, 조왕신, in hanja, 竈王神) is the goddess of fire and the hearth in Korean shamanism. As the goddess of the hearth, the rituals dedicated to her were generally kept alive by housewives. She is no longer the subject of worship, but still remains one of the most famous Korean deities.

History[edit]

It is regarded that Jowangshin was worshipped by the Korean people for millennia, since the Proto Three Kingdoms era. For example, in the Sanguo Zhi, a history book of China, there are records of a kitchen god.

"There are many different rituals that they (the people of the Samhan Confederacy, in modern South Korea) hold, but all worship a kitchen god in their western wings."^{[This quote needs a citation]}

Ritual[edit]

Jowangshin was regarded to embody a bowl of water held on a clay altar above the hearth. The housewife awoke early every morning and poured fresh water from a nearby well into the bowl, then knelt before it, wishing for luck. The ritual of Jowangshin was especially well developed in southern Korea.^[1] Also, every festival Jowangshin was honored with Tteok (rice cake) and fruits.^[2]

Five taboos[edit]

Because Jowangshin was believed to write down the happenings within the house and broadcast them to heaven, housewives had to follow five rules:

Do not curse while in the hearth.
Do not sit on the hearth.
Do not place your feet on the hearth.
Maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen.
You may worship other deities in the kitchen.^[2]

In mythology[edit]

The origin of Jowangshin appears in the Munjeon Bonpuli, a myth of Jeju Island.

Meanwhile, Jowangshin can be vengeful against those who do not honor the five taboos. In the Seongjugut, the envoy of heaven, Okhwang Chasa, cannot enter the house of Hwanguyangssi because of the glorious and intimidating armor of Hwanguyangssi. However, the Jowangshin reveals how to get past this obstacle. The solution is to capture Hwanguyangssi at sunrise, when he undresses and climbs a nearby mountain to visit his parents. The reason for Jowangshin betraying her master is because Hwanguyangssi throws his muddy shoes in the kitchen, and his wife Makmak Buin puts knives above the hearth.

The same aspect is shown in the Jangja Puli. There, the three death gods, Gangrim Doryeong, Hae Wonmaek, and Yi Deokchun, are aided by Jowangshin as they attempt to send the evil Samajangja to the underworld. In here, she appears as a crone wearing a crown made of seven treasures. The goddess tells the death gods that Samajangja is sleeping in the visitors' quarters, or Haenglangchae, to avoid death. The reason for this betrayal is because Samajangja places his feet on the hearth every morning and evening and throws knives around the kitchen.

However, Jowangshin can be a benevolent deity. In the Chasa Bonpuli, the hero(who later becomes a death god)'s wife serves rice cake, or tteok, to Jowang in preparations for Gangrim Doryeong's quest.

When Gangrim Doryeong goes west to the underworld, he finds a crone who has a bent back. No matter how much Gangrim Doryeong ran, he could never catch up. When Gangrim Doryeong nearly fainted of fatigue, the crone sat under a tree.

When Gangrim Doryeong took out his Tteok, the crone took out her tteok, which looked and tasted the same as Gangrim Doryeong's tteok. The crone then revealed that she was Jowangshin, and that she had guided Gangrim Doryeong so far. She also said that there were 78 trails leading from 'that' trail, and that one would lead to the underworld. Jowangshin additionally mentioned that her help was because of Gangrim Doryeong's wife, even though Jowangshin was personally angry at Gangrim Doryeong (who practically lived with prostitutes and lived on makgeolli, or rice wine).

Other names[edit]

Joshin (Kitchen goddess, 조신, 竈王神)
Jowanggaxi (Woman who is the king of the kitchen, 조왕각시, 竈王각시)
Jowangdaeshin (Great goddess and king of the kitchen, 조왕대신, 竈王大神)
Buttumakshin (Goddess of the hearth, 부뚜막신, 부뚜막神)

References[edit]

^ "조왕신". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-11-23.
^ ^a ^b "조왕신". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-11-23.

[1] "조왕신". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-11-23.

[:0-2] "조왕신". terms.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-11-23.

[1]

[2]

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-'''Jowangshin''' (in [[Hangul]], ''조왕신'', in [[hanja]], 竈王神) is the goddess of fire and the hearth in [[Korean shamanism]]. As the goddess of the hearth, the rituals dedicated to her was generally kept alive by housewives. She is no longer the subject of worship, but still remains as one of the most famous Korean deities.
+{{Short description|Goddess of fire and the hearth in Korean shamanism}}
+'''Jowangshin''' (in [[Hangul]], ''조왕신'', in [[hanja]], 竈王神) is the goddess of fire and the hearth in [[Korean shamanism]]. As the goddess of the hearth, the rituals dedicated to her were generally kept alive by housewives. She is no longer the subject of worship, but still remains one of the most famous Korean deities.
-==Ritual==
-Jowangshin was regarded to embody a bowl of water held on a clay altar above the hearth.The housewife awoke early every morning and poured fresh water from a nearby well inside the bowl, then knelt before it, wishing for luck. The ritual of Jowangshin was especially well developed in southern [[Korea]].<ref>http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1141978&mobile&categoryId=200000428</ref> Also, every festival Jowangshin was honored with [[Tteok]] (rice cake) and fruits.<ref>http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=630911&mobile&categoryId=739</ref>
-==Five Taboos==
+== History ==
+It is regarded that Jowangshin was worshipped by the Korean people for millennia, since the [[Proto Three Kingdoms]] era. For example, in the ''[[Sanguo Zhi]]'', a history book of China, there are records of a kitchen god.
-Because Jowangshin was believed to write down the happenings within the house and broadcast them to heaven, housewives had to follow five rules.
+"There are many different rituals that they (the people of the [[Samhan|Samhan Confederacy]], in modern South Korea) hold, but all worship a kitchen god in their western wings."{{Quote without source|date=July 2022}}
-. Do not curse while in the hearth.
+==Ritual==
-. Do not sit on the hearth.
+Jowangshin was regarded to embody a bowl of water held on a clay altar above the hearth. The housewife awoke early every morning and poured fresh water from a nearby well into the bowl, then knelt before it, wishing for luck. The ritual of Jowangshin was especially well developed in southern [[Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=조왕신 |url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?cid=40942&docId=1141978&categoryId=34708 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=terms.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref> Also, every festival Jowangshin was honored with [[Tteok]] (rice cake) and fruits.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=조왕신 |url=https://terms.naver.com/entry.naver?cid=50766&docId=630911&categoryId=50794 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=terms.naver.com |language=ko}}</ref>
+==Five taboos==
-. Do not place your feet on the hearth.
+Because Jowangshin was believed to write down the happenings within the house and broadcast them to heaven, housewives had to follow five rules:
-. Maintain the cleanness of the kitchen.
+# Do not curse while in the hearth.
+# Do not sit on the hearth.
+# Do not place your feet on the hearth.
-. You may worship other deities in the kitchen.<ref>http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=630911&mobile&categoryId=739</ref>
+# Maintain the cleanliness of the kitchen.
+# You may worship other deities in the kitchen.<ref name=":0" />
-==In Mythology==
+==In mythology==
+The origin of Jowangshin appears in the ''[[Munjeon Bonpuli]]'', a myth of [[Jeju Island]].
-Jowangshin is often a central figure in [[Korean mythology|Korean mythology]].
-In the ''Munjeon Bonpuli'' (literally ''Annals of the door''), a myth of [[Jeju Island]], the origin of Jowangshin is revealed.
+Meanwhile, Jowangshin can be vengeful against those who do not honor the five taboos. In the ''Seongjugut'', the envoy of heaven, Okhwang Chasa, cannot enter the house of Hwanguyangssi because of the glorious and intimidating armor of Hwanguyangssi. However, the Jowangshin reveals how to get past this obstacle. The solution is to capture Hwanguyangssi at sunrise, when he undresses and climbs a nearby mountain to visit his parents. The reason for Jowangshin betraying her master is because Hwanguyangssi throws his muddy shoes in the kitchen, and his wife Makmak Buin puts knives above the hearth.
+The same aspect is shown in the ''Jangja Puli''. There, the three [[death god]]s, [[Chasa bon-puri|Gangrim Doryeong]], [[Chasa bon-puri|Hae Wonmaek]], and [[Chasa_bon-puri#Gangnim_in_other_rites|Yi Deokchun]], are aided by Jowangshin as they attempt to send the evil Samajangja to the underworld. In here, she appears as a crone wearing a crown made of seven treasures. The goddess tells the death gods that Samajangja is sleeping in the visitors' quarters, or Haenglangchae, to avoid [[death]]. The reason for this betrayal is because Samajangja places his feet on the hearth every morning and evening and throws knives around the kitchen.
-In the villiage of Namseon in the kingdom of Junyeon lived Namseonbi and his wife, Yeosan Buin. Yeosan Buin was a very capable wife who raised the money for the family. However, her husband Namseonbi wasted all of the money whenever Yeosan Buin gathered enough.
+However, Jowangshin can be a benevolent deity. In the ''[[Chasa Bonpuli]]'', the hero(who later becomes a death god)'s wife serves rice cake, or [[tteok]], to Jowang in preparations for Gangrim Doryeong's quest.
-The family of Yeosan Buin had nine members: Namseonbi, Yeosan Buin, and their seven sons. The name of the seventh was Nokdisaengin.<ref>Alive Korean Mythology, page 212</ref>
-Because of the family's poverty, all of the family starved and lacked clothing. Yeosan Buin was worried by their pitiful condition, and bought fine cotton clothes and hats and fifty silver coins by selling her treasures she had brought from her family. She suggested that with these accesories, they buy grain, which was cheap in their villiage, and sell it in other villiages, where grain was expensive.
-Namseonbi thus set out to another villiage in the villiage of Odong in the Kingdom of Odong. There, Namseonbi, dressed in expensive clothing and controlling a ship full of grain, looked as if he was a wealthy man.
-Noiljadae, the daughter of a [[Jumak]] owner, approached Namseonbi and suggested that he rest in her Jumak. There, Namseonbi sold all of his clothes and grains for rice wine and games. Once Namseonbi again fell in poverty, Noiljadae chased her away. Namseonbi had to build a hut outt of rice stalks and build a door of rotten wood. Noiljadae fed him harsh grain in a dog's tray. Because of the harsh grain, Namseonbi went blind.
-Meanwhile, Yeosan Buin became worried at Namseonbi's abscence and made a small wooden boat. She then floated away to the villiage of Odong.
-Yeosan Buin heard a girl sing a song to chase the sparrows away from the grain fields. The lyrics of the song was that Namseonbi was tricked by Noiljadae's wit and chased away to a hut. She tracked down Namseonbi.
-Namseonbi was blind, and thus he did not recognize his wife. However, when Namseonbi tasted the food that Yeosan Buin prepared, he recognized Yeosan Buin. Yeosan Buin began prparations to sail home.
-Meanwhile, Noiljadae decided that she should get rid of Yeosan Buin. She invited Yeosan Buin into the lake of Ocheongang to wash there. However, Ocheongang was an icy lake that had no bottom. Noiljadae did not enter the lake, but Yeosan Buin did. She drowned in the lake.<ref>http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/list.nhn?titleId=119877</ref>
-Meanwhile, Noiljadae pretended to be Yeosan Buin, and went to the villiage of Namseon with Namseonbi. Because of the first encounter that she had with Namseonbi, she believed the family was rich.
-Six of the seven sons threw down their accessories to greet their parents; however, Nokdisaengin knew that one of his parents was not truly his mother, as Noiljadae did not share her umbrella with Namseonbi, and because her appearances and voices were different. She responded with various excuses, but only six of the seven sons were fooled.
-Noiljadae decided to kill Nokdisaengn, and [[Malingering|malingered]]. She said that there was a famous [[prophet]] called Jangjeol Doryeong in Jajeot Street. However, when Namseonbi was gone, she ran to Jajeot Street and said (with a different voice) that the cure would be to feed her the liver of Nokdisaengin.
-However, Namseonbi refused. In response, Noiljadae performed the same trick two more times, pretending that she was a [[doctor]] and a [[Jangseung]], or a [[totem pole]].
-Finally, Namseonbi sharpened his knife to kill Nokdisaengin. However, Nokdisaengin said that he would [[suicide]]. In a nearby mountain, Nokdisaengin gathered his brothers and killed a young [[boar]]. He said that if their 'mother' was cured when she ate boar liver, than she was not actually their mother.
-The brothers fed Noiljadae boar liver. She was miraculously cured, then tried to kill the sixth son.<ref>http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/list.nhn?titleId=119877</ref> However, she was ambushed by the six brothers, led by the youngest, Nokdisaengin. She hanged herself in the bathroom.
-The brothers then went to the villiage of Odong. They prayed to the supreme deity Cheonjiwang for four days and nights. Finally, the [[cadaver]] of Yeosan Buin was revealed. There were only bones left.
-Four days later, Nokdisaengin heard a [[crane]] say that he could fly the smallest and lightest, Nokdisaengin, on his back to the fields of Seocheon, where grew flowers that could remake the body, if the brothers caught them seven [[carps]]. Each of the brothers caught a carp, and Nokdisaengin went on his way.
-However, Nokdisaengin accidentally drowzed, and one of the carps fell down. Thus, the crane had nothing to eat. Nokdeisaengin fed it his own arm.<ref>http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/list.nhn?titleId=119877</ref>
-When the crane reached the fields of Seocheon, the god of flowers, plants, and emotions, Hallakgungi, recreated his arm. He then gave Nokdisaengin each of the five varieties of Hwansaengkkot (Reincarnation flower). (curiously, Hallakgungi also has a myth about him that concerns Hallakgungi reviving his mother, who was ripped to death)
-He flew the crane back to Odong. Then, he put the Salsalikkot (Flower that revives flesh) on top of Yeosan Buin's bones. Flesh formed around the bones. Next was the Pisalikkot (Flower that revives blood. He revived his mother's blood, which again flew in Yeosan Buin's veins.
-Next was the Sumsalikkot (Flower that revives breath), which made Yeosan Buin breatthe again. Finally, Nokdisaengin put the Honsalikkot (Flower that revives soul) on top of the unconscious Yeosan Buin. She finally awoke, having been revived from death.
-Cheonjiwang made Yeosan Buin the Jowangshin, the goddess of the kitchen, hearth, and fire, to make up for her times in an icy lake.
-Namseonbi became the Jabshin, defender of the dark fertilizer shed, because it was regarded that he indirectly blinded himself.
-Five of the seven brothers became the deities who defended each [[cardinal direction]]: The eldest was Cheongje of the [[east]], the second was Baekje of the [[west]], the third Jeokje of the [[south]], the fourth Heukje of the [[north]], and the fifth Hwangje of the [[center]]. The sixth, who was nearly murdered by Noiljadae, became Duitmunwang, who guarded the back door. The hero Nokdisaengin became Munwangshin, defender of the front door.
-Noiljadae became the bathroom goddess, Cheukshin, because she hanged herself in the bathroom.
-Because of the relationship between Cheukshin and Jowangshin, it was a [[taboo]] in Korean society to make the bathroom next to the kitchen, or to make the bathroom door face the kitchen. However, it was actually because [[human feces|feces]] would cause the food in the kitchen become infected with [[pathogens]]. <ref>Korean Mythology We Should Really Know, page 190~202</ref>
-Meanwhile, Jowangshin can be vengeful to those who do not honor the five taboos. In the ''Seongjugut'', the envoy of heaven, Okhwang Chasa, cannot enter the house of Hwanguyangssi because of the glorious and intimidating armor of Hwanguyangssi. However, the Jowangshin reveals how to get past this obstacle. The solution is to capture Hwanguyangssi at sunrise, when he undresses and climbs a nearby mountain to visit his parents. The reason for Jowangshin betraying her master is because Hwanguyangssi throws his muddy shoes in the kitchen, and his wife Makmak Buin puts knives above the hearth.<ref>Alive Korean Mythology, page 256</ref>
-The same aspect is shown in the ''Jangja Puli''. There, the three [[Death god|death gods]], Gangrim Doryeong, Hae Wonmaek, and Yi Deokchun, is aided by Jowangshin as they attempt to send the evil Samajangja to the underworld. In here, she appears as a crone wearing a crown made of seven treasures. The goddess tells the death gods that Samajangja is sleeping in Visitors' Quarters, or Haenglangchae, to avoid [[death]]. The reason for this betrayal is because Samajangja places his feet on the hearth every morning and evening, and throws knives around the kitchen.<ref>Korean Mythology We Should Really Know, page 130</ref>
-However, Jowangshin can be a beneovolent deity. In the ''Chasa Bonpuli'', the hero(who later becomes a death god)'s wife serves rice cake, or [[tteok]], to Jowang in preparations for Gangrim Doryeong's quest.
 When Gangrim Doryeong goes [[west]] to the underworld, he finds a crone who has a bent back. No matter how much Gangrim Doryeong ran, he could never catch up. When Gangrim Doryeong nearly fainted of fatigue, the crone sat under a tree.
-When Gangrim Doryeong took out his [[Tteok]], the crone took out her [[tteok]], which looked and tasted the same as Gangrim Doryeong's [[tteok]]. The crone then revealed that she was Jowangshin, and that she had guided Gangrim Doryeong so far. She also said that there were 78 trails leading from 'that' trail, and that one would lead to the underworld. Jowangshin additionally mentioned that her help was because of Gangrim Doryeong's wife, even though Jowangshin was personally angry at Gangrim Doryeong(who practically lived with [[prostitutes]] and lived on [[makgeolli]], or rice wine).<ref>Alive Korean Mythology, page 149~151</ref>
+When Gangrim Doryeong took out his [[Tteok]], the crone took out her [[tteok]], which looked and tasted the same as Gangrim Doryeong's [[tteok]]. The crone then revealed that she was Jowangshin, and that she had guided Gangrim Doryeong so far. She also said that there were 78 trails leading from 'that' trail, and that one would lead to the underworld. Jowangshin additionally mentioned that her help was because of Gangrim Doryeong's wife, even though Jowangshin was personally angry at Gangrim Doryeong (who practically lived with [[prostitutes]] and lived on [[makgeolli]], or rice wine).
-==Other Names==
+==Other names==
-Joshin (Kitchen goddess, 조신, 竈王神)
+*Joshin (Kitchen goddess, 조신, 竈王神)
+*Jowanggaxi (Woman who is the king of the kitchen, 조왕각시, 竈王각시)
-Jowanggaxi (Woman who is the king of the kitchen, 조왕각시, 竈王각시)
+*Jowangdaeshin (Great goddess and king of the kitchen, 조왕대신, 竈王大神)
+*Buttumakshin (Goddess of the hearth, 부뚜막신, 부뚜막神)
-Jowangdaeshin (Great goddess and king of the kitchen, 조왕대신, 竈王大神)
-Buttumakshin (Goddess of the hearth, 부뚜막신, 부뚜막神)
 ==See also==
+* [[Kitchen god]]
-[[Hestia]], Greek goddess of the hearth
+* [[Zàojūn]], Chinese kitchen god
+* [[Kōjin]], Japanese kitchen god
-[[Vesta (mythology)]], Roman goddess of the hearth
+* [[Ông Táo]], Vietnamese kitchen god
+*[[Kamuy-huci]], an Ainu kitchen god
-[[Gashin cult]], the worship of house deities ([[Gashin cult|Gashin]]) , including Jowangshin, in [[Korean shamanism]]
+* [[Hestia]], Greek goddess of the hearth
+* [[Vesta (mythology)]], Roman goddess of the hearth
+* [[Gashin cult]], the worship of house deities ([[Gashin cult|Gashin]]), including Jowangshin, in [[Korean shamanism]]
+* [[Teojushin]], another [[Gashin cult|Gashin]]
-[[Teojushin]], another [[Gashin cult|Gashin]]
 ==References==
 <references>http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=1141978&mobile&categoryId=200000428</references>
-[[Category:Gashin cult]]
+[[Category:Gasin faith]]
+[[Category:Fire goddesses]]
+[[Category:Korean goddesses]]
+[[Category:Domestic and hearth deities]]