Korean Shaman (Mudang 무당) - Objects of Worship: Material Culture in Korean Shamanism (musok )

Shamans (mudang 무당) in South Korea dance, sing, heal, and divine the future through the mediation of various artifacts. Colorful flags assist in predicting good or bad fortune, food offerings appease gods and spirits, and various costumes and paintings depict supernatural entities and are manipulated to summon those powers into the shaman's body during a ritual called Kut (굿). The material culture of musok is now increasingly being sold in shaman good stores, allowing store owners and art traders to become active participants in the production process of ritual events. By Shai and Liora Sarfati. umsinai@hotmail.com