From: mleger@panix.com (Mark Leger)
Subject: Re: Korean Shaman Ritual
Date: 15 Jul 1994 22:34:19 -0400

Joe Stojsic (joe@mullara.met.unimelb.edu.au) writes:
> Malthouse, Melbourne Australia. One performance only.  Trance like.
> Anyone know what Korean stuff like this is like?

The Asia Society and the Musuem of Natural History here in NYC put on
a fascinating two day program on Korean shamanism early this
Winter. Two rituals were performed. By far the most enjoyable was a
celebratory blessing ritual held in the ocean room at the Museum --
200 not-particularly-Pagan identified people plus a sprinkling of
Yoruban and Native American practioners danced to really exhilerating
drumming and chanting. That evening we went to a more performancey
funeral ritual at the Asia Society. Beautiful, but abstracted and
therefore oddly dry. 

For good solid info on Korean shamanism, see two books by Laurel
Kendall: Shamans, Housewies and Other Restless Spirits and The Life
and Hard Times of a Korean Shaman. Korean shamanism is a very ancient
tradition practiced mostly by women. The male practitioners dress as
women. There are two schools: the northern is more about channeling
spirits, and the southern is more about ceremonial magic.  I would
definitely go anytime to a Korean shaman ritual -- Melbourne is a
little far for me, tho. Have fun!