韓國 古代 醫療産俗의 民間傳承과 使用樣態 - 檀君神話를 中心으로 -

Abstract

In spite of the fact that numerous researches on Dangun mythology have been carried out in diverse areas including history, folklore, anthropology and religion, there has not been any study on the childbirth folklore(産俗) in daily life that thoroughly reflects the lives of people in the ancient society as they are. Study of ancient society through childbirth folklore can be one of the methods of in-depth researching and disclosing the essence of matters and reasons for the characteristics and ideologies of the given era. Childbirth folklore refers to the rituals from the time of pregnancy to recovery of the birth-giving women following childbirth, and is divided largely into 2 rituals, namely, rituals prior to and following childbirth. ‘Mugwort(艾)’ has been symbolically expressed in the Dangun mythology as a method of such childbirth folklore,enabling us to presume that mugwort has been used in the medical treatment of birth-giving mothers in the ancient society. Therefore, understanding the medical practices for childbirth of women in a larger framework in understanding of the ancient society would be meaningful in overall assessment of the Dangun mythology. Childbirth folklore rituals in the ancient society were a treatment method for birth-giving mothers on the basis of the knowledge accumulated on the foundation of prolonged period of experiences, and these treatment methods are being used as folk remedy until now through passing down of experiences privately between the generations orally within the households among the women. However, in spite of the fact that such rituals have been continuing for long time from the ancient to current era, the substantiality and the behavior of these rituals have not been highlighted since it is a covertly practiced care only of women. Mythology has significance when what is hidden on the other side of the myth is assessed by transcending what is apparent on the surface of the myth. The appeal of mythology is the general aspects of the social cultures of the time that are inherent in its contents more so that what is apparent on its surface. Accordingly, assessment of such general aspects would be a method of more diversified interpretation of mythology.