제주도 뱀신화와 뱀신앙의 문화 계통 연구

Abstract

Jeju is an island of myths. Different villages have different myths about the deities and shrines dedicated to them. One of those “dangsinhwa(당신화, shrine myth)” is the serpent myth. Serpent shrines can be found across the island. The serpents featured in Jeju’s serpent myths and serpent worship are sea serpents. Here, a sea serpent refers to a mythical serpent that originates from the sea. Jeju’s sea serpents can transform into young maidens and vice versa. Sea serpents are worshipped as “baeseonang(배서낭, guardian spirit for ships),” protectors of navigators, or ancestral deities. Coastal villages on the island have shrines dedicated to serpent deities, with the folk belief that serpent deities follow maidens around. In many of the serpent myths, serpents arrive at the island’s seashores in stone caskets. In other words, Jeju’s serpent deities originate from overseas. From a marine geographical perspective, Jeju Island is an open space that adopted the marine cultures of the North Pacific region. Jeju’s serpent myths and serpent worship came from the South Sea in Southeast Asia, and Jeju forms a part of the South Sea Cultural Sphere. The Southeast Asian China Sea includes the Indochinese Peninsula, the southern coast of China, and the sea around Jeju Island. Therefore, it can be inferred that Indian serpent myths and serpent worship traveled north to Jeju along the sea routes of the South Sea. India’s sea serpents are Ananta and Vasuki. Ananta is a celestial serpent that serves Vishnu, and Vasuki is the protector of the Ocean of Milk. The myths and belief with regard to these two Hindi deities from the South Sea Cultural Sphere have penetrated deep into the culture of Jeju Island. Ananta arrived at Jeju Island and found its place in the serpent myths, serpent worship, and serpent shrines of the island. However, not all areas with high snake population worship serpent deities.