Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa
Korean folktale of a hero defeating an underworld monster.
Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa (Korean: 지하국대적퇴치 설화; lit. 'The Downthrow of the Fearsome Underworld Enemy') is a Korean folktale centered on a hero who vanquishes a monster from the underworld. This creature abducts people from the surface and steals their belongings, and the hero’s reward for rescuing a kidnapped woman is marriage to her. The narrative weaves together a quest—the hero’s journey to find his bride—and the theme of eradication, embodied in his defeat of the monster.
The tale was first introduced to Korean scholarship by Son Jin-tae, and it has since been known under two titles: “Jihaguk daejeok jechi seolhwa” (coined by Son) and “Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa” (coined by Jang Deok-sun). Its long history is evident in its influence on several biographical novels, including *Geumwonjeon*, *Geumnyeongjeon*, and *Choe Chi-won jeon*. Traces also appear in other stories, such as *Hong Gil-dong jeon* and *Seol In-gwi jeon*. For example, *Geumnyeongjeon* resembles this folktale in that its hero rescues and marries a princess kidnapped by a nine-headed monster. The second half of *Hong Gil-dong jeon*—where Hong Gil-dong founds Yuldoguk, slays a monster in a cave, and weds the woman he frees—also appears to draw on this tradition. The folktale has been transmitted orally across Korea, with roughly sixty recorded variants preserved in collections like *Hanguk gubi munhak daegye*.
In the standard plot, a maiden is seized by an underworld monster. Her parents offer all their possessions plus their daughter to anyone who can save her, and a general steps forward. After enduring severe trials, he learns the monster lives underground and finds a narrow entrance. He tries lowering his men on a rope, but they all quit partway, forcing him to descend alone. Once below, he hides in a tree near a well. When a maiden comes to draw water, he drops leaves into her jar to signal his presence, and she helps him sneak into the monster’s home. She tests his strength by asking him to lift a rock; he fails, so she gives him invigorating water to build his power. Strengthened, he kills the monster and sends all captives back above ground. But the men waiting above snatch the maiden and flee without him.
- Field
- Korean oral literature
- Nationality
- Korean
- Known for
- Folktale about a hero defeating an underworld monster and rescuing a kidnapped maiden
- Type
- Tale of magic, Perseus and Andromeda type
- Classification
- Aarne-Thompson Type 300, 301, 303
Lore & Background
Ever since Son Jin-tae introduced this tale to Korean academia, it has been referred to as either “Jihaguk daejeok jechi seolhwa” or “Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa,” the titles respectively given by Son Jin-tae and Jang Deok-sun. The tale has a long history demonstrated by its serving as a motif for multiple biographical novels including Geumwonjeon, Geumnyeongjeon, and Choe Chi-won jeon, as well as traces in stories such as Hong Gil-dong jeon and Seol In-gwi jeon. For instance, Geumnyeongjeon is similar in that the protagonist rescues and marries a princess abducted by a monster with nine heads. Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa appears to have influenced the second half of Hong Gil-dong jeon in which Hong Gil-dong establishes Yuldoguk, slays a monster in a cave, and marries the woman he frees.
Reader's Guide
In Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa, the protagonist experiences all sorts of hardships and ordeals before defeating the villain and marrying a woman of high birth. This tale’s protagonist coincides with the typical image of those in other folktales who embark on an adventure without fear or hesitation. The conflict between the protagonist, his subordinates, and the fearsome enemy marks a clear division between good and evil and leads to a typically optimistic ending in which the good wins. The tale revolves around the conflict between the protagonist’s world above ground and the underworld where the fearsome enemy resides. The storyline is similar to that of heroic epics in that the protagonist sets out on an adventure and overcomes adversities to fulfill a mission. However, this tale’s protagonist is not someone born under extraordinary circumstances or with a remarkable skill, remaining closer to the general formula of an ordinary figure showing his potential while searching for a solution. The motif has most likely been adapted and altered by other old Korean novels, and the significance of this folktale lies in the impact it had and connections it shares with old Korean stories such as Geumwonjeon, Geumnyeongjeon, Choe Chi-won jeon, and even Hong Gil-dong jeon. Similar folktales can be found around the world, referred to in the West as a tale of magic or a Perseus and Andromeda type, and sharing commonalities with Aarne-Thompson Type 300 (The Dragon Slayer), Type 301 (The Bear’s Son), and Type 303 (The Twins or Blood-brothers).
Did You Know?
- The tale has approximately sixty variations found in collections such as Hanguk gubi munhak daegye.
- The protagonist's identity varies, sometimes being a strong man, warrior, military officer, idler, hunter, or a boy.
- The tale shares connections with Aarne-Thompson Type 301, also known as 'The Three Stolen Princesses'.
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