# Sungmo

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{{Korean shamanism}}
'''Sungmo''' (崇母, "Holy Mother"), also called '''Daemo''' ("Great Mother"), '''Jamo''' ("Benevolent Mother"), '''Sinmo''' ("Divine Mother"), '''Nogo''' ("Ancient Lady"), '''Chungkyun Moju''' ("Empress Mother of the Rightful View") and by other names,{{sfnb|Lee|2010s|pp=6–7}} is a [mother goddess](/source/mother_goddess) in [Korean shamanism](/source/Korean_shamanism). She is regarded as the mother or daughter of the [Heavenly King](/source/Haneullim) and, in some myths, as the mother of all shamans. In other myths, the shamans are rather explained as descendants of [Dangun](/source/Dangun).{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=13}}

==Relation to the shamans==
In a collection of myths, the origin of the shamans is linked to Sungmo, who is associated with a mountain and presented as either the mother or the spiritual daughter of the "Heavenly King". In some myths, she is a mortal princess who is later [turned into a goddess](/source/apotheosis). The investiture of the shamans, according to such myths, is believed to pass down through female lineage.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|pp=5–12}}

These myths usually tell of a man, Pobu Hwasang, who encountered the "Holy Mother [of the Heavenly King]" on the top of a mountain.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|pp=5–6}} The Holy Mother then became a human being and married the man who met her, giving birth to eight girls, the first ''[mudang](/source/mudang)''.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|pp=5–6}} According to some scholars, this myth was first elaborated in the [Silla](/source/Silla) period, when [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism) and influences from [China](/source/China) had already penetrated the Korean peninsula.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|pp=5–6, 13}}

The myth of the princess is the most popular, and it differs from region to region.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=6}} In one of the versions, the princess is Ahwang Kongju of the Yao kingdom, located on the Asian mainland.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=6}} The princess had a strong link with divinity, granting welfare to her people.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=6}} Her father sent the princess among the people, who began to worship her for her healing powers.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}} The first ''[mudang](/source/mudang)'' were established as her successors.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}} The princess is worshipped with seasonal offerings in [Chungcheong](/source/Chungcheong).{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}} The yellow and red clothes worn by the ''[mudang](/source/mudang)'' are regarded as Ahwang Kongju's robes.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}}

In the north of the Korean peninsula, the princess is known as ''Chil Kongju'' (the "Seventh Princess"), seventh amongst the daughters of the king.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}} The myth tells that she was rejected by her father, who sealed her in a stone coffin and cast it into a pond, but she was rescued by a [Dragon King](/source/Dragon_King) sent by the Heavenly King, and ascended to the western sky becoming the goddess of healing waters.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}} Names of the goddess in other local traditions ''Pali Kongju'' and ''Kongsim''.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=7}} In the tradition of [Jeju Island](/source/Jeju_Island), where there are more male ''baksu'' than female ''[mudang](/source/mudang)'', the myth tells of a prince as the ancestor of all shamans.{{sfnb|Lee|1981|p=12}}

==See also==
*[Xiwangmu](/source/Xiwangmu)
*[Amaterasu](/source/Amaterasu)
*[Muism](/source/Muism)

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Kim|first=Tae-kon|title=Korean Shamanism—Muism|publisher=Jimoondang Publishing Company|year=1998|isbn=898809509X}}
* {{cite news|last=Lee|first=Chi-ran|year=2010s|title=The Emergence of National Religions in Korea|url=http://manak.org.in/wp-content/uploads/pdf-manak/The%20Emergence%20of%20National%20Religions%20in%20Korea.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124433/http://manak.org.in/wp-content/uploads/pdf-manak/The%20Emergence%20of%20National%20Religions%20in%20Korea.pdf|archive-date=13 April 2014}}
* {{cite book|last=Lee|first=Jung Young|title=Korean Shamanistic Rituals|publisher=Mouton De Gruyter|year=1981|isbn=9027933782}}

Category:Korean shamanism
Category:Korean goddesses

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sungmo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungmo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungmo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.