Gwisin
Ghosts in Korean folklore
title: "Gwisin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["korean-legendary-creatures", "female-legendary-creatures", "korean-folklore", "korean-ghosts"] description: "Ghosts in Korean folklore" topic_path: "geography/korea" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwisin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Ghosts in Korean folklore ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox Korean name/auto"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| hangul | 귀신 |
| hanja | 鬼神 |
| :: |
| hangul = 귀신 | hanja = 鬼神
In Chinese folklore, the **** ({{linktext|鬼神}}, "ghost deity") is a ghost or a spirit; likewise, in Korean folklore, a **** or **** (, 鬼神) refers to a ghost or spirit.
The Japanese cognate **** (鬼神) typically glossed as "demons and gods". Note that Hinduist-Buddhist demons yaksha () and rakshasa () may also be expressed as types of guishen, i.e., (夜叉鬼神), etc.
Korean legends
There are a lot of legends about gwisin. Because they are a common form of ghost, children often make them up to scare others or parents tell stories to their children to teach them a lesson. The most common plot of a legend about gwisin is revenge, for example revenge for the family of the ghost. Another popular tropes include men who cheat on their wives, and murder someone.
According to folklore, gwisin may be found in many places. It is claimed that when an individual dies but still has ties to the world of the living, such as in the case of revenge or caring for a loved one, their spirit remains on earth to complete the task before going on to the underworld.
Appearances of gwisin often occur in high schools, a concept popularized with the release of Whispering Corridors, a Korean horror movie released in 1998.
Physical characteristics
Folklore says that the gwisin ghosts are usually transparent, legless and float in mid-air. Female gwisin are known as Cheonyeogwisin and usually have white Hanbok (한복) which are worn for funerals. They have long, drooping black hair and sometimes they are faceless, depending on their personality. Male gwisin are somewhat rare, and may appear different.
Comparisons
The gwisin/kwisin is considered similar to a yogoe (, 妖怪, a yōkai/ayakashi or ghost) or mamul (. 魔物, a bogey).
In Korea, gwisin are humans who have died, unlike the dokkaebi.
References
References
- . (December 15, 2011). ["Supernatural Creatures of Korean Mythology"](http://blog.korea.net/?p=6272).
- Kim, Chongho. (2018). "Korean Shamanism: The Cultural Paradox". Routledge.
- Miller, Alan L.. (1987a). "The Swan-Maiden Revisited: Religious Significance of 'Divine-Wife' Folktales with Special Reference to Japan". Asian Folklore Studies.
- Poo, Mu-chou. (2002). "Ghosts and Religious Life in Early China". Cambridge University Press.
- [[:ja:金素雲. Kim So-woon]] (1992) [1968] ''Korean-Japanese Dictionary'' s.v. "귀신 [忌辰]" p. 175a, (taboo day, no English gloss given) Kōrai Shorin. There is no entry for homonym (鬼神)
- [[:ja:金素雲. Kim So-woon]] (1992) [1968] ''Korean-Japanese Dictionary'' s.v. "귀신 [忌辰]" p. 175a, (taboo day, no English gloss given) Kōrai Shorin. There is no entry for homonym (鬼神)
- [[:ja:金素雲. Kim So-woon]] (1992) [1968] ''Korean-Japanese Dictionary'' s.v. "마물 [魔物]", a bogy p. 304a . Kōrai Shorin.
- [[:ja:金素雲. Kim So-woon]] (1992) [1968] ''Korean-Japanese Dictionary'' s.v. "요괴 [妖怪]", a ghost p. 672 b. Kōrai Shorin.
- Yun, Kyoim. (2019). "The Shaman's Wages: Trading in Ritual on Cheju Island". University of Washington Press.
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