Symbols and Meanings of 12 Animals in Korean Culture

Year 2020, Issue: 9, 198 - 232, 30.06.2020

Jung Hye Lee

https://doi.org/10.38060/kare.680379

Cited By: 1

Abstract

The Animal figures seen on ancient rocks and cave paintings in Korea have also been widely used in many fields such as pottery, sculptures and statues, burial mounds, legends, fairy tales, proverbs, idioms, literature and folk beliefs. The animal symbols mentioned in the article have various meanings and reflect the beliefs and thoughts of the Korean people and folklore. These animal symbols and representations therefore have a significant place in the Korean culture. The 12 animals signs assigned to Korean birth years, in particular, have a special significance for Koreans. The Animals in the Korea’s 12 Animal Calendars are also seen in fairy tales, proverbs or literary works in various and different forms. Therefore, the meanings that the Koreans place on animals plays an important role in understanding and interpreting the Korean culture and emotions. Furthermore, the meanings given to animals by the Korean people constitute an important background in understanding the Korean folk beliefs, legends and literary works.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the animal symbols and their meanings in Korea by focusing on the 12 animal calendars which have an important place in and influence on the Korean thoughts and daily life. This review consists of two parts. The former part aims examine the use of animal motifs and their symbolic meanings that have been widely used in Korea's literature, art, language and etc. while the second part focuses on the calendar of 12 animals that have a significant influence on the daily lives of Koreans.

Keywords

Animal symbol, animal meaning, Korean culture, folklore belief, 12 animal calendars

Supporting Institution

This work was supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies(AKS-2019-OLU-2250002)

Project Number

(AKS-2019-OLU-2250002)

Kore Kültüründe 12 Hayvan Sembolleri ve Anlamları

Abstract

Tarih boyunca hemen hemen tüm toplumlarda görülebildiği gibi Kore’de eski dönem kaya ve mağara resimlerinde görülen hayvan figürleri; çanak, çömlek ve heykeller, mezar höyükleri, efsane, masal, atasözü, deyim, edebiyat eserleri ve halk inançları gibi pek çok alanda ortaya çıkmaktadır. Burada yer alan hayvan simgeleri çeşitli anlamlar içererek Korelilerinin halk inançlarını ve düşüncelerini yansıtmaktadır. Dolayısıyla hayvan sembolleri Kore kültüründe önemli yer tutmaktadır. Ayrıca Korelilerin doğum yıllarını belirten 12 hayvan, Koreliler için özel bir anlam taşır. Kore'de 12 hayvan takviminde yer alan hayvanlar; masal, atasözleri ya da edebî eserlerde çeşitli şekillerde boy göstermektedir. Bu nedenle Korelilerin hayvanlara yükledikleri anlamlar, Kore kültürü ve Korelilerin duygularını anlamamızda önemli bir araç olmaktadır. Ayrıca Kore halkının hayvanlara yüklediği anlamlar, Kore halk inanışlarını, efsanelerini ve edebi eserlerini anlama konusunda da önemlidir.

Bu nedenle bu çalışmanın amacı, Korelilerin düşünceleri ve günlük hayatlarında önemli bir unsur olarak yer edinmiş olan 12 hayvanlı takvimi merkez alarak Kore'deki hayvan sembolleri ve anlamlarını incelemektir. Bu inceleme, iki bölümden oluşmaktadır. Öncelikle Kore'nin çeşitli edebiyat, sanat, dil vb. alanlarında yerleşmiş olan hayvan motifi kullanımları ve bu motiflerin sembolik anlamları genel olarak gözden geçirilecektir. İkinci olarak, Korelilerin günlük yaşamında etkili olan 12 hayvanlı takvimi üzerinde durulacaktır.

Keywords

Hayvan sembolleri, hayvan anlamları, Kore kültürü, halk inanışı, 12 hayvanlı takvimi

Project Number

(AKS-2019-OLU-2250002)

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