초록 열기/닫기 버튼
Although the similarity between European and Asian snake lore is occasionally mentioned in studies, it is rarely examined deeply. Despite the geographical distance, the Asian origin of Hungarian people and the traces of Asian elements in Hungarian folk religion makes the region suitable for comparative studies. This paper tries to combine the results of studies about Hungarian and Korean snake worship―focusing on the role of the snake as household deity―while trying to point out how geographical location and lifestyle can affect the formation of belief systems. The paper compares the Korean deity ŏpsin with the Hungarian ‘house snake’ called házikígyó from several different aspects: the relationship between the snake and the house, the dwelling place of the snake, the traces of ancestor worship, the voice of the snake and offerings to the snake. The differences observed can many times be attributed to differences in geographical location, religious history, or traditional lifestyle with a similar underlying idea behind them. The paper tries to place these findings in a broader context by referring to similar beliefs in Asia and Europe. Besides Japanese and Chinese examples, tale type ATU 285 (‘The Child and the Snake’) is referred to as an indicator of the European house snake cult. Although the complete tracing of the origin of motifs is not possible, existing comparative studies show a tendency concerning the distribution of variations according to the religious history and culture of certain regions. Based on these finding, the belief in the snake as a household deity seems to be both of European and Asian origin, with merging characteristics and motifs in the central part of Europe. In light of this, it is meaningful to include both European and East Asian examples in the discussion of the topic in the future or reconsider the often too sharp contrast and borders drawn between Western and Eastern culture.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
snake worship, Hungary, Korea, household god, ancestor worship
