Chilseongsin

Chilseongsin
Personification of the Big Dipper
Chilseongdo of Busan
Other namesChilseong
Korean name
Hangul
칠성신
Hanja
七星神
RRChilseongsin
MRCh'ilsŏngsin
Venerated inKorean Shamanism and Buddhism
GenderMale (Mainland)
Female (Jeju)
TemplesChilseonggak and Samseonggak
Associated deitiesEopsin
Equivalents
TaoismChilwon Seonggun
BuddhismChilyeorae

Chilseongsin (Korean: 칠성신; Hanja: 七星神; lit. 'seven star god') or Chilseong is a deity in Korean mythology who oversees rain or the longevity and wealth of humans. It is a personification of the Big Dipper (Bukdu Chilseong) and is usually worshipped in chilseonggak[1] or samseonggak buildings in Korean Buddhist temples.[2] It is considered a fusion of Korean shamanism, Buddhism, and Taoism.[3]

Meanwhile, Eopsin of the mainland is called Chilseongsin in Jeju Island. It is in the form of a snake and is responsible for wealth.[4] The snake deity is thought to be called Chilseong because its role of overseeing human life and fortune is similar to that of Bukdu Chilseong.[5]

Mainland

History

Chilwon Seonggun (칠원성군; 七元星君), a Taoist deification of the Big Dipper, was accepted in Buddhism and became Chilyeorae (칠여래; 七如來).[6] The Taoist and Buddhist deities are thought to have merged with indigenous Big Dipper worship and became Chilseongsin.[7]

In Goryeo and Joseon, Chilseongsin was worshipped during rainmaking.[3] Faith in Chilseong spread during mid-Joseon when the lives of commoners became difficult after the Imjin War and Qing invasion of Joseon. During this time, chilseonggak unique to Korean Buddhist temples began to be built.[8]

Depiction

In shamanic paintings, Chilseong is depicted as seven men with halos painted on the front of each figure's hat.[9]

Buddhist paintings depicting the seven star deities are called Chilseongdo and are placed in chilseonggak. While there are several types of Chilseongdo, one type features Tejaprabhā Buddha in the center with Sūryaprabha and Candraprabha on the sides, Chilyeorae above, and Chilwon Seonggun below.[10]

Worship and rituals

On Chilseok (7 July on the lunisolar calendar) night, women prepare food and wish for the well-being of the family.[9] In North Chungcheong Province where the deity is believed to bring prosperity to the family, a jesa is held in the backyard under the leadership of women, usually the grandmother. Baekseolgi and a bowl of fresh water is offered on a mat. Then, a candle is lit and the leader bows toward the four cardinal directions before making wishes to the deity.[7]

Chilseong gut is a shamanic ritual wishing for longevity. In Pyongan Province and Hwanghae Province, the ritual has Buddhist influences with the mudang wearing a kasaya over a jangsam (top of monks) while performing nianfo.[11]

Mythology

A boy destined to die young approached Namdu Chilseong and Bukdu Chilseong when they were playing go. When he asked for longevity, Bukdu Chilseong extended his life.[3]

Jeju

Mythology

According to Chilseong bonpuri, a Chinese couple who had long been unable to have children were finally blessed with a daughter. When they left to work in the government, their daughter set out in search of them and met a monk, eventually becoming pregnant with his child. Enraged by this, her parents put her in a stone chest and set her adrift at sea. While drifting, she gave birth to seven snakes, all daughters, and also turned into one. When they arrived at Jocheon in Jeju, local haenyeo treated them with contempt and subsequently fell ill. However, after recognizing them as divine beings, they recovered from their illness and were rewarded with wealth. Later, among the eight snake deities, the youngest daughter became Batchilseong (밧칠성; outer Chilseong) and the mother became Anchilseong (안칠성; inner Chilseong).[5]

Worship

External image
image icon Batchilseong

Anchilseong is enshrined in a gopang (grain storage) while Batchilseong is enshrined behind the house in a structure made by placing five grains under a roof tile and covering them with a woven straw mat.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Park, Sang-guk (1995). "칠성각" [Chilseonggak]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  2. ↑ Park, Sang-guk (1995). "삼성각" [Samseonggak]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean).
  3. 1 2 3 Choi, Gil-seong (1995). "칠성" [Chilseong]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Choi, Gil-seong (1995). "업" [Eop]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "칠성본풀이" [Chilseong bonpuri]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "칠성신앙" [Chilseong faith]. Buddha Land Korea (in Korean). Dongguk University. Archived from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 Ryu, Jong-mok. "칠성신" [Chilseongsin]. Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Gu, Mirae (15 August 2020). "[구미래의 불교 세시의례] <14> 칠석의 칠성기도" [[Gu Mirae’s Buddhist Seasonal Rituals] (14) Chilseong prayer on Chilseok]. Bulgyo Sinmun (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  9. 1 2 Lee, Gwan-ho. "칠성날" [Chilseong day]. Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Hong, Yun-sik (1995). "칠성도" [Chilseongdo]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 5 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Hwang, Ru-si (1995). "칠성굿" [Chilseong gut]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 June 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
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