Episode 06: Gameunjang the Korean Goddess
/This classic tale from Korean mythology has an ending that we didn’t see coming! Universal motifs in a uniquely Korean context make for a great episode (with some top-notch drunken diversions).
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Our music is "Danger Storm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Transcript
AM: Welcome to series episode six. This is a very exciting myth for us I'm not even going to attempt to pronounce the name. Honestly, people, I think of myself as a citizen of the world. But the truth is, I've only really studied European and romantic languages.
JS: Yeah.
AM: So I apologize to all maybe Korean speakers as we also apologize to all Filipinos for our murdering of the aswang.
JS: Oh, aswang!
AM:: But, this is the Gameunjang-agi?
JS: Gameunjang-agi.
AM: Cool.
JS: We did it correctly. You're gonna hate our pronunciation throughout. You'll notice how I don't say the name of the main character in this plot for like the last half of it. Because I can't remember how to pronounce it correctly.
AM: Yeah, and major props to Steve Johnson, friend of the show who helped us out with some last minute on the spot translation.
JS: And what do we drink today Amanda?
AM: We're drinking soju, which is a national beverage of Korea and many ways. Again, Steve friend of the show, brought it to a VidCon and just had a wonderful time it's like a it is slightly less potent than liquor. But way more potent than beer and wine. So it's a very good beverage in that you can drink a bunch of it, but also not get that drunk. So we had a bunch of soju.
JS: So we're only like, 70% drunk, as opposed to 90% drunk.
AM: I rate this drunk is like a 5 out of 10
JS: All right, I go six. But that's just me.
AM: It varies. Anyway, we hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you so much to those who have supported us on Patreon and tweeted us after the show. We really enjoy hearing from you and hearing your commentary and your anecdotes.
JS: If you have questions or you have comments or you have like--
AM: Follow up.
JS:
--like stories for us--
AM: Corrections.
JS: -- that you want us to see.
AM: Tweet us @SpiritsPodcast. You can find us on Facebook and Patreon and SoundCloud and all those places but...
JS: We really look forward to interacting with you guys and like hearing more about what you have to say or if you have any suggestions for episodes. We're totally down to hear about that.
AM: In the, in the meantime though, enjoy Episode 6...
JS: Gameunjang-agi!
AM: Gameunjang-agi!
Intro Music
JS: So today, we are going to talk about Gameunjang-agi, and...
AM: Very good.
JS: That didn’t so bad. We'll, we'll try and see.
AM: Speakers of Korean, I am so sorry. That’s the closest we can get.
JS: It's not as bad as the aswang.
AM: We're okay with like French, Spanish. What else? Irish Gaelic Celtic, etc. Those things were okay with. I'm alright with Chinese names. This one I don't got.
JS: Gameunjang-agi, which I'm probably going to just keep pronouncing as like ‘her’. I'm going to every time you hear ‘her’, that's probably going to be Gameunjang-agi is basically the origin story of the goddess of destiny in Korean culture.
AM: Oh!
JS: I don't know if I feel like I should preface this. I don't know a ton about Korean mythology. I just saw this story and I thought it was really interesting and I kind of, and I think it has some really interesting Western parallels too. And like, kind of who took what from whom--
AM: Interesting.
JS: -- is going to be an interesting question later on.
AM: Yeah, borrowing a cultures, #Synergy.
JS: #Synergy. So, the story is gonna actually kind of sound pretty familiar. We kind of talked about a similar-esque story in the past, and I'll kind of see if you can figure out which one.
AM: Figure out which one.
JS: So the story starts with a male beggar and a female beggar. They end up kind of meeting on the street and living together and kind of slowly you know? Trying to work towards having enough money to support themselves and in the process, they end up having three daughters. When the first daughter is born, the villagers kind of like come together and they bring them steamed rice and the first child has steamed rice in a silver bowl.
AM: Nice.
JS: Like, because the villagers were like, "Yeah good job! Baby for you!"
AM: Here’s some silver.
JS: Awesome! So they have the first baby she's the silver bowl baby, she gets the bowl and the silver. The next baby's born and the villagers are like, "Ehhh..."
AM: Second one, not as impressive.
JS: "Ehhh..." brass bowl for you.
AM: Good. Is the next one gonna get a wooden bowl?
JS: Yes!
AM: Yes!
JS: And literally, the name... I totally forgot how to pronounce it. The name of the person that I've said about three times already and that's gonna be ‘it’ is actually comes from the word bark bowl baby.
AM: Wow! [inaudible 4:34]
JS: Dark bowl baby
AM: I want to replace my voice memo to read this.
JS: Great!
Korean Google: Gameunjang-agi. Ga-meun-jang-a-gi. Gameunjang-agi.
JS: Gameunjang-agi.
AM: Gameunjang-agi.
JS: Jinx, you owe me a drink next time.
AM: You're drinking in my house right now.
JS: Gameunjang-agi actually in Korean means dark bowl baby. Because she gets the dark wooden bowl which is like, the shitty... Little bit of child kind of...
AM: Three bears in the woods type thing going on. [inaudible 5:03], little bears. Goldilocks! [inaudible]
JS: Yeah, I just had to look at you for a second and be like, "Really?" After she's born, the Family Fortunes like start to accumulate.
AM: Alright!
JS: Like, their are a luck of changes.
AM: Dope.
JS: They're not beggars anymore. They're living in a real house. They're becoming like upstanding members of society.
AM: Started from the bottom!
JS: Started from the bottom, now we're here! Started with bowls of rice and now we're here! They're living in luxury. They're super happy they're super lucky. So...
AM: Having a dark bowl baby that sounds great.
JS: Yeah.
AM: Not the baby part but the, the wealth.
JS: Yeah.
AM: Yeah.
JS: So one day, the parents invite all of their daughters inside to like, kind of talk and shit and they're like, "So, you know? Who do we owe this good fortune to?" It's very like King Lear. Like, "Tell me what's your favorite thing about me is."
AM: Exactly! "Flatter me, daughters."
JS: Yes. So the first two daughters are like, "Oh, We owe it to heaven and earth, and then you too." and they're like, “Yes, yes. Very good golf clubs all around.” And so then, Gameunjang-agi comes in, and she is like, "Yeah, you know? I, I owe it to heaven and earth and you guys and myself."
AM: Wow!
JS: And they're like, "Oh shit!"
AM: Oh shit!
JS: "That is not cool to say."
AM: [inaudible 6:23]
JS: That is not cool to say at all.
AM: #Hubris!
JS: And so, they're like, "You know what? You can get the fuck out."
AM: Oh no!
JS: And they kick her out.
AM: Did their fortunes change?
JS: What? Come on, Amanda. We're gonna get to there.
AM: I’m just guessing! I’m just guessing. I’ll stop guessing.
JS: She leaves and she's like, riding a cow off into the sunset. And so the parents kind of start to feel bad and they're like, "Oh, wait, no, okay. You two older daughters. You go and tell her that it's okay. We're sorry."
AM: Come home.
JS: We didn't mean to...
AM: Yeah.
JS: Whatever. But the older daughters like, "Our parents are gonna die soon.”
AM: [inaudible 7:00]
JS: We want all that inheritance to ourselves." So they go and they tell Gameunjang-agi like, "Listen, our parents are gonna beat you if you come back. They're gonna beat you to death."
AM: No!
JS: "You shouldn't come back."
AM: Just, just the wrong message.
JS: Like, terrible idea. And Gameunjang-agi like, doesn't know what to do. But like, as soon as her sisters lied to her, they like turn to weird insects and mushrooms. Like, magic happens, and the two sister one turns into a blue centipede and the other one turns into like, a weird type of mushroom.
AM: Kind of cool.
JS: Kind of cool. And then, simultaneously, the parents like are looking out the window and then like both fall hit their heads and go blind.
AM: What?!
JS: Yeah.
AM: This is like, triple story happening here.
JS: Yeah.
AM: There's poverty and wealth, right? That's item number one.
JS: Sure.
AM: Second, there's magical transformations into woodland creatures, and fungi. And third, sudden blindness.
JS: Yes.
AM: Wow.
JS: I mean, totally like, very like Cinderella. stepsisters get blinded by the birds when they...
AM: Yeah, precisely.
JS: Yeah, exactly.
AM: Right, because their vision was so blinded already by wealth and greed!
JS: So...
AM: #Symbolism!
JS: Symbolism! So Gameunjang-agi, rides off on her cow and finds another family of beggars.
AM: Right.
JS: And so she...
AM: This feels familiar.
JS: Alittle bit.
AM: To her.
JS: So she's like, "Hmm... okay, may I dine in your home." and you know? Being super polite and hospitable. Of course, they allow her to do that even though they have very little.
AM: Nice.
JS: And the family is the two parents. And then they have three sons.
AM: Nice.
JS: And kind of mirroring what happened with her family.
AM: Right, [inaudible 8:42] foil.
JS: The uhhh, the two older brothers take the best food for themselves-
AM: Right.
JS: -and give her like the shitty food while the youngest brother gives her better food and eats shitty food himself.
AM: Awww...
JS: And she like, instantly falls in love. She's like, chivalry, awesome, into it! Totally going to go down with that.
AM: They feel each other's position in life. It’s very important in picking a romantic partner.
JS: Yeah.
AM: [inaudible 9:08]
JS: And of course, it's more like steamed rice. So she's like, I'm into this. This is my childhood. I'm totally, totally down for it. She ends up marrying this guy. They're like super cool they end up like being poor together. It's fine though.
AM: But happy.
JS: But happy.
AM: Like the Mickey Mouse story.
JS: And that's the important part.
AM: Before they become sad. Give to the [inaudible 9:25].
JS: That’s a Mickey Mouse story? What are you talking about?
AM: [inaudible 9:30] version
JS: Oh my god.
AM: Alright. This is... I should point out, guys, I-I head off drinking in this episode. I think the key to making good episodes of Spirits is for you to drink and me to be really tired.
JS: Pretty accurate. So...
AM: They get married.
JS: They get married, they're living their lives as like, you know? poor farmers. It's fine. They're happy. It doesn't matter.
AM: They have a cow they have two wooden bowls. [inaudible 9:53]
JS: Yeah, exactly. So Gameunjang-agi is like, out in the field with her husband like digging up yams.
AM: Nice.
JS: And all of a sudden, they’re like digging near a tree and discover the tree has golden roots!
AM: Yo!
JS: So they're like, instant rich!
AM: That's another nice metaphor you know humble tree on top but the gold is within, Julia. The gold is the spirit just like these wonderful humble farmers. [inaudible 10:25]
JS: The farmers!
AM: The farmers…
JS: The farmers are the best of all of us.
AM: The, the fruit of the land at the heart of the [inaudible 10:29]
JS: Oh my god! This is ridiculous.
AM: Okay.
JS: Okay.
AM: That’s enough.
JS: So, she gets her cow they start like loading up these like golden silver roots.
AM: Yeah.
JS: That are like, they can sell at the market and shit like that. And they're super happy they end up being rich. And so...
AM: How, how many cow back loads of precious metals it takes the rich for life?
JS: A lot. Like, a decent amount. I'd say like 10 to 15, probably.
AM: Is it gold? Yeah, [inaudible 11:02]
JS: Silver was a really big fucking deal in Asia though-
AM: True.
JS: -at this time period. Like, they were like into that shit. So they're rich. Gameunjang-agi like she kind of like has this inkling that her parents have been suffering since she left. And so she decided she's now she that she's right. She's gonna hold a big feast and invite all the poor people in the land.
AM: Nice!
JS: Which is like super generous of her.
AM: Right!
JS: Like, that's awesome.
AM: That's what awesome people would do.
JS: Yeah. And so, she kind of is expecting her parents to come, her parents show up. And like they're blind, so they don't know what's her.
AM: Oh, yeah, [inaudible 11:43]
JS: And so they're like, telling the story of their life to this rich woman.
AM: Awww...
JS: Like please have pity on us. We had three daughters. Two are missing. One, ran away.
AM: Casual centipede.
JS: It's fine. [inaudible 11:57] turn into a centipede and mushroom.
AM: Yeah, it's like it's the best cover ever. [inaudible 12:02] be a fugitive just become a fungus?
JS: People start tripping on you, it's totally fine.
AM: In, in two ways, right? If you're a giant fungus, they can physically trip over you. But if you're a mystical/psychedelic like, fungus...
JS: Oh my God. Oh my fucking god! Okay. So Gameunjang-agi listened to their story, she's moved to tears. She feels so guilty about the fact that her parents are like, penniless and blind again. So she actually tells them and like confesses, like, "Oh, I'm your youngest daughter!"
AM: It's me!
JS: And they're all of a sudden there I like opened up and they're not blind anymore.
AM: Awww!
JS: And they're like, "How is this possible?" And she's like, "Oh, you know, by the way, I'm the goddess of destiny and like--
AM: Yo!
JS: -- of like fortune and luck.
AM: Surprise reveal!
JS: Surprise reveal.
AM: How did she know that?
JS: It... she's kind of like, it's like an awakening happened. She knew...
AM: Like, in that moment?
JS: This is what’s up.
AM: Did she realize, too?
JS: Uhm-hmmm...
AM: Wow!
JS: She's like, "Listen like it wasn't an accident that my sister is turned into centipedes--"
AM: Yeah.
JS: "-- and mushrooms. By the way, that's what happened to my sisters. Sorry mom and dad."
AM: But that's okay, we hate them.
JS: So basically, she like, ends up being this balance between good and bad luck. But like also is the goddess of like, vengeance. It's super, super fun.
AM: That's a great combo.
JS: Like, she got vengeance against your sisters. She gave back good fortune to his parents and gave good fortune--
AM: Yeah.
JS: --to her parents when she was with them.
AM: Sure.
JS: So it's like a really cool thing. Her story kind of revolves around what comes between life and death.
AM: Sure.
JS: Kind of, like wealth and poverty or good fortune versus ba- versus bad.
AM: Like the roller coaster of life. [13:50]
JS: Yeah, exactly.
AM: Right.
JS: So she's like the ups and the downs.
AM: Wow.
JS: And she's and like, you know? She fits a lot of the bill that Korean folklore and mythology has. So like, the yam digger is a big theme, the third daughter, fortune, beggar feasts, blindness. Like they're all like things that happen a lot.
AM: Yeah, it’s like the greatest hits.
JS: Yeah.
AM: I don't know much about that. But I-I believe [inaudible 14:14]
JS: She's like the Korean Disney Princess. Like all those points are hit.
AM: Cool.
JS: Yeah. And so basically, what happens with her is she is all about kind of a woman leaving home and bringing her own fortune to her.
AM: Precisely.
JS: But also bringing fortune to like people around her.
AM: Like in her own way, yeah.
JS: Like and it's great because it's so nice to kind of see a story where the woman is the influencer--
AM: Yeah.
JS: --rather than being influenced by outside sources.
AM: Word!
JS: Like, it's so cool to be like, you know? No, our goddess of luck. She's a woman.
AM: Right.
JS: And she like controls like how you're doing and like, what's going to happen to you and all that. Like it's so cool-
AM: Yeah.
JS: -that balance of power is badass!
AM: Right and, and a rare myth we're following the rules brings you forth. You know what I mean?
JS: Yeah.
AM: Like following, following your, your true self and staying true to your principles.
JS: Yeah.
AM: You know, brings everyone [inaudible 15:11].
JS: And it's kind of you know? The third daughter gets all the luck like we saw with Psyche.
AM: Yeah!
JS: Psyche's, the hot daughter. She gets the hot husband who's a lover and like, you know?
AM: The two older ones just frickin tumbling off that cliff, whatever.
JS: Yeah, people just don't like those two older sisters. You want to be that third child.
AM: You do. You do.
JS: To Belle [15:33] or Austin who's the third child?
AM: They'll never know.
JS: They'll never know! Amanda's twin siblings are like 18 and still don't know who, who’s born first. So it's just like it's Amanda, Connor and then Belle or Austin.
AM: They're like lateral. They're on, they're on a level.
JS: They're like the twins from the they slaughter the pig and they worship in like a bunch of boys on an island.
AM: What? The Lord of the Flies!
JS: The Lord of the Flies! Like, those two twins on the, the island to like they're like literally in the book their name is there two names are one name is like Teddy and Oliver I know that's not the names, but like...
AM: Oh! Oh, okay. This is vaguely caming back to me.
JS: Yes, or like Fred and George.
AM: Yeah.
JS: Yeah.
AM: Awww... Right in the feels, Julia!
JS: Right? We needed at least one Harry Potter reference towards [inaudible 16:17] episode.
AM: Cool. Well, I'll be curious to hear more about Korean mythology. I don't know much about it.
JS: Well, hopefully we'll get an actual expert and not just me trying really hard to say Korean names.
AM: I think did an admirable job.
JS: Aww... well, I tried.
AM: And thanks to Steve for pinch-hitting, pinch hitting?
JS: Yeah.
AM: Pinch hitting.
JS: Pinch hitting. Sports analogy. Good job, Amanda!
AM: Thanks to Steve for pinch-hitting with the pronunciation there.
JS: Yes, much appreciated, Steve.
Outro
AM: Spirits was created by Julia Schifini and me, Amanda McLoughlin. It's edited by Eric Schneider with music by Kevin MacLeod and visual design by Allison Wakeman.
JS: Subscribe to Spirits and you preferred Podcast App make sure you never miss an episode. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, @SpiritsPodcast.
AM: On our Patreon page, patreon.com/spiritspodcast, you can sign up for exclusive content like behind the scenes photos, audio, extras, director's commentary, blooper reels and beautiful recipe cards with custom drinking snack pairings.
JS: If you like the show, please share with your friends and leave us a review on iTunes. It really does help.
AM: Thank you so much for listening, 'til next time.