| Jeoseung Saja | |
|---|---|
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Other Names |
Korean Grim Reaper |
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First Appearance |
Korean Mythology |
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Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Jeoseung Saja, known as the Korean Grim Reaper, serves as a psychopomp guiding souls to the afterlife, rooted in ancient beliefs about death and the netherworld. In Korean mythology, Jeoseung Saja acts like the Grim Reaper, escorting souls—both good and bad—from the physical world to the netherworld. Unlike the singular Grim Reaper of Western lore, the Jeoseung Saja are a class of spectral bureaucrats responsible for this task. Often referred to as the “Messenger of Death” or “Death Angel,” Jeoseung Saja plays a significant role in Korean folklore, embodying cultural beliefs about death and the transition to the afterlife.
he Jeoseung Saja are traditionally depicted as imposing figures dressed entirely in black, adorned with a “hanbok,” the traditional Korean attire modified to suit their solemn role. Topping their attire is a wide-brimmed black hat known as a “gat,” adding to their authoritative presence. In Korean folklore, Jeoseung Saja is commonly depicted as a male figure with pale complexion and sunken eyes, enhancing his eerie depiction in both traditional culture and modern imagination.
The Myth of General Sineui is a Korean oral myth about General Sineui, who attempted to cheat death features a Jeoseung Saja.
The mountain of Geumo, located today in Chilgok County, was the home to the Pyeongsan Sin clan. Mount Geumo was an auspicious mountain, and Sineui was born under its power.
Sineui grew into a fine boy, then a great general. Above all, Sineui wanted to cheat death.
One day, a Jeoseung Saja came to Sineui's house. Jeoseung Saja were death gods, who reaped the souls of the dead and brought them to the Underworld. The Jeoseung Saja attempted to enter Sineui's house, but he could not cross the orange trees that surrounded the house. Sineui himself had planted them, knowing that oranges warded off evil. But after four days, he found a peach tree, a plant of evil. He crossed the walls using the peach tree.
When the Jeoseung Saja met Sineui, he found that he had pierced a silver pin on his head. Silver also warded off evil gods. However, the Jeoseung Saja hid under the floors of the house. When Sineui went to wash his face, the Jeoseung Saja sprang up and reaped him by hitting him with an iron hammer. His will was not to bury him for a week.
Sineui escaped the Underworld, defeating the Gaekgwi (Gaekgwi are ghosts that roam between the Underworld and the mortal world), and returned to his family. However, his family had buried him under the earth. Because his body was underground, he suffocated quickly and died again.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Jeoseung Saja from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Notes[]
- The Jeoseung Saja are the inspiration for Kpop Demon Hunters's Saja Boys.