Gasin faith () refers to belief and rituals surrounding gods of the household in Korean shamanism. These deities, called gasin, are believed to protect the various objects (such as jangdok) and rooms of the house.
Joryeong faith
The faith of Joryeong is the deification of one's ancestors. The earliest mention of the faith is in the
Samguk Sagi, a Medieval Korean history book, which mentions the 'golden chest' of
Kim Alji, the first member of the Gyeongju Kim clan. This bears resemblance to modern ancestor worship. In the modern
Honam region in southwest Korea, Koreans keep a large pot in the house, filled with rice. This is called the
Jeseok Ogari, and holds rice. The Jeseok Ogari is accompanied with
Mom Ogari, which are smaller potteries. The name of the ancestor or rice is put in the Mom Ogari. In the
Yeongnam region, Jeseok Ogari and Mom Ogari is called Sejon Danji and Josang Dangsegi. In festivals and birthdays, the family holds a
jesa to the Jeseok Ogari and Mom Ogaris. In the jesa, the family prays for good harvests and prosperity. Curiously, the Joryeong faith seems to be based on a
matriarchic entity called 'Josang Halmae', or 'Grandmother Ancestor'.
Samsin faith
Samsin Halmoni is the goddess of childbirth. Her entity was believed to be bound to the Samsin Danji, a pot kept in the inner wing of the house. The pot was filled with rice, then covered in paper and sealed with a knot tied counterclockwise. However, some households perform Geongung Samsin, or the act of honoring Samsin only in the mind. The Samsin was given
every festival or birthday, and also seven and thirty-seven days after delivery. When someone is pregnant or has given delivery, the room holding the Samsin Danji was sealed with ropes. The faith of Samsin is strongest in
Jeju Island.
Seongju faith
Seongju is literally the 'Owner of the Castle'. As the deity of the actual house, he is one of the most common and most famous Gasin. In
Jeollanamdo, the Seongjudok, or the pottery in which Seongju was considered to dwell, was filled with barley every spring and rice every autumn. However, in
Jeollabukdo, the people practiced Tteunseongju, or worshipping Seongju only in thoughts. In other regions, Seongju was mostly believed to embody a piece of paper, which was attached to the central pillar. Every birthday or festival, a
Jesa was done for Seongju, where housewives prayed for abundance and peace.
Seongju was worshipped with other Gasin; however, when a new family was formed, or when a family moved to another residence, Seongju was for a time the only Gasin worshipped. Seongju is generally considered to be the greatest of the Gasin. The gut dedicated to him is one of the most famous, and he is believed to guard the eldest male member of the family.
Jowang faith
Jowangshin () is the goddess of fire and the hearth in
Korean shamanism. As the goddess of the hearth, the rituals dedicated to her were generally kept alive by housewives. She is no longer the subject of worship, but still remains one of the most famous Korean deities.
Teoju and Cheolyung faith
Teojushin () is the patron of the ground on which the house is built in the
Gashin cult of
Korea. She is also known as Jishin (), or 'earth goddess'.
Eopjanggun faith
Eopsin () is the goddess of the storage and wealth in [[Korean mythology]] and [[shamanism|Korean shamanism]]. She is one of the [[Gasin]], or deities that protect the house. However, unlike other Gasin, who were believed to embody pots, paper, and other inanimate objects, Eopsin is special in that she appears in an animal form. This is because Koreans considered snakes and weasels, who ate mice and rats, holy.
Munsin faith
Munshin (), known in the southernly [[Jeju Island]] as Munjeon () is the god of the [[door]] in [[Korean shamanism]]. The worship of Munshin is strongest in [[Jeju Island]], where Munshin (known as Munjeon) is one of the most-worshipped deities; however, the worship of Munshin also exists in the mainland.
Cheuksin faith
Cheuksin () is the
Toilet god of
Korean mythology. Unlike better-known
Household deity such as
Jowangshin, god of the
hearth, her worship forms a minor part of the
Gasin cult.
She is believed to reside in the outhouse.
Other deities
