Mengdu
The mengdu (Jeju and Korean: "mengdu"), also called the three "mengdu" ( ) and the three "mengdu" of the sun and moon ( ), are a set of three kinds of brass ritual devices—a pair of knives, a bell, and divination implements—which are the symbols of shamanic priesthood in the Korean shamanism of southern Jeju Island. Although similar ritual devices are found in mainland Korea, the religious reverence accorded to the "mengdu" is unique to Jeju.

The origin myth of the "mengdu" is found in the "Chogong bon-puri", a major shamanic narrative in Jeju religion. According to this narrative, the original "mengdu" were possessed by the eponymous Mengdu triplets, the three deities who were the first to practice shamanic ritual on earth. The stylistic features of "mengdu" refer back to important events in the miraculous conception and lives of these gods. The implements play a critical role in ritual; both the knives and the divination implements are used to divine the will of the gods, and the bell is used to invite them into the ritual ground.

Every set of "mengdu" is believed to incarnate the spirits both of the heroes of the "Chogong bon-puri," and of the historical human shamans who previously owned the particular set. These spirits are called the ""mengdu" ancestors," and are thought to intervene during rituals to help the current holder accurately ascertain the will of the gods. The "mengdu" are conventionally passed down from one generation to another, with the previous holder becoming the newest "mengdu" ancestor. The implements and the ancestors that embody them are the objects of regular worship and also feature prominently in the initiation rituals of Jeju shamanism.

Traditional Jeju religion is nowadays in decline, and there is currently a glut of "mengdu" sets within the traditional priesthood. At the same time, many ritual practitioners who are not trained and initiated in the traditional manner are now making their own "mengdu".
Q129648
Jeju
MEDIA
Q9176
Korean
Concept
Q39782
brass
Concept
Q1043197
divination
Concept
Q699747
Korean shamanism
Concept
Q29151
Jeju Island
LOC
Q390248
origin myth
Concept
None
Chogong bon-puri
UNK
Q702065
shamanic narrative
Concept
Q4215752
shamanic ritual
UNK
Q594939
initiation
Concept
Q97473728
Mengdu
UNK
dialect of