Korean Mythology Collection: The Stories, Folklore, Fairy tales, Folktales and History of Korea

by William Elliot Griffis, Im Bang, Yi Ryuk

🎧Listening Length = 13 hours and 47 minutes

Dive deep into the enchanting world of Korean mythology with this comprehensive collection that brings together three classic works on Korea's rich tapestry of tales, legends, and folklore. This anthology draws from the following renowned titles:

Korean Fairy Tales by William Elliot Griffis: A captivating journey through stories that have shaped the Korean imagination for centuries. Griffis beautifully captures the essence of these tales, taking listeners on an unforgettable journey through a land filled with magic, mystery, and ancient wisdom.

Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts, and Fairies Translated From the Korean of Im Bang and Yi Ryuk by James S. Gale: This collection provides a unique blend of haunting ghost stories and tales of mischievous imps. Gale's translations perfectly capture the spirit and wit of these enduring tales, making them as compelling today as they were when first told.

Korean Tales by Horace Newton Allen: Beyond just stories, Allen provides readers with a nuanced understanding of the cultural and historical context of these tales. His descriptive chapters about Korea serve as a valuable introduction to the country's vibrant folklore.

Here is a look some of the stories inside this collection:

☯The Unmannerly Tiger ☯Tokgabi and His Pranks ☯East Light and the Bridge of Fishes ☯Prince Sandalwood, the Father of Korea ☯The Rabbit's Eyes ☯Topknots and Crockery Hats ☯Tokgabi's Menagerie ☯The King of the Sparrows ☯The Wild-Cat Woman ☯The Ill-Fated Priest ☯Cursed by the Snake ☯Ten Thousand Devils ☯The Home of the Fairies ☯The Honest Witch ☯The Faithful Dancing-Girl Wife ☯The Trials of Two Heavenly Lovers ☯The Enchanted Wine-Jug ☯The Magic Peach ☯The Mirror that Made Trouble

Whether you're a lover of mythology, a student of Korean culture, or simply in search of a mesmerizing listen, this collection offers a treasure trove of stories that have withstood the test of time. Delve into this book and let the magic of Korean mythology enchant you.

Genres: Audiobook, Mythology

Audible Audio

Published November 10, 2023

About the author

American orientalist, Congregational minister, lecturer.

Griffis was an English and Latin language tutor for Tarō Kusakabe, a young samurai from the province of Echizen.

In September 1870 Griffis was invited to Japan to organize schools along modern lines.

Reviews

[Sheryl Smith]

I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed listening to the tales included in this collection. Mr. Markert is a wonderful narrator. His voice puts my a state of zen. Speaking of zen, I found it interesting when the collection defined and talked about the three main religions: Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. It was also very interesting to hear the history and movement of Asian peoples from one territory to another. While there was a lot of interaction between the different peoples, they seemed to have maintained distinct characteristics that defined them as Korean, Chinese or Japanese. Like so much of mythology, other realms have a mighty role in the stories and it is fun hearing this version of what that looks like.

[Scott Wozniak]

You can tell a lot about a culture by the stories that they tell. It seems that some fairy tales are universal (star crossed lovers fighting to be together). But there are some that could only have come from that culture, too.

I enjoyed the stories, but I would have loved a little more context for someone who wasn't already steeped in Korean history and culture. I actually know a bit, from when I worked for a Korean church for 1.5 years, but even still I missed stuff and had to figure out what he was referring to from outside research.

[Ian Yarington]

I listened to this in audio book and I feel like listening to it added something to it. It was fantastic. I already love learning about other cultures and countries and this was such a well put together comprehensive set of Korean mythology. It reminded me a lot of Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman, it was put together with a lot of love, and it covered as much as the author could find. It was simply fantastic!

[Mark Shrum]

I listened to this on Audible. It was cool to hear all the different stories. But it wasn't quite what I was hoping for when I got it.

Some of them were repetitive, but that was more due to how the book was structured. Less of a dramatic retelling of mythology and more academic. Still an interesting look into Korea's stories.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel]

Korean Mythology Collection is a great edition of Korean stories that are rich in its history. The stories captivate and draw you in while teaching about its culture and history.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LaShonda Henderson]

This book gave me all the feels! I loved the stories and the twists and turns of the moral suggestions implied with every tale. It reminded me of many of my own childhood stories told from another cultural perspective, so I squealed, did some research, and just enjoyed the words!

[Sophie Brown]

not my fave myths

[Aurora]

This volume includes 3 classic Korean folk tale collections full of stories of monks and farmers, animals, adventurers and magical creatures. There's lots of information about Korean culture and hours of entertainment for the lover of classic story telling.