Tradition / Region: Korean Mythology
Alternate Names: Pulgae
Category: Dog
The Myth
Bulgae are the legendary fire dogs of Korean mythology, fierce supernatural hounds sent from the dark realm known as Gamangnara, the Kingdom of Darkness. Their role in myth is cosmic: they attempt to seize the Sun and Moon, and their attacks are believed to cause eclipses.
According to the traditional stories, the king of Gamangnara grew tired of eternal darkness and longed for light. He sent his powerful fire dogs to capture the Sun and bring it to his realm. But when a Bulgae bit the Sun, it was too hot, forcing the dog to drop it and retreat.
The king then sent another dog after the Moon. This time the Moon proved too cold, freezing the dog’s jaws and making it release its prize. Again and again the king dispatched fiercer hounds, yet none succeeded.
In Korean cosmological belief, solar and lunar eclipses occur when the Bulgae briefly bite the Sun or Moon before being forced to let go and flee back to the Dark World.
Gallery
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Bulgae. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgae
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive