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Korean House Gods · 01

Jowang and Cheuksin: the Kitchen Goddess and the Outhouse Goddess

Why old Korean homes kept the kitchen far from the toilet: the Jeju myth of Jowang, goddess of the kitchen fire, and Cheuksin, goddess of the outhouse.

Why did old Korean homes keep the kitchen far from the toilet? — Why did old Korean homes keep the kitchen far from the toilet?

Meet Jowang, the goddess of the kitchen fire — Meet Jowang, the goddess of the kitchen fireEvery dawn, Korean women set a bowl of fresh water by the stove for her.

And Cheuksin, the goddess of the outhouse — And Cheuksin, the goddess of the outhouseGrumpy, a little scary, and she hates the kitchen goddess. Why? A Jeju myth explains.

The Jeju myth — The Jeju mythA wife went looking for her missing husband. His new lover, Noiljadae, pushed her into a pond.

Flowers of life — Flowers of lifeHer seven sons brought magic flowers and woke her up. She became the kitchen goddess. Noiljadae fled to the outhouse and became its goddess.

Keep them apart — Keep them apartIn old Jeju homes, the kitchen and the toilet were built far apart. Nothing from one went to the other.

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