The Shaman's Solnal Storytelling Corner and Contest

Tell the shaman a story!

During the Solnal Lunar New Year celebrations, Koreans gather round the local mudang (female shaman) to hear traditional tales.

Our contest will start with a brief introduction to Korean storytelling and a few stories, after which you will be invited to tell a traditional tale. Our Mudang is in the mood to hear a good story!

Storytelling Contest Guidelines:

1. Retell a traditional folktale from any country in the Orient in your own words. Your tale can be in any context - traditional, modern, Eastern, Western, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, romance, serious, clever, funny - as long as it has its roots in Oriental folklore and doesn't break the AW Code of Conduct.

2. Post your stories on this thread clearly titled "Entry".

3. Post as many entries as your muse inspires you to write.

4. The contest will continue until midnight of Wednesday, February 27 to allow writers time to tell a good tale.

5. Winners will receive site currency, all storytellers can take home a lovely plaque, and no unwanted images will appear on your homesites!

Follow the links to find an Oriental folktale:
Four Korean folktales More Korean folktales Vietnamese folktales Mongolian folktales Chinese folktales Japanese folktales	Folktales of India Tibetan folktales Folktales from the Philippines Cambodian folktales A Thai folktale Indonesian folktales

Prizes

FIRST PLACE	SECOND PLACE	THIRD PLACE
5,000 stcs	3,000 stcs	1,000 stcs

PARTICIPANTS
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The Shaman's Solnal Storytelling Corner Credits

Mudang graphics by Shibori Murasaka

A Brief Introduction to Korean Storytelling by Hakuin Jimmu

Mongolian tale: Why Camels Roll in Ashes by Feiyan Zhou

The Greedy Man – A Tale from Old Vietnam by MacMorna Niafer

A Korean Tale: The Shaman and the Salt Miner by Jia Li Shen Chi

A Tale from India: Tale of a Snake captured in marriage

by Lara Vardhana

A Burmese Tale: The Blue Bird from the Golden Land by MacMorna Niafer

Chinese Legends: Legend of Black Dragon Pool and more by Jia Li Shen Chi

Contest Entries

The Logger’s Daughter and the Phantom by Hoshiko Murasaka

Yakwangi Looks for Shoes by Senex /Caecilius

The Tree That Bore Rice-Cakes by Hoshiko Murasaka

The Tale of Tikki Tikki Tembo by Hakuin Jimmu

The Dragon's Pearl by Tao Shang

Gift of the Black Kiao by Xena ApilSin

A word from the Mudang

Welcome to my humble abode. I am the mudang of a local farming village just outside of Seoul.

During Solnal, Korean families gather in the village squares and in their homes to hear shamans and elders tell traditional tales.

Many of our tales are origin stories, while others are "true tales" about personal experiences. Some have their roots in the ancient Bon religion, while others are Taoist and Buddhist.

Dances such as the Fan Dance and the Hahoe Mask Dance are forms of shamanic oral storytelling told to please deities and banish evil spirits.

Today you will be introduced to Korean storytelling and hear a few tales. Then I would very much like to hear you tell tales from any country in the Orient, but in your own words.

Say hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh!

Please receive many New Year’s blessings!

And don't forget to read:

Shamanism in Korea by Feiyan Zhou

Lunar Festival Links