The focus of the research is solely on understanding Josangsin Bonpuri which refers to myths about individual ancestral gods were recited in Jeju Island Shamanism. Josangsin in Jeju Island is regarded as a guardian of a
family that includes both blood relative and non-blood relative ancestors. Josang (ancestor god) worship of humanity has a long history. This study aims to explore whether Josangsin in Jeju Island and universal religion of the mankind that is ‘Josang (ancestor god) worship’ have in common and to investigate how unique faith such as Josangsin Bonpuri in Jeju Island have evolved. This study selected a total of 95 Josangsin Bonpuris and analyzed contents with two dimensions such as Josangsin’s characteristics and motives for the deification of Josangsin. First, Josangsin’s characteristics is categorized into nature deities and human gods. Nature deities reside in various parts of the home and the nature like Bugun-Chilseong(Snake faith), Dol-Mireuk(Stone faith), Sot-halmang(the pot of kitchen tool). Indigenous faith affected the formation of nature deities. Human gods can again be divided into non-blood relative ancestors and blood relative ancestors. Non-blood relative ancestors who are deified by solving the grudge after being regrettable ghost because of the relationship
with blood relative ancestors of a certain family. Blood relative ancestors who are related to both success and failure and also are the most widespread. Second, the deification of Josangsin is categorized into failure-originated type and success-originated type according to motives for the deification of Josangsin. In failure-originated type, non-blood relative ancestors and female deities are observed more frequently than others. However, in success-originated type, more blood relative ancestors and male deities are observed than others.
Drawing upon the results of analysis, the findings of the study indicate that Josangsin Bonpuri was formed by encompassing three perspectives including nature-centered religious idea, Korean shamanism-centered religious idea, religious idea reflecting the history of Jeju Island. The main feature of nature-centered religious idea is nature deities. The main distinction of Korean shamanism-centered religious idea is failure-originated human gods. The key feature of religious idea reflecting the history of Jeju Island is success-originated human gods. However, it is hard to clarify the order of development of these concepts. Josangsin Bonpuri in Jeju Island was developed by integrating indigenous faith of Jeju Island with faith imported from main land of Korea. And then contemporary Josangsin Bonpuri has been completed by encompassing the realistic factors of Jeju Island. Josangsin Bonpuri in Jeju Island imply God’s eternal blessing to people in Jeju. This myth from Jeju Island serves as a necessary means to win the battle of life against barren circumstances. Josangsin Bonpuri is not a solid tradition. This means that Josangsin bonpuri has been developed by transmission which involves the processes to reflect the changing history not by simple transmission. Josangsin Bonpuri is still in the process of being new born.