Dokkaebi
Also called Tokkaebi.
In Korean folklore, the Dokkaebi is a mischievous goblin-like spirit associated with abandoned objects, known for its love of wrestling contests, wordplay, and granting wishes through a magic cudgel.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Korean mythology
- Region
- Korea (place of origin)
- Trait family
- The Waking Things
Near this figure
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Animated household object
why
Dokkaebi are traditionally said to arise from discarded household objects, such as old brooms, bloodied rags, or worn-out tools, that have absorbed enough human energy or blood over long years to awaken as spirits.
- Born from inanimate object
why
Dokkaebi are traditionally said to arise from discarded household objects, such as old brooms, bloodied rags, or worn-out tools, that have absorbed enough human energy or blood over long years to awaken as spirits.
Behaviour
- Spirit born from neglected objects over time
why
Dokkaebi are traditionally said to arise from discarded household objects, such as old brooms, bloodied rags, or worn-out tools, that have absorbed enough human energy or blood over long years to awaken as spirits.
- Outwitted by a clever trickster rather than force
why
In some tellings, a Dokkaebi can be tricked into revealing its weakness or driven off by a show of superior cunning rather than force, and it is said to fear or dislike horse blood and certain colors such as red.
- Weakness to specific animal or object
why
In some tellings, a Dokkaebi can be tricked into revealing its weakness or driven off by a show of superior cunning rather than force, and it is said to fear or dislike horse blood and certain colors such as red.
- Wrestling or game challenge with travelers
why
Dokkaebi are also famous in folklore for challenging travelers to a game or a wrestling match, particularly ssireum-style leg-wrestling, on lonely roads at night, and for their fondness for riddles and clever wordplay, which a quick-witted human can use to outsmart them.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.