The word totem is a term derived from tribes, which lived in North America, but totemistic believers are not limited to Native Americans and totem poles are found in Asia, Africa, Australia, too. A totem is a being object or symbol representing an animal, or plant that serves as an emblem of a tribe or clan, remembering them of their ancestry in kinship and descent. If the epical ancestry of a clan is a non-human, it is called a totem.
    In Korea too, totem poles are found everywhere. Totems serve as a spiritual guardian with its fierce gaze, frightening away evil spirits. They are usually located at the entrance of a village, are made of wood (of stone in Jejudo) to guard the village against a misfortune, wish good harvest and safe return of their children. They also serve as boundary markers of village territory as unlucky, not to worship them. It is believed that in the 18th century Joseon dynasty, King Jeongjo ordered jangseungs (Korean totem poles) erected to ward off evil spirits, when he took a royal procession to his father’s tomb.
    Normally, these jangseungs have inscriptions in the front, describing the personae of the carved figure. The totems are in a pair, representing the male as the “Cheonha Daejangjun” (Great General Under Heaven) and normally adore a decorated Confucian hat, while the female headpiece bear the inscription “Jiha Yeojanggun” (Female General Under Earth). 
   Jangseungs are also called as Beoksu in Yeongnam region, Harabeoji and Halmeoni in Honam region. The facial features of totems demonstrate fierceness, with eyes slanting inwards and exaggerated menacing facial expressions. As against the practice of making poles from wood, Dolhareubang, meaning a stone grandfather are made of volcanic stones in Jejudo. In Jeju Island, a star attraction for the tourists is the ‘mysterious road’, near the grave-yard of totems (many totems abandoned there, for reasons unknown). Here the cars roll uphill, when the engine is cut off, which even the scientists are unable to explain. May be the grave-yard of the totems, is the reason.
    Modernization had taken a toll on the practice of Jangseung creation and worship, especially, after 1945, when massive movement of modernization of villages started. After latter period of Joseon, many people expressed their feeling of community by making totem poles. A totem pole in a Korean folk villages located in Seoul is a big attraction, and unlike the other totems, it is a laughing totem. In Korea, there is also a totem pole park, and interestingly, some of the totems have pornographic features in them.
    To revive this dying art and in order to introduce Korean culture to the foreign students at the Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Culture/Hobby classes, have been rightfully introduced. The activities include: calligraphy, totem pole, K-pop and traditional dance, besides making pottery of clan and mud dyeing. I opted for making totem poles, as last time I had learnt calligraphy. Since attendance at these hobby classes earned two periods of attendance, besides learning a part of Korean art and culture, all foreign students eagerly look forward to attending them. There were about 20 foreign students who opted for this activity. A term of 3 experts from outside had come, to introduce this art of us. We at the start of the class, were given a audio video lecture on the origin and purpose of Janggseung.
    Later each student was issued a kit containing two poly bags, containing wood pieces, a packet of 4 chisels and a bottle of glue. Some enthusiasts were also issued a wooden plank of 8 inches, to crave the figure of their own choice, than to adopt, pre-cut pieces. We were guided how to chisel the wood with the help of chisels and wooden hammer and then how to inscribe writings/letters on the chiseled wood.
    One of the 3rd level student of Korean language, from the U.K. seemed to have well prepared (probably taking help from the internet), and had brought personal colors (highlight markers), to finish our work in two periods. As a reward all participants were permitted, to take their own ‘creations’ to their home, as a momento. There was a hectic session to take snaps of the art created by the students.
    It was a very enjoying experience for students, to try hand at a new hobby and get introduced to the fascinating Korean art and culture. Certainly it was a big relief from monotonous Korean grammar classes and every one of us looked forward to long weekend with the second formative just over.
 

By Surgit Singh Puri, Indian Student, Regular Korean Language Course,
Language Education Center, Chonnam National University