Sacred Lore and Poems

These poems were passed from generation to generation of Diviners. Some are well known while others are the fruit of startling new discoveries. It is part of the Diviner’s role to know the patterns that can be found in the Sacred Poems and Lore.

CROW/RAVEN

When we come into the Nexus we have with us our guide, the gray bird. They show us the way and give us vital knowledge about the Nexus. They are our keys into the realm.

Crow is the guardian of the place before existence and the carrier of souls from darkness into light. He brings courage and comfort with the darkness and guidance for deeper understanding of the shadow self. Crow moves freely in the void and holds the wisdom of transformation and shape shifting.
Raven shows our inner journeys and dreams.

THE LEGEND OF T’ANGUN [Bear and Tiger]

Deep in the past our ancestors spoke of the coming of Hwanung, the son of the Heavens. Hwanung was a benevolent god who wished to help his people upon the lands of Koguryo. He descended from his heavenly home to live on the sacred Mt. T’aebaek. Here he ruled and brought agriculture, allotted lifespans, illness, punishment, and good and evil, and brought culture to his people.

At that time a bear and a tiger living in the same cave prayed to Holy Hwanung to transform them into human beings. The king gave them a bundle of sacred herbs and twenty cloves of garlic and instructed them to eat the herbs and shun the sunlight for one hundred days so they may assume human form. Both animals ate the spices and avoided the sun. After the hundred days the bear became a woman, but the tiger, unable to keep away from the sun, remained a tiger.

The bear-woman was unable to find a human husband. Her life was lonely. So she prayed under a holy tree for a child. Hwanung heard her calls. Knowing she was a faithful and resolved woman he decided to marry her. They had a son who would be called T’angun, Founder of Choson.

T’AEGUK, Symbol of the Tao, yin and yang [Balance and Harmony]
Before Heaven and Earth were divided, the forces of yin and yang were created from the Supreme Ultimate, and the Five Elements emerged from the harmony of yin and yang. The definition of the Supreme Ultimate, the fundamental basis of all things, is the central question of East Asian Philosophy.

The t'aeguk mark, symbol of the Supreme Ultimate, it represents Heaven, the universe, the sun and the moon, and the people's wishes for a good harvest and many children through harmony of the yin and yang.

The three-part t'aeguk symbolizes heaven, earth and humanity. Each part is separate but the three parts exist in unity and are equal in value.
The basis of the universe is Eternity (muguk) and, at the same time, the Supreme Ultimate (t'aeguk). The Supreme Ultimate moves and gives birth to yang (the positive and active). When this movement reaches its peak, it achieves serenity, which then gives birth to yin (the quiet and passive). Yang changes and strikes a harmony, then gives birth to Water, Metal, Wood, Fire and Earth, allowing the Five Spirits to play a role one by one and the Four Hours to take their course. The Five Elements are a kind of yin-yang, a kind of Supreme Ultimate, and the Supreme Ultimate is, by nature, Eternity. The Way of Heaven is male, the Way of Earth is female, and Principle and Vital Energy respond to each other to cause all things to come alive.

All things are brought out again and again, so change is endless.

--Yi Hwang, Ten Diagrams of the Learning of the Sage (Songhakshipto), 1568.

ROSE OF SHARON/KING’S ROSE [Perseverance]

When other spring flowers have faded, the Rose of Sharon blooms for 100 days in the midst of lush green leaves. The flowers open with the sun and close at dusk. After opening once, the flowers fade, but new blooms keep coming, thus it is also called the 'eternal' flower. Some say that it was the gift of a King to his wife before he died, so she would never forget him.

PINE TREES [Integrity]

Our ancestors say that we are born in pine trees. The gods seeing how strong and steadfast the pine trees are decided that they would create the human race from the pine.

The pine is a noble tree for it remains green all winter, a model of steadfastness and integrity. In traditional paintings and poetry, the pine was one of the ten longevity symbols.

Treaded all the famous mountains of eight provinces…
...Entered the Dragons Gate, and threw left and right.
Dew dropped at night, and the Sun beamed in the daytime
A shoot came out and grew, and the green pine took root
Leaves sprouted, and after it became a sapling
Six Ministers of Board watered, and Three Councilors took care.
It grew and grew, and became a small tree.
The small tree grew and became a big tree.
The big tree grew and became an Emperor tree.
Fleeting times flowed and flowed, and it became an old tree.
- A shaman's Magpies Garden chant for welcoming the House Spirit

GOBLINS {Broom Sticks} [Obstacles/Problems at home]

Goblins have been in Kingdom since the day rice was first planted in the rich soil. No one knows where they came from. Goblins do not like to answer questions! Sometimes they are kind and friendly, but some have haunted and harassed people so that they have driven, even, the strongest of men from their homes.

They can be good and they can be bad.
I heard a broomstick stained with human blood can turn into a goblin.
Have you heard that?
They say you should buy land if you make money after befriending a goblin.
Nothing else will do.
If you want to get rid of a goblin, I tell you: Horse blood's the thing!
Folks say, 'Paint your house with horse blood, and you'll be rid of them.'
Some say they put poles in four corners, the goblins dig it up and take it with them.
--A shaman's chant welcoming the House God

GINSENG [Longevity]
Ginseng is the herb of Life. The Rats jealously guards this prized herb. He hoards the mountain ginseng his followers find. Brave warriors have to go deep into the earth to search for minions of the Rat King, even so, the herb is very rare.

RABBIT [Faith and Intuition or Fear and Timidity]
Rabbit is a possessor of faith, quick wits, strong intuition, and guile. She is an element of paradox and contradiction. Rabbit lives by her own wits, and can receive hidden teachings and intuitive messages. She also moves through her fear.
‘I am in tune with the pulse of the universe. In my quiet and solitude I hear the melodies of the soul. I float above commonplace dissent and decay. I subdue by my ability to conform. I color my words in delicate pastel hues. I epitomize harmony and inner peace. I am the Rabbit.’

SQUIRREL [Prudence in times of Change or Greed]
Squirrel's qualities include those of change, discovery, and warning. He has balance in giving and receiving and rest during unproductive times. Squirrel stores for the future and moves to a higher level of consciousness to avoid harassment.

DEER [Grace and Sacrifice or Martyrdom]
Deer understands physical pacing and what is necessary for survival. She possesses gentleness, grace, body awareness, and a connection to the woodlands. She has the ability to listen and to sacrifice for the higher good. She appreciates the beauty of balance and can travel alternative paths to a goal. Deer is a power of gratitude and giving.

RAT [Defender, Ambition or Covetous]
The Rat King is a secretive foe. His caves are filled with vermin of all sorts. Yet, to find the heart of the cave will bring you the herb of life. A mystery… why are there squirrels in the deep caves?
‘I am the self-proclaimed acquisitor. I am a link yet I function as a complete unit. I aim at encompassing heights and I strike my target sure and steady. Life is a joyous journey for me. Each search must end with a new quest. I am progress, exploration and insight. I am the womb of activity. I am the Rat’

OX/COW/BULL [Nurturing, Patient, Strength of Character or Slow, Stubborn, Violent when Angry]
In the Buddhist tradition, the process of obtaining enlightenment is likened to a herding boy's search for his lost ox. Many temples feature murals depicting the boy's search for his ox, a mirror of our own quest for enlightenment.
‘Mine is the stabilizing force that perpetuates the cycle of life. I stand immobile against the test of adversity, resolute and unimpeachable. I seek integrity, to bear the burdens of righteousness. I abide by the laws of nature - patiently pushing the wheel of fate. Thus, I shall weave my destiny. I am the Ox.’
What a nice shape the ox has, but how about its color?
The color of peach blossoms in spring's full bloom?
The rich red of the autumn leaves
after summer's lush green fades?
The yellow of wheat on the south wind in spring?
The red of Poun jujubes in the green mountains?
--From the Yangju Ox Rite

BOAR/PIG [Generosity or Indolence]
‘Of all God's children I have the purest heart. With innocence and faith, I walk in Love's protective light. By giving of myself freely I am richer and twice blest. Bonded to all mankind by common fellowship, my goodwill is universal and knows no bounds. I am the Boar.’

SNAKE [Royalty, Wisdom and Immortality or Jealousy, Malice]
There are tales that say that the snakes leave their homes in the earth and converge in an underground lake. It is said that they talk of the secrets of the earth.
‘Mine is the wisdom of the ages. I hold the key to the mysteries of life. Casting my seeds on fertile ground I nurture them with constancy and purpose. My sights are fixed. My gaze unchanging. Unyielding, inexorable and deep I advance with steady, unslackened gait, the solid earth beneath me. I am the Snake.’

BEAR [Leadership, Balance and Firmness]
Bears can be found in the caves of the Kingdom. Why do they shun the light of day? Could they be aspiring to gain human form? They symbolize the faith and perseverance to reach a goal. Bear is a creature of dreams, shamans, mystics, and visionaries. He possesses the ability to navigate along the earth's magnetic lines and find his way back from the edge of the brink, also to find sustenance in barren landscapes. He has strength in the face of adversity. Bear is an expert swimmer through emotional waters. His wisdom includes introspection, solitude, dreams, transformation, defense and revenge, death and rebirth, healing, and inner knowing. Bear can communicate with the spirit.

FOX [Intelligence or Cunning and Deceit]
Our ancestors talk about the Legend of the 9 Tailed Fox. They say that once there was a princess who was very intelligent and full of guile. She wanted to rule all the provinces and so married the strongest of the chongun and tricked him into foolishly risking himself in battle. When he perished she married the next chongun and the next and the next. In the end she had married and deceived nine honorable warriors, before the gods themselves punished her. She was transformed into the 9 tailed fox, with a saber through her black heart, and cursed to die a thousand deaths.
Fox is a clever creature with the ability to shape shift. She offers assistance for camouflage and the ability to observe unseen. Fox's elusiveness, and agility, and stealth make her seem invisible to those she uses her keen observational skills on.

TIGER [Nobility and Strength or Untamed Nature/Destruction]
The tigers roam the lands of the Kingdom, they can be found in the vales and valleys. Yet, why are some trapped in caves? Perhaps they are the descendants of the first tiger who wished to be human (Legend of T’angun) unable to escape the curse. It is said that the tigers keep the weapons of the warriors who did not survive the passage through their underground domain.
Tiger possesses power and energy, and strength and will power in the face of adversity. He acts in a timely manner without analysis The Tiger is depicted as frightening yet familiar; brave and almost sacred, but at the same time rather slow-witted. He sometimes repays debts, and scolds the hypocrisy of human society.


‘I am the delightful Paradox. All the world is my stage. I set new trails ablaze; I seek the unattainable, and try the untried. I dance to life's music in gay abandon. Come with me on my carousel rides. See the myriad colors the flickering lights. All hail me the unparalleled performer. I am the Tiger.’
Tigers is coming, Tigers is coming
Opening the scarlet mouth so widely that his ears might split
With front legs like pillars, hind legs like arrow holders
He strides and shakes his head resembling the shape of a silkworm
Then he slaps the long striped tail of his,
He sits down among the crowd.
I am the king of the mountain.

- from "Water Palace Song," recorded by Shim Jae-hyo

MANTIS [Courage, Intelligence and Strategy]
Our ancestors say that the Mantis are the cursed minions of the Smith Hunang. They are trapped forever in the caves until a righteous warrior sets them free. (lore courtesy of Oblivion)
Mantis has the ability to manipulate time and the power to move between moments, and stillness. She is a warrior who understands the circular nature of time and attack strategy.

SCORPIONS [Envy, Hate and Destruction]
Our ancestors talk of the Great Smith Hunang who was cursed by the gods. His followers were transformed into monstrous insects. Scorpions they shall remain until a person, pure of heart, sets them free. (lore courtesy of Oblivion)

SPIDERS [Creativity or Illusion, Deception]
The Sorcerer Bekyun was a friend of the Smith Hunang. When Hunang was cursed, Bekyun tried to rescue his friend. This caused the wrath of the gods to fall upon the loyal Bekyun. His followers still roam the deep caves as spiders, waiting to be set free. (lore courtesy of Oblivion)

LOBSTERS [Long Life, Wealth and Good Luck]
For trying to break the Smith Hunang’s curse, the sorcerer Bekyun was struck down by the gods. His followers are still trapped in the form of gigantic lobsters, until they die by the hand of a brave warrior. (lore courtesy of Oblivion)

MYTHIC LORE

Mythic Nexus is part of another plane of existence. Here the Lords of the Animals hold court. The Lords are the culmination of the psyche of every animal there is in the Nexus. What every snake sees, what every snake knows, the Snake Lords also know. They hold the secrets of the future, they have wisdom beyond mortal knowledge. The Diviner seeks the Keys the Animal Lords hold. Diviners use these keys to see into the future.
Creation of Mythic:

In the days even before the Dark One or Hunang and Bekyun, a powerful Chieftain ruled the land. He was strong in weapons mastery and in magic. He was fair and respected. The goblin King was envious of the Chieftain’s powers, and wanted to cause mischief in the land. The goblin King sent his strongest warrior to challenge the Chieftain, but he was defeated. The goblin King sent his daughter to the Chieftain to tempt him, but the Chieftain was not moved. The goblin King then sent his shaman, the crone was wise and canny. She transformed herself into a child and met with the Chieftain. The goblin shaman asked the Chieftain to tell her of his battles and conquests. For days, for weeks the stories were told. The shaman always asking and praising the chieftain. When the last story was told, the shaman said ‘Great Chieftain, there is nothing left for you to do!’. The Chieftain realized that it was true there was nothing left for him to conquer. The shaman then told the Chieftain about a ‘Dream’ where she had seen the Animal Lords themselves, that they lived in the Mythic lands. The Chieftain became obsessed with the vision. He set about to find the Animal Lords. He cast terrible spells to open the worlds so that he may find the Animal Lords. Three days and three nights, lightning rained over the mountains, then the Rift was made. The Chieftain set out to vanquish the Lords of the Beasts. He never returned. Some say he died in the terrible caves, others say he still roams the Mythic lands, and others say he became a Beast Lord himself. No one knows. All we know is that even the gods can not close the path to the Mythic lands that the ancient Chieftain wrought.

RAT

RABBIT

ROOSTER [Joyful and Enthusiastic or Arrogant]
‘I am on hand to herald the day, and to announce its exit. I thrive by clockwork and precision. In my unending quest for perfection all things will be restored to their rightful place. I am the exacting taskmaster. The ever-watchful administrator. I seek perfect order in my world. I represent unfailing dedication. I am the Rooster.’

SNAKE

BOAR

MONKEY [Wisdom, Creativity or Flamboyance and Exaggeration]
‘I am the seasoned traveler of the Labyrinth. The genius of alacrity, wizard of the impossible. My brilliance is yet unmatched in its originality. My heart's filled with potent magic that could cast a hundred spells. I am put together for mine own pleasure. I am the Monkey.’

BULL

TIGER

OTHERS

To continue the Myths I will also continue to use Oblivion’s lore (with his permission). I will use these myths to explain the Skeletons and Ghosts. The rest will be learned by asking a Do Walker.

OBLIVION’S DO LORE
Hunang’s Axe:
Hunang was a powerful smith who worshipped the smith god during the Moon era. The axe was believed to be his most powerful weapon ever crafted in his life. He awarded his most valiant followers with this prized axe. The axe can still be found in the storage of some of the cursed minions to this day.

Bekyun’s spear:
Bekyun was a mythical sorcerer who is responsible for creating the Maletic. It was said that He and Hunang had an alliance during the war against "The Dark one" during the Moon era. His spear was his masterpiece creation, it was enchanted with powers to expand ones mind beyond description. He and his followers suffered the same curse that
Hunang did for trying to free his comrade from the curse.

Maxcaliber:
The Maxcaliber is rumored to be the tomb of 10000 warriors soul’s who had all suffered an uh-honorable death why owning the blade (with each soul it grows a little stronger). Each time its current wielder slays one of the trapped souls tormentor, the soul is said to be freed.

Death Head:
The death head was once a respected trophy of an old sorcerers duel within the ranks of "The Dark one". The two mages would battle each other in a traditional style. The winner of the combat would mount the losers head on a staff, and it would be enchanted by "The Dark one".

Wicked Staff:
The wicked Staff’s origins are unknown. Its true powers are beyond our imagination, and know one can truly harness the Eternal flame.

Moonblade:
The Moonblade was forged from moonstone stolen from the smith god. It was rumored that Hunang betrayed his god and stole them. He forged 100,000 of the weapons and we have reason to believe he double crossed his ally Bekyun, by selling the swords to "The Dark one"

The Electra:
The Ogre shamans who live on the Mythic plane can harness the powers of Lightning. They use these powers to forge these mystical swords. They have a magical enchantments to clutch the Electro-power to the handle of the sword. (The electra has no shape or form, it doesn’t open wounds, but can cause massive damage.)

The Steelthorn:
The Steelthorn is forged by the Ogre smith lords. It is crafted with common steel andfragments of Titanium, thus giving it a strong but light blade.

The Star Staff:
Its rumored that The Ogres have a secret cave called the "Star pool" or "Titan mines". We have not yet discovered it, but its said to catch falling stars from the sky’s and the shamans craft the Magical staffs with them.

The Titanium Lance:
Titanium is the strongest material known to man, and its magica storing abilities are beyond anything man-made. We think Titanium is made by a mixture of Quartz and Stars caught in the "Star pool" or "Titan mines". The shamans make the staffs and give them to there most trusted minions.

The Military fork:
The military fork is crafted with a common wooden stick (explaining its week durability) and the Bones from the in-famous Sebok. The Fork uses leverage to its advantage, goring flesh and muscle. It causes awful wounds.

The Stone axe:
The Stone axe was forged by the God of the Harvest, and awarded them to Nomad champions for good deeds in battle.

The Long spear:
The Nomads have observed the effectiveness of the Military fork. They have tried a number of times to replicate its design, yet proving successful with the Leverage factor, but still incapable of causing such severe damage.

The Honor sword:
Is a common sword blessed by Nomad Shamans. Its believed that they pluck the honor from the tribes deceased generals and enchant the blades with it.

Other Notes:

Hunang:
Hunang was banished from our realm because of his crimes (The Smith god himself banished him and cursed his minions thus giving them there Mantis appearance)

The Smith God:
The Smith God Lived on the moon. The era that Hunang, Bekyun, and "The Dark one" lived in was named after him because they all where placed under a curse Conjured by the God himself.

Bekyun:
Bekyun was banished from our realm for trying to Free Hunang of his curse, despite the fact that hunang betrayed him as well.

The Dark one:
Sagu perhaps? The Dark One was an Evil sorcerer who was at war with Bekyun for 50 years before the Smith god banished them all from our realm. His name was never recorded, he was always observed as a dark sinister being, therefore, he was named after his appearance. (His minions where cursed with a different spell than Hunang and Bekyuns followers. They where turned undead and trapped within the catacombs for eternity.)