Table of Contents

Romanization of Korean terms; dramatis personae. Introduction: the shocking epilogue to my fieldwork; a cultural paradox; the basic approach of this study; the fieldwork and the data; overall view of the book. The field of misfortune: shamanism and medical pluralism; practitioners in the field of misfortune; "Korean shamanism" in trouble; the shamanic ritual with spirit stick; shaman-centred studies; the uniqueness of shamanic ritual; a party for spirits. Ritual without audience: a shaman's business; a scared client; a haunted feeling; a spirit possession; a shaman's house; rituals without audience. Two faces of Korean culture: my experience of failed fieldwork on shamanism; two worlds within one culture; cultural discrepancy; culture and misfortune. A practice of cultural rebellion: female dominance in Korean shamanism; shamanism as a framework of transformation; the patient's point of view; a ritual with plenty of audience; Chisun's grandmother in possession; ritual murder; why was the ritual performed?; a prevention of misfortune; an eye for an eye; a pain in the neck; neighbours; the fieldworker; paradoxical healing; another participant in the ritual; the dead husband in the wardrobe; trapped in the web of life; cultural rebellion. Against shamanism: prejudice against shamanism; cultural politics or cultural contradiction?; "I didn't realize that you were so shamanistic!"; Gilsu's mother; "The Shaman Department of Seoul National University"; "A 'Kut' costs a fortune!"; "The spirits are dangerous!"; "Shamanic ritual is addictive!"; dangerous jobs!; an antidote for spirit possession; a fieldworker in fear; a secret ritual on a freezing night; gates for a strange participant; the ghost's voice on the tape. National living treasure: a superstar Korean shaman; the stigma imposed on a shaman; building a career as an arts performer; "National Living Treasure"; shamanism as a performing art; a performance business; a shamanic theatrical performance; the making of another kind of shamanism.