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Pop Culture: Gumiho

In honor of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho premiering this week, we thought it would be a good time to define what a gumiho is, and discuss this mythical creature’s cultural implications on gender, film, and tv. This isn’t a comprehensive definition, by any means, because there are endless number of myths, folktales, films, and dramas that feature gumihos in them. But I’ll cover the basics and discuss what’s interesting about this figure from a cultural point of view.

A gumiho [구미호] is a nine-tailed fox, a legendary creature with origins in ancient Chinese myths dating back centuries. There are versions of the figure in Chinese and Japanese folklore, although each differs slightly. The Chinese huli jing and the Japanese kitsune have more ambiguous moral compasses, in that they can be both good and bad, and are not necessarily out to get everyone. The Korean gumiho, on the other hand, is almost always a malignant figure, a carnivore who feasts on human flesh.

According to legend, a fox that lives a thousand years turns into a gumiho, a shape-shifter who can appear in the guise of a woman. A gumiho is evil by nature, and feeds on either human hearts or livers (different legends specify one or the other) in order to survive. The Chinese huli jing is said to be made up of feminine energy (yin) and needs to consume male energy (yang) to survive. The Japanese kitsune can be either male or female, and can choose to be quite benevolent.

The Korean gumiho is traditionally female. Some can hide their gumiho features, while other myths indicate that they can’t fully transform (ie. a fox-like face or set of ears, or the tell-tale nine tails). Either way there is usually at least one physical trait that will prove their true gumiho form, or a magical way to force them to reveal this form.

Much like werewolves or vampires in Western lore, there are always variations on the myth depending on the liberties that each story takes with the legend. Some tales say that if a gumiho abstains from killing and eating humans for a thousand days, it can become human. Others, like the drama Gumiho: Tale of the Fox’s Child, say that a gumiho can become human if the man who sees her true nature keeps it a secret for ten years. Regardless of each story’s own rules, a few things are always consistent: a gumiho is always a fox, a woman, a shape-shifter, and a carnivore.

Now on to the cultural meanings. A fox is a common figure in many different cultures that represents a trickster or a smart but wicked creature that steals or outwits others into getting what it wants. Anyone who grew up on Aesop’s Fables knows the classic iteration of the fox figure in folklore. And it’s not hard to see how the fox got such a bad rap. The animal is a nocturnal hunter and a thief by nature, and is known the world over for its cunning mind.

In Korea, the fox has a second cultural implication—that of sexual cunning. The word for fox, yeo-woo [여우] is actually what Koreans call a woman who is, for lack of a better translation, a vixen, a siren, or a sly man-eater. There is a similar English equivalent in the phrase “you sly fox,” although in Korean it’s gender-specific (only women get called yeo-woo), and has a much more predatory “there-you-go-using-your-feminine-wiles-to-trick-me” kind of meaning behind it. Women who use any sort of feminine charm in an overt way, or women who are overtly sexualized (as in, asserting and brandishing their sexuality in a bold way), get called “yeo-woo.” Interestingly, the word for “actress” [여배우] is the same in its shortened form: [여우].

It is not by mistake that gumihos are only beautiful women. They are a folkloric way to warn men of the pitfalls of letting a woman trick you or seduce you into folly. For an example, see this translation of a classic gumiho tale. In many stories the hero of the tale (always a man) has to “endure” the seduction and unclothe the gumiho, thereby revealing her true form. Thus a woman’s true nature, her hidden sexuality = demon.

WTF, Korean folktales?

The concept of female sexuality as dangerous is nothing new to folklore, for sure. But it’s not a stretch to say that both the gumiho figure and the use of “yeo-woo” are quite prevalent in modern culture and its fiction. Most people may gloss over the fact that the gumiho myth is a story designed to uphold patriarchy. But that’s what makes such a legend so cunning in its own right.

In film and tv, the gumiho can be both a horrific figure and a straight-up demon, or a comically laughable one, depending on the genre. And throughout the ages the gumiho legend has changed, as in Gumiho: Tale of the Fox’s Child ‘s take on the tortured gumiho with a kind soul who longs to be human and spares men’s lives. She is a reluctant demon who chooses to walk the fine line of morality in order to hold onto her human traits. This interpretation is much closer to the vampire-with-a-soul mythology, as one being battles the demon within.

But one interesting thing to note in that drama is that the child, once she comes of age, transforms into a gumiho herself and struggles with that overpowering demonic force. One can’t help but draw parallels to a young girl’s own coming of age and sexual development, and how this myth only serves to further demonize a woman’s sexuality as something uncontrollable and evil that befalls even the most innocent of young girls. In this, and other more overtly sexualized depictions, the gumiho serves to downgrade female sexuality as demonic and directly carnivorous of men.

All this isn’t to say that female writers couldn’t take ownership of such a legend and reclaim it. I think that’s the only way to take it out of this territory and blast all these old versions away with something empowered. Do I think that’s what the Hong sisters’ goal is? Not outright. And I’m definitely not going to be watching that rom-com for its stellar commentary on gender politics. What I will be doing is looking forward to the reversal, the woman-on-top dynamic of the beta male dating a powerful gumiho, and crossing my fingers for a step in the right direction.

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*wolf whistle* niiiiice. fantastic food for thought, girlfriday, as always. these pop culture posts are getting better by the post. i have to admit, it's made my interest in the show shoot up even more, because all this gender politics stuff will be prevalent in my mind. the Hong sisters are known for doing cliches well and for subverting them, but their female characters have actually been getting less and less hardcore by the drama, so this is even more fascinating to keep an eye on. i'd love it if they messed with the tale and gave patriarchy and misogyny a kick up the backside. thank you! <3

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It is blitheringly inorderly lugubrious to term 'gender politics' a well-to-do axiomatic rather than ruminating on d oh-so up-to-d-minute axiomatic on d axiom that d law of equity should be practical. I kept on wandering in wonder why our leAdeRs won't accede woth dAt axioM... Oh! Blitheringly abysmal.

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please recap My Girlfriend is a Gumiho....

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Being clueless about gumihos, I was waiting for this post-- thank you, girlfriday! I agree, these pop culture posts are a feast for a reader's imagination. =-) Please keep 'em coming.

So I was wondering, what's up with the claim that gumihos used to deliver books to the king? Is that an actual part of the legend, or did the Hong sisters just insert that into the mythology to show that maybe gumihos are getting a bad wrap? Kinda suggests how intricately sexuality and knowledge are linked, and how being too clever for their own good got the gumihos in trouble...

I can't wait to see what they do with this tale! Thank you for providing us with a firm basis in gumiho-lore.

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I think this it the best one yet. (I can say that 'cause I didn't write it, right?)

Brilliant!

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Hmm.. I love a good breakdown of mythical creatures.

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Gumihos are just tactical synonyms of mythicism, they weren't really in existence, so haLt dIs chit-chat and stop chinwagging with a chivalrous daffY...

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Symphonies; meAn.

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The gumiho, Eve, Pandora...I guess passing the buck to women (which is silly) is a universal condition.

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Thanks for clearing it up. On a related note: the image of women as wily creatures trying to seduce men using their feminine charms has always bothered me. (WTF? Isn't it the man's fault as well if he can't keep it in his pants?)

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haha! so true!

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and being a "player" is often considered a good/manly thing. So lame and sexist.

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AGREED. (x

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Oooh, THIS is very very very INTERESTING and unique, yupz. O__o

Love these different styles of gumiho culture with their colorful eyes!

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oooooh thanks for clarifying the legend!!! though i initially thought the hong sisters would just use the legend to full comic effect, now i wonder (and hope!) that they can do something different too!

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AWESOME! This makes me see the Gumiho in a different light. I mean jb once mentioned how using "fox" towards a woman in Eastern culture carries a negative light, but it also makes me look at "Gumiho: Tale of the Fox Child" in a whole new light. BRILLIANT. To think there is so much underlying meaning in all of these folklores/myths. Encore! Encore!

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thnx for the definition JB...i was really curious when i heard about this LSG drama but i dunno if i'm into this kind of story albeit i love LSG...umhhh i really think i'll pass on this one!

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Sorry, but something else occurred to me, something that is a constant question when it does arise. Why is it when women sleep around they are, excuse me for this SL*TS or WH*RES, but when men sleep around they are "just boys being boys"? I mean geez, way to give the guys the upper hand. But I'm not male bashing, just wondering.

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The excuse I've been getting is that, any woman can get sex if she wants but men have to work harder for it thereby making it more of a conquest and earning congratulations and awe.

Still lame in my opinion.

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I agree. I mean, the only reason men have to "work for it" is because if a girl goes around doing it, she's considered lower-class (for lack of a more sophisticated term), while a guy who goes around getting it is considered successful and junk. It's society's little cat-and-mouse game. I'm not sure whether it's better to be the cat or the mouse...

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we live in a doubled standard society my friend

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i've seen a chinese movie about gumiho or nine tails fox, called "Painted Skin"...i think it's a good movie. I think they made it based on the tale of gumiho because it really similar with the gumiho you've decribed (sorry for my poor english)

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Um...Painted Skin was only about a regular fox demon....not nine tails fox demon

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"Painted Skin" is not based off the Korean Gumiho, it was from the book "Strange stories from a Chinese Studio" or "聊齋誌異" written in the Qing Dynasty a few hundred years ago. It was a collection of Chinese mythical folklore.

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Interesting. I've heard of the gumiho creature a lot, but I had always wondered about its origins, especially now that I'm watching Gumiho: Tale of the Fox's child so this has definitely shed a little light on the subject.

This was an interesting viewpoint on the gumiho, and it makes me wonder why female sexuality is always seen as a bad thing, even nowadays. A woman who is openly sexual must be "evil" or "crazy" or something like that and if a man is sexy, he's just being a man. I really don't understand but I guess these ideas are rooted in ancient myths like these.

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Intelligent and thought-provoking articles such as this one make dramabeans.com THE site for great kdrama info. Many thanks girlfriday for this post!

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Excellent post, Girlfriday!

I knew about the carnivorous and somewhat evil nature of the gumiho, but I had no idea of the sexuality angle... very interesting. I wonder how the Hong Sisters will approach this. Probably milk it for all its comic effect and not much else; like you, I don't expect any deep insight about social issues. But that's part of what makes their dramas so light and fun to watch. ;)

As for why women get blamed for being the tempters of men, I think it's because historically men have had the power and made the rules. So they were able to blame their own actions on the "weaker sex" and get out of taking responsibility. Demonizing women made men look like innocent "victims". *rolls eyes*

Anyway, thanks so much for the insight! This makes me look forward even more to the drama. And I'm so looking forward to whipped!LSG.

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Oh, I LOVE it when you do articles like this. I really get a lot out of them. I hope you continue writing such articles.

Having known that this drama was coming out, I had already tried to research it on my own. But with all the varying legends out there, it was very refreshing to read this and get a clear understanding.

Thank you!!

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One of the reasons why this awesome blog is like no other: The 'deconstructing' part of kdramas and kpop culture.

Give yourself a pat on the back, Girlfriday! :D

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My parents got us these books on Korean folklore to teach us Korean when we were little kids and I remember being SO scared of the gumiho. In the picture, she would sit in her room and sharpen her knives in the middle of the night to eat the male traveler. Not the best story to tell a child! Haha

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where does kim tae-hee come from? where did she have a gumiho role?

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she appeared in an older kdrama called Forbidden Love/The Legend of the Nine Tailed Fox with Jo Hyun Jae, I believe around 2004. it wasn't exactly a good kdrama and was kinda campy... but i do remember her acting in it as a gumiho :)

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Interesting. Immediately reminds me of Native American Shaman women who wore fox tails. The more they wore, the older and wiser it meant they were.

Male shaman also wore fox tails, as well as wolf.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/370209994445?ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&rvr_id=122012522886&crlp=1_263602_263632&UA=WXF%3F&GUID=54fcc96012a0a0aad0d102e1ff177c1a&itemid=370209994445&ff4=263602_263632

http://www.cherokeevisions.com/images/28-blufox_m.jpg

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Thanks for this post! i'm really excited for My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and I hope you guys will recap it. (:

Also, i realised the layout of this website is new. I miss the simple, good ol' layout, but I guess change is good too.

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1. Of course, there's the male equivalent in wolves (늑대). In k-dramas, it's not uncommon to see dads warning their daughters to be wary of all men cause they're all wolves.

2. The word "foxy" in English is pretty gender specific to females as well. I've heard women be described as foxy ladies, but never men as foxy men.

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I do think "wily as a fox" gets applied to both genders in English, though.

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Point taken. What I meant by my second point is that fox, or foxy here, when used to denote sexual characteristics is used exclusively for females in both Korean and American cultures.

It wasn't clear to me in girlfriday's post but from my understanding, when fox is used to describe slyness (minus the sexual aspect), it can be used for both males and females in Korea. For instance, I've seen older Koreans call a sly, cunning guy to be fox-like (여우새끼 같다). I've also seen it being used to a baby when he knows how to act cute to receive attention or love (여우짓). So 여우 is used exclusively for females in Korea in instances where the sexual characteristic is implied, but the word itself is not exclusively gender-specific.

Finally, I too would guess that gumihos in traditional folklores would have been all women, but that has not been the case in recent popular culture. For instance, male gumihos have appeared in the 2004 drama 구미호외전 (Forbidden Love) and the 2006 film 구미호 가족 (The Fox Family). However, it is noteworthy that in both works, the lead characters were beautiful female gumihos (Kim Tae Hee and Park Shi Yeon) falling in love with human males (Jo Hyun Jae and Park Joon Gyu).

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Awesome post GF. Can't wait for LSG & SMN!

Just a small question...I didn't manage to identify all the pictures from movies/dramas that you used (except for Gumiho: Tale of The Fox's Child) and I was just wondering which movies and/or dramas they're from...?

Anyway, recently Chinese drama has begun to romanticize fox demons as well (I use the word "recently" loosely, since I think the drama I'm thinking of was probably made like, 10 years ago), so it's an interesting phenomenon of reverse engineering that's been occurring.

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No. The story of Painted Skin is from the book "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" written by a Chinese Author in the Qing dynasty a few hundred years ago. If you read the article correctly the Koran Gumiho is from ancient Chinese foklore, even "gumiho" is derived from Chinese words it is literally Nine Tale Fox in Chinese writing.
Yes, I know this is a very old post, but wanted to clarify in case anyone else was still reading.

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The Chinese has always had dramas on the fox, so no it is not recent. Look at the Qioung Yao dramas from Taiwan she has a whole series devoted to the fox. It was called "Plum Blossom Trilogy" there are also many Hong Kong Dramas from the 80's that featured the fox. So, no the Chinese did not "recently" focus on the fox, it always was part of the drama sphere on way or the other throughout film history.

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Can anyone help me figure out where the 4th and 5th pictures came from? I recognize the 2nd and 3rd pics in the recaps on dramabeans (because I'm too scared to actually watch the drama).

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The actress playing the gumiho is in parentheses:
1. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Shin Mina)
2. Hometown of Legends (Park Min Young)
3. Hometown of Legends (Park Min Young)
4. Forbidden Love (Kim Tae Hee)
5. Left - Gumiho: Tale of the Fox's Child (Han Eun Jung)
Right - The Fox Family (Park Shi Yeon)
6. Gumiho: Tale of the Fox's Child (Han Eun Jung)
7. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Shin Mina)

"Forbidden Love" is a romance and "The Fox Family" is a comedy, so you should be able to watch them both even if you're not a fan of the horror genre.

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sallynally, you're the best! whoa, i should've recognized Kim Tae Hee, and that's what I had been trying to figure out. OK, i'll be on the look-out for both dramas.
thanks very much! :D

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