A Shamanic Interpretation of the Folktale Magical Ruler for Healing and Saving Lives

A folk tale about a magical ruler that heals and revives the dead is analyzed through a shamanic lens. The ruler acts as an axis mundi, a spiritual bridge connecting heaven and earth, guiding the soul back to the body. The tale's narrative follows shamanic initiation: a mysterious dream (supernatural calling), imprisonment and symbolic death, learning healing from animals (shamanic education), and reviving a princess to gain communal recognition. Similar shamanic elements appear in related tales, where powers like healing and understanding animals reflect traditional shamanic abilities. The study argues that shamanism, as a primordial system of thought, forms a foundational cultural framework underlying many folk narratives.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This study analyzes the folk tale Magical Ruler for Healing and Saving Lives from a shamanic perspective to identify the factors behind its enduring transmission and its structural characteristics. The core elements of the tale are deeply intertwined with the shamanic worldview. The ruler or stick is not merely a measurement tool but serves as a spiritual bridge—an axis mundi—that connects heaven and earth and guides the soul back to the body. The act of measuring a corpse with this ruler is a shamanic healing ritual that facilitates the soul’s passage. Likewise, materials such as leaves, stones, and cloth correspond to traditional shamanic ritual objects used for purification and the restoration of life. The rat and the tiger, who provide these sacred objects, function as spirit helpers who guide the shaman’s spiritual journey and impart sacred knowledge. Spaces such as the prison and the cave are interpreted as sacred ritual sites where symbolic death and rebirth occur in isolation from the secular world. The narrative progression of Magical Ruler for Healing and Saving Lives faithfully follows the stages of a shamanic initiation rite. The initial mysterious dream represents the stage of “selection and calling” by supernatural beings. The ensuing hardship—being imprisoned and facing death for refusing to disclose the dream—signifies the “symbolic death” and “ecstatic experience” necessary to shed the secular self and be reborn as a “spiritual being.” Learning healing methods from animals in isolated spaces corresponds to “shamanic education.” Finally, reviving the princess and becoming a royal son-in-law represents the stage of “communal recognition,” where the protagonist proves his spiritual authority to the community. Thus, the servant’s rise to fortune is not a coincidence but an inevitable result of his transformation into a spiritual specialist. The shamanic tradition in Magical Ruler for Healing and Saving Lives is also commonly seen in related folk tales such as The Returned Royal Seal and The One Who Understood Birds. Supernatural powers such as healing, understanding animal speech, and locating lost items are among the core abilities traditionally attributed to shamans. The narrative arc—whereby a protagonist acquires these powers and overcomes immense trials to attain social status—closely mirrors the universal structure of shamanic initiation rites. This tradition contributed to the formation of national foundation myths that reinforced royal authority, while it also evolved into folk narratives centered on the success of lower-class protagonists. As shamanic influence waned, these elements were also adapted into humorous anecdotes. Finally, this study argues that shamanism, as one of humanity’s primordial systems of thought, constitutes a foundational cultural framework underlying many folk narratives.