Jowangsin

By Crusader1307

An ancient Deity is Korean Mythology – ‘’Jowangsin’’ was ‘’Goddess of The Hearth’’ – or fires maintained at One’s home. Whereas this was seen as the primary vocation of a Woman, it was the Wife of a Home that maintained a cooking and heating fire. Traditionally, to make sure that a Hearth NEVER went out, a Housewife awoke with the dawn and took a jar of ‘’pure water’’ to the Family Well (or water source). She poured the water, all the while  offering prayers to Jowangsin. If so pleased, Jowangsin never let the Wife’s Hearth ‘’go cold’’. With the fire burning all day, so too was the ‘’Spirit’’ of The Goddess present. A Housewife made sure that no curses or uncleanliness was allowed near The hearth or Kitchen where food was prepared. Allowing such, would invoke anger from Jowangsin – and the risk of ‘’Bad Luck’’ befalling The Family.